Coming of Age

Chapter 4

Dan looked up to see a boy about his age with dark black hair the color of crow’s feathers and icy blue eyes. He was beautiful like the others, but something stood out to Dan, he just couldn’t place his finger on it. He refused to say anything back. He wasn’t about to be mocked before carelessly fucked then eaten.

“I’m Philip,” the boy continued reaching out to touch Dan’s shoulder, his fingertips barely kissing the skin. “And you are Daniel.”

Dan nodded and looked around noticing that the adults were still standing by the staircase. He was the only one left, save for another boy that Jillian was all over.

“Will you follow me to my room, please?” Philip asked, leading Dan away, not quite waiting for an answer.

Abraham started saying something, but Dan was no longer listening. He was more afraid of what Philip was going to do to him once they got to his room. Philip blew out his candle and led him down a few hallways and up a staircase to a large room with white carpet and maroon walls. There were no windows in the room making it incredibly dark until Phil flipped the light switch on, brightening up the place. A large, golden chandelier hung from the ceiling lighting up the room so Dan had a chance to study it. There was a large, fluffy, king sized bed in the middle of the room with black, white, and maroon colored sheets and pillows filling it. A refrigerator was placed in the back corner of the room humming gently while the opposite of the room was home to a flat screen television and numerous video games and consoles.

“You’re shaking. Are you cold? Or scared?” Philip asked resting his freezing hand on Dan’s shoulder. “You’re not wearing many clothes. It is said for survival that humans feel warmer if they remove their clothes and press their bodies together for warmth.”

“Please,” Dan begged, trying his best not to cry knowing he wouldn’t stop shaking. “Please just do it quickly. I’ll obey and do whatever you need me to. Just do it quickly and don’t hurt me.”

“What are you talking about?” Philip asked. “Do you mean you want me to remove your last layer of clothes quickly?”

“No—I mean—whatever you have to do. I know you’re going to kill me so you can eat me.”

“What are you talking about, Daniel? Why do you think you’re here?”

“I know you and your friends are all cannibals and I don’t know how your society of rules work, but if you’re going to rape me before you kill me, just do it quickly. Please. I’ll behave and I’ll stay still. Just do it painlessly.”

Dan wanted nothing more than to stop shaking. He was literally vibrating, standing in this large room with his soon to be murderer and he couldn’t do anything about it but accept his circumstances and hopefully die without being in pain.

“You, what?” Philip giggled, then full on laughed. “You think we’re cannibals? You’re so funny, Daniel!”

“Am I entertaining you?” Dan shouted, still trembling, but now angry. “I was taken from my bed in the middle of the night, tied up, gagged, then thrown into a car. I was brought here and chained up and hooked up to this stupid thing,” he paused motioning towards his saline drip, “and knocked out. I’m then put in a line up where some girl grabs my ass, but I somehow end up being dragged up to this room with you so that you can rape me or eat me or whatever you plan on doing with me! I’m scared out of my mind and you’re laughing at me!”

“I’m sorry, Daniel. Please don’t be angry with me. You don’t need to be afraid of me.”

“You know what? No! People have been telling me that since I got here but I haven’t had one good reason not to fear you! I’m completely justified! No one is giving me answers and I’m sick of being left in the dark! If you want to kill me, fine. But don’t fucking mock me before you do it because I don’t understand what the hell everyone is going on about. Don’t laugh at me or think I’m some entertaining prop or ‘something pretty to look at’ because I’m not! I’m a person and—”

“Shh, don’t yell,” Philip whispered pressing his fingers to Dan’s forehead.

“Oh hell no! You’re going to knock me out?” Dan shouted trying to fight it.

“No, just calm you down. You’re really worked up right now and I don’t want you to hurt or strain yourself. There you are, just relax. I’m going to take care of you,” Philip cooed as Dan felt like he turned into liquid, melting into Philip’s hold.

“I’m sorry, Philip. I didn’t mean to yell. Please don’t put me to sleep. I’ll be good now,” Dan begged feeling himself being carried to the soft bed.

“Please, call me Phil.”

Dan closed his eyes nodding, feeling too tired to keep them open. Phil pulled back the covers and set Dan down carefully, pulling the blankets up to his chin, tucking it in on his sides. Dan sighed feeling much more relaxed than before and opened his eyes to see Phil sitting on the other side of the bed looking down at him.

“I’m not sure how much you were told, but no one is going to hurt you, Daniel. You’re safe here in the nest.”

“Nest?”

“Yes, that is what we call this place. It’s our home.”

“Home?”

“Are you just going to echo my last word back at me?” Phil giggled looking at a drowsy Dan.

“I…?”

“Oh my, I may have calmed you too much. That’s okay, it’ll only take a few hours to wake you back up. Relax, Daniel. I’m going to stay here with you. Just sleep.”

“Hmm, sleep?”

“Yes, sleep,” Phil smiled pulling Dan closer to him.

Dan wrapped his arm around Phil’s leg and closed his eyes. He felt like he was floating somewhere in between reality and dreamland, a foot in each world. He felt Phil running his fingers through his hair making him feel even more tired than before. It didn’t take long for him to fall asleep.