Monster (BWWM) complete

What's Remembered And What's True

Bryce pressed his last piece of bread soaked in watery broth passed his lips, chewed, before picking up the green plastic bowel in front of him and downing the remaining soup inside. His lips smacked together as he swallowed.

"Come, Aunt Maria is waiting." The large man who had delivered his food and now stood over him said. Bryce's collar hit the floor with a rattle and he gently rubbed his scarred neck.

He stood with the help of the basement's wall and limped after Marcus. It had been a week and a half since his 'survival experience' and things had returned to normal. Though he saw a lot less of Krissy then he would of liked, in fact it had been four days since he had seen her last. His hands shook and his fingers twitched at the thought. She no longer slept in the basement with him. Anxiousness stung at his shoulders when he thought of it too much.

"Maria is your aunt?" Bryce asked Marcus quietly, although he was already well aware of the fact that she was. His bare-feet smacked against the basement's stairs as he shuffled up them. Sometimes Marcus would speak with him, which was welcomed considering he no longer spoke to many people.

Marcus was quiet and spoke bluntly. He followed Maria around constantly and always did as the woman told him to. Bryce had never seen him argue with the woman, talk back, do anything other then follow her orders. Sometimes he could see the fear the large man held towards the much smaller woman, it was almost a reflection of his own.

"She is my father's sister." Marcus pushed open the basement's door and lead him out into a narrow, dusty hall, ill-lighted by dusty lights hanging on the walls. Marcus's heavy footsteps vibrated the floor with each solid step he took.

Bryce waited for Marcus to unlock and open the hall's door and lead him out into the main house before again speaking."How long... have you been with her?"

"My papa was murdered when I was seven... since then."

Bryce almost faltered a step. He watched the large man's back as he followed him up the main stairwell of Maria's home. "What... What about your Mother?" Being raised by Maria couldn't have been easy.

"Aunt Maria deemed her unfit." His shoulders squared and Bryce sensed he wouldn't get anymore of his questions answered.

Bryce quieted as they walked down a hall with cream colored walls and came to a stop outside of a room with a thick wooden door and a golden handle. Marcus brought a large hand down on it three times. "Aunt Maria," he called.

"Come in, Marcus." Maria's voice filtered through the closed door.

Bryce felt his apprehension grow along with his fear, his left hand closed around his right wrist, gently picking at the skin. Marcus opened the door and stepped inside and he was forced to follow.

The first thing he noticed when he entered into the office was Krissy, she was directly across from him, sitting in one of the two brown leather chairs by an open window, with a book in her hands, she looked almost normal. She looked up when they walked in, her eyes zeroing in on him as well, widening in surprise.

He felt a smile lift up the edges of his lips and happiness swell in his chest. Krissy was alright. She didn't return his smile and instead looked away. It was alright though.

"Aren't you going to greet me, Bryce." He flinched. Having no choice but to look away, Bryce turned his head, eyes landing on Maria. The woman sat behind a black desk, a pair of light-green glasses hanging off her nose. "I'm hurt, truly."

"I'm sorry...Mother," He quickly said with a pained smile. "Go-Good Afternoon."

Maria smirked and leaned back into the black leather of her office chair. "Oh, am I supposed to forgive you now?"

Bryce frowned. Of course not, nothing was ever that easy. "Only if you would want to." He answered.

Maria laughed. "I like you more everyday." She leaned forward. "Krissy, leave us. Go do laundry."

His attention instantly snapped to the girl mentioned. She glanced at Maria before looking at him again, raising to her feet, book being sat down gently on the table between the two chairs. She was wearing the white T-shirt and gray skirt again, but her hair was now out and framed her face. The scar on her face was now scabbed over and fading.

His eyes followed her until she slid by him, vanishing out of the office doorway. As she walked by his nose was filled with the odor of plum spice. It was sort of like Marcus, but also different, more like what Maria smelled like.

"Bryce," Maria called.

He turned his attention back on the woman.

"How was your meal?" She asked slowly, her gaze returning to her computer.

Bryce hesitated. "I enjoyed it a lot. Thank you for that, Mother." He told the woman what she had likely wanted to hear.

Maria nodded. "Yes, I do control everything that happens inside my home and to those who live here. Such a thing I should be thanked for." He tried seeing what the woman was getting at. What was her ploy? What was her game this time? He could imagine he wouldn't like it. "My happiness is very important, isn't it?" The woman finally looked up from her computer. He didn't bother answering. "Come take a look at this." She pushed back in her chair, rolling it back a little, leaving a little room for Bryce in front of the computer screen.

Bryce hesitated but the woman's expectant face forced him around the desk. His body stiffened as he came to stand next to Maria, half expecting to receive some form of pain. When nothing came, he focused on the computer.

There was a picture of a man. Brown hair and brown eyes, nothing special, just a man.

"That man's name is Edgar Porter, but most call him 'EP'." Maria spoke. "He works for me, not directly obviously but a few branches down, actually quite a few branches down. He's over one of my services in New Mexico..." She laughed for some reason. "I've been wondering what to do with Krissy."

Bryce frowned so hard his forehead ached. He turned and backed away from the computer, pressing his back into the bookshelf behind the desk. What did those two things have to do with one another?

Maria's smile widened. "'EP' looks after a few girls we use for sex-trafficking." No... Bryce's blood ran cold and his lips parted to speak. Maria held up a hand silencing him. "Shut up." She ordered. "Don't interrupt just yet before I have even had a chance to give you your options." Maria sighed. Bryce's body had began to shake, his eyes wide. If Maria noticed, she ignored it. "'EP' has been dipping a little bit too much into merchandise recently, although he has brought in more girls. He overworks his girls, making them do private parties for him and pleasuring him so much that they perform half-ass for customers who actually matter, which gives my organization a bad review. I've warned him once, I've warned him twice, he's still doing it. My organization is still getting bad reviews. Now, my question for you Bryce is... Should I reward him with a new girl who he can have all for himself and give him one more warning verses punishing him." She locked eyes with the horrified boy. "Have you punish him."

Bryce began to shake his head.

"So send him Krissy? I've heard he had a thing for the exotic look anywa-"

"No!" Bryce roared desperately, "no, never. Please...you cannot give Krissy to him."

"So, you'll punish him for me?"

Bryce felt his throat tighten. There wasn't a choice here. "W-What will I have to do?" He lowered his head in acceptance.

Maria crossed her arms and one leg over the other, bright pink nails tapping against her bare arm.

"I don't want to recognize his face."