CAGED

Chapter 23: Waking Up

I am awake laying in Ryan's bed and staring at the ceiling. I haven't moved yet, though I've been up for a half hour now, because when I tried to sit up the first time my back felt like it was on fire. I remember what happened with Aaron in the basement, and I remember seeing my dad in Limbo. I remember what he said and what he showed me. I have to get out of here.

I hear the door open amd I painfully turn my head to look at who it is, the skin on my shoulders screaming in protest. I see Ryan hesitantly standing in the doorway watching me. I look back to the ceiling and take a deep breath, despite the throbbing sensation all across my body.

"You can come in," I tell Ryan as he slowly steps inside his own room. "Thank you for saving me." I bite my tongue and wait for his response. I need him to pity me so I can make my escape. I know it won't be today, mostly because of the amount of agony I am in, but he needs to trust me entirely so I can leave at some point.

"If I would have known what Aaron would do," Ryan says slowly, his voice strained. "Then I wouldn't have invited him here." Ryan makes his way to the bed and sits on the side, causing it to dip towards him.

"It wasn't just Aaron you know," I say carefully. I'm worried how the next part will cause him to react, but I have to say it. "Jason tried to rape me. H-he made me s-suck him off." I try to hold back a sob but it squeezes its way out anyways.

"He what?" Ryan asks carefully, anger slowly lacing its way into his tone.

"H-he t-tried to r-rape me," I sob against the words. "If J-Jesse hadn't come in w-when he did, t-then Jason w-would have s-suceeded." My sobs turned into agonizing cries as my body shook. Ryan slowly stood up and left the room without another word. I know he's going downstairs because I can hear the creak of the first two steps.

I try to calm myself down so I don't cause anymore discomfort to myself, but so can hear yelling. I can't make out the words, but it's loud and angry. I hear a loud crashing noise and some thuds. It sounds like fighting, full with fist throwing and body slamming. Suddenly I hear the front door slam shut and I know Jason is gone, probably worse for wear.

I ignore the sounds of Ryan hitting the walls downstairs and instead try to focus on my breathing to calm myself down. It takes several minutes but I manage to both stop crying and to sit up in the bed. There's several pillows behind me to prop me up because I know I can't sit up on my own yet. Aaron really did a mumber on me when I was passed out, or dead, or probably both.

Ryan doesn't come back for another half hour, leaving me to my thoughts. All I can think about is my dad, and my mom. She's still out there looking for me, offering her entire savings for some hint that I'm still alive. Ryan made me believe that nobody was looking for me anymore, that it had been too long. He was wrong, I now realize. He probably knew that my mother was searching for me, but it's easier to break a persons spirit when they have no hope.

An hour has passed when Ryan finally makes his way into the rook again, a tray with food in his hands. He sets the tray on the bed and looks cautiously at me. The tray has a bowl of tomato soup with a grilled cheese and a mug of hot something to drink. I slowly reach for the mug first and take a sip, sighing in content as the peppermint tea washes down my throat. He stands there watching me as I silently eat the food.

When I finish eating I set the spoon down oj the tray and look at Ryan. "Thank you for the food," I tell him in a soft voice. Ryan nods his head and lifts the tray without saying anything and goes to the door. He pauses and looks over his shoulder at me.

"You're welcome," he says carefully. "Rest for the remainder of the day, tomorrow you're back to your room."

"Yes sir," I nod to him as I bring my legs back up onto the bed. My movements are slow and cautious so that I don't irritate my back and I know that Ryan is watching me intently. I try to ignore him as I settle back onto the bed and into the pillows and blankets.

Ryan doesn't say anything as he tears his eyes away from me and leaves the room, the door clicking shut behind him. He doesn't lock it because he knows I won't leave, I can't leave. Not yet. I have to be prepared, amd I have to be healed. I have to behave so that I don't get punished. I have to be smart about how I do this whole thing.

I shift myself down into a comfortable position and close my eyes. I decide to sleep for a little while and get some of my strength back. I'll need the rest for the next part of my plan.

A/N: I'm sorry about the super delay in updating! We moved, and I switched jobs, and hurt my back and it's been a crazy month. But I willbe updating regularly again!