Sealed and Silenced (Watty Awards 2012)

Sealed and Silenced: Chapter 14

| A/N: Finally!!! It is complete and I really hope you guys like going deeper into the characters. Please don't forget to Comment, Vote, and Fan!!!! Big hugs to everyone who is supporting my book and reading it!!! Love you all! Now to the good stuff, enjoy! |

I groan as I sit up. Slowly my middle makes a crease and I am semi vertical. Carter’s steady hand on my back guides me back to him. I sink into the shaped male body, sighing as I do so. He wraps his arms around me so his hands rest in my lap.

Natalie and Mia sit opposite of us, cross legged, watching intently.

“So how are you feeling?” Mia asks.

 Carter rubs my arm, encouraging me to speak. I let out a breath of air.

Last night, we had debate on whether or not I should talk to the girls. Carter won. I swallow, but reach for one of the many bottles of water Billy had sent down. They were mostly supposed to be for cleaning my cuts, but the extra water on my throat made it crack less.

“Addie....” he whispers gently in my ear. It gives me pleasant chills down my spine.

I take a deep breath, seeming to fill my lungs with bravery.

“I am feeling good.” I stare at the ground, anxious of the response my voice will get. There is a long pause. My last words weigh down the air, making it difficult for me to breathe.

“I didn’t think you could speak,” Natalie says in a hushed tone. I raise my eyes. Mia wears a proud expression where Natalie looks more flabbergasted.

“I’m glad you found the courage.” Mia says. I smile.

Mia and I are becoming fast friends, which seems rather strange, considering just yesterday I was jealous of her. That issue has been more than resolved.

“My name is Adalyn Rose.”

“What a beautiful name!” Natalie exclaims, clapping her hands together. Mia caresses my hand, like an old friend would when consoling. I find the urge to tell these people more about myself. It feels safe. It feels right.

“Do you mind, if I tell you about myself?” I ask. I feel Carter nod above me and the girls echo consent.

“I came from a close family. It was just my parents and sister and me. We lived somewhere in Florida, I can’t remember where, if I think about it....” I trail off and Carter gives me a gentle squeeze.

“My family loved fish, like crazy. We ate any type of fish any day of the week.” A chuckle escapes my lips. I can laugh at it now. How my sister and I would come running into the house after spending the day on the beach, eager to find out what we were having for dinner, always hoping for fish. It seems foolish now and just the thought of fish seems to turn my stomach.

I take a large swig of the water bottle.

“I was fifteen, when my parents sent me to the market for dinner. We ran out of fish and there was an amazing market down by the shoreline. I begged my dad to let me go alone. I can remember now. I wanted some independence.” Visions of my Dad’s whisker filled face and gentle brown eyes float through my head.

“A storm was rolling in and the market had closed. I didn’t want to go back empty handed on my first out of the house ‘mission’. So I went down the shoreline, wandering away from all I knew. There was a large fishing boat there. The men –” My voice cracked and I took another drink. Natalie and Mia both looked at me with intense stares full of intrigue and sadness. I take a long pause before I regain my composure.

“They took my away from my home. They took me for all I was worth and then some. It took me a long time before I found the will to escape. I was so scared on that damn boat. I’m still scared now.