Hidden Helper - Hidden Helper

June, a fourteen-year-old girl, lives with her parents and a younger brother. Isolated and struggling with self-worth, she has always been overshadowed by her parents’ constant criticism and neglect. Their unrelenting taunts have left her grappling with a lack of confidence and a sense of invisibility.

Setting: June sat at the end of the long, wooden dining table, her plate barely touched. Her parents sat at the opposite end, engrossed in their conversation about work and finances, barely acknowledging her presence.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwYTwESCIv

“June, how are your grades?” her father asked abruptly, not looking up from his plate.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJj50rvWfR

“Fine,” June replied quietly, staring at her food. She knew better than to share her struggles with her parents, who seemed more interested in discussing their own issues.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9nGPxefVV

“Just fine?” her mother interjected. “You need to do better if you want to get into a good college.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUmm5OHbDR

June nodded, but her heart sank. She had tried so hard, but it never seemed to be enough. The silence that followed was thick and uncomfortable, as if her presence was an inconvenience.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1IogMdi65

Setting: June’s small, cluttered bedroom. The walls are decorated with posters of artists and dreamlike landscapes. June sits at her desk, working on an art project.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalEhmUqC3Y

June sat at her desk, a sketchpad spread out before her. She was absorbed in drawing, her pencil moving swiftly across the page. Her door was slightly ajar, and she could hear her parents arguing down the hallway, their voices rising.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43ynuIYcbK

“This is exactly why she’s failing!” her mother’s voice was sharp. “She doesn’t care about her future.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeAItY95hd

“She’ll be fine,” her father retorted. “She just needs to apply herself.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtiFEynJl7

June tried to block out the noise, focusing on the swirls of color and lines on her paper. Art was her escape, her way of finding peace amid the chaos. She could lose herself in it for hours, feeling the weight of the world lift off her shoulders, if only for a little while.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWkzaYS5Cp

Setting: A crowded middle school hallway during lunch break. Students bustle around, laughing and chatting. June stands alone at her locker, clutching her books.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyNA29Fy8d

June stood by her locker, her gaze fixed on the floor as she avoided eye contact with the groups of students laughing and talking around her. She could hear snippets of conversations about weekend plans and upcoming tests, but she felt disconnected from it all.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIdUBA8azr

A group of popular kids walked by, their laughter echoing in the hall. One of them, a boy named Ryan, glanced at her with a smirk. “Hey, June! How’s it going?”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcV2xlXoPW

June looked up, forcing a small smile. “Hi, Ryan.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiRpuf2e3I

He nodded and continued walking, his friends following behind, leaving June feeling invisible once more. She sighed, closing her locker and heading to the cafeteria, where she found a quiet corner to sit alone.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3glfbNGN9

Setting: June’s bedroom, late evening. June is studying at her desk. Her mother bursts in, her face tense.

June was hunched over her textbooks, trying to make sense of her homework. The door to her room flung open, and her mother stormed in.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJRSfWe7y0

“June, we need to talk,” her mother said, her voice tight with frustration.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeA2O1xbnL

June looked up, startled. “About what?”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWXG6UJof5

“About your grades!” her mother snapped. “You can’t keep ignoring your responsibilities. You’re falling behind.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEbNLM7cDh

June’s heart raced as she tried to keep her voice steady. “I’m trying my best. I just need more time.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPVMrBWmJN

“Time isn’t going to fix this,” her mother replied sharply. “You need to get your act together.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3kEi1Qteb

The argument continued, a familiar pattern of blame and frustration. June felt tears sting her eyes but fought them back. She wished for understanding, but it seemed out of reach.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwxs3uyLzB

June never imagined her life would turn into a nightmare—and then something even more confusing. At fourteen, she was already familiar with the feeling of being unloved, neglected by her family and overlooked in every possible way. Still, she wasn’t prepared for what came next.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBV7H9Xmvv

One dark, silent evening, while walking home from school, she was snatched off the street. A rough hand clamped over her mouth, and a shadowy figure dragged her into a van. Panic hit her like a tidal wave as the door slammed shut. In that moment, fear consumed her.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiDgIEe3M7

"Stop struggling," the man growled, his voice low and calm, which only made her fear spike. She kicked and thrashed, but his grip tightened.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXEc2GC07v

He wasn’t gentle. His face remained hidden in the dim light, but she could feel the menace radiating from him. Why me? June thought frantically, heart pounding. All she wanted was to disappear back into the safety of her dull, neglected life.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOX0rcvUQJs

Days passed, each one more unbearable than the last. She was kept in a small, shabby room in a house somewhere far from home. The man, her captor, didn’t speak much. When he did, his words were clipped, cold.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjppkp6aZy0

"Eat," he said, shoving a plate of food at her. "I’m not going to kill you, but you’ll need your strength."

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH68pgrwxjT

Not going to kill me? June scoffed inside her mind, her hatred building with every passing moment. She was convinced this man had ruined her life. Her family was probably frantic, searching for her—at least that’s what she told herself to keep the loneliness at bay.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OVfCKUxba

She refused to eat for days, hoping to make him suffer the way she was suffering. He didn’t seem to care.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJiFqLpPOm

“You’re only hurting yourself,” he would mutter, his face expressionless.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZ5hXSvTXh

Every time he came close, she glared at him, wishing she had the strength to fight, to escape. She spent her nights awake, trying to piece together an escape plan. But he was always there, watching quietly, waiting for something—though she couldn’t figure out what.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡselsAIHlhE

Weeks passed, and one day, the phone rang. June overheard the man talking on the other end, her heart leaping at the thought that someone might be looking for her.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡja63S1Qqvs

"I have your daughter," the man said, his voice steady.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJ4Hj1aXM1

June held her breath, waiting for the frantic response, the desperate plea to get her back.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWdlPfI50S

“Keep her. Or sell her if you don't wanna keep.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOdMrglhqv

Her mother’s voice, cold as ice, sliced through June’s heart. The words repeated in her head like a broken record: Keep her. Keep her.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk97FO2E2JF

That was the moment she realized the truth—no one was coming for her. Not her mother, not her father. No one cared that she was gone. The rage and hurt that had been simmering inside her turned cold. She hated this man, but she hated her family even more. It was a new kind of pain, one that cut deeper than anything she had felt before.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74PjXZji3h

The man hung up the phone and glanced at her. For the first time, he looked less like a predator and more like... something else. But June didn’t care. She hated him. She hated everyone.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfG0UloR85

Over time, her captor's behavior started to confuse her. He wasn't violent, and despite her constant glares and attempts to provoke him, he never retaliated. He wasn’t what she expected. He brought her food every day, clean clothes, and even books—none of which she touched at first. She didn’t want his pity or kindness. She didn’t want anything from him.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYpwopc24Q

One day, after what felt like years but was only months, she snapped.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7GAgKGUks

“Why are you keeping me here?” she screamed, throwing the plate of food across the room. “What do you want from me? Just kill me already!”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHhOiNUK9P

He didn’t flinch, didn’t even blink. He calmly crouched down to pick up the shattered pieces of the plate, his movements slow and deliberate.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnGVRaHY9j

“I’m not going to kill you, June,” he said quietly. “You’re safer here than out there with them.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZeGM9JwwC

His words made her blood boil. She hated the way he acted like he knew her, like he understood her life. He doesn’t know anything! she thought furiously. She wanted to scream again, to fight him, but she was too exhausted. Instead, she sank to the floor, feeling defeated.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpp1KBzyoJg

Weeks turned into months, and something strange began to happen. The man—who she still couldn’t bring herself to call by name—started teaching her things. Self-defense. Survival skills. He told her to be strong, that the world wasn’t kind. And for reasons she couldn’t understand, she listened.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfltkNihg1n

It started small. One day, she asked him a question. Another day, she followed his instructions during training. Soon, they weren’t just two strangers locked in a room together. They were something else entirely.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXBJ3PNAjG

He wasn’t cruel like she had once thought. In fact, he treated her better than her own family ever did. The realization hit her one morning when he brought her breakfast. She looked at him, really looked at him, and felt something shift inside her.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlS91IaBIv5

As months passed, June’s feelings changed from fear to confusion, and finally to something like gratitude. She couldn’t hate him anymore. He wasn’t the monster she had believed him to be. He had taken her from a life where she was invisible and made her feel... seen. Slowly, reluctantly, she felt herself beginning to trust him.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkU0Onp376

One evening, as they sat in silence after training, June broke the quiet.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhASBj2nZX

“Why did you take me?”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinsDUdxpST

The man didn’t look at her immediately. He sat back, watching the sun set through the dirty window.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkhAseS1T5

“I saw what they did to you,” he finally said, his voice soft. “You deserved better.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiGEmGL2pb

June’s chest tightened. She hated that his words made her feel something—some kind of connection. But it was there, undeniable.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUO35JPPaVp

“Are you going to let me go?” she asked quietly.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHEjhh1qP6

He didn’t answer right away, but when he did, his voice was steady. “Only when you’re ready.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrM02BTuRH

Months turned into a year, and June had changed. She was no longer the helpless, invisible girl she had been when she was first taken. She had become stronger, both physically and mentally. The bond between her and the man had grown into something she never expected—affection, even trust.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVK5h5pCHzX

One day, the phone rang again. It was the hospital. Her brother was sick, and only her blood could save him.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgV3XwRobB

She went to the hospital, gave her blood, but when her mother appeared to ask her to come back, June simply shook her head.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIH0KdHap7m

“I’m not coming back,” she said firmly. “You never wanted me. Now, I don’t need you.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCfJUwgDz3

She returned to the house that had become her home, where the man who had once been her captor was now the only family she knew.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0ojzDi202

“Welcome back,” he said as she walked through the door.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CBKn5bcdj

June smiled for the first time in a long time. “I’m home.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuvMF0yl9W

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIHM0bQR2f

Setting: The living room of June’s family home. The room is warm, lit up with the soft glow of lamps. Her parents are anxiously waiting, their faces etched with a mixture of relief and guilt. June stands at the doorway, looking hesitant but resolute.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrfiZzZj13

June took a deep breath and stepped into the house she had once called home. The familiar but distant scent of her childhood filled the air—clean laundry, old books, and something faintly reminiscent of home-cooked meals. It was strange how the place, once a symbol of neglect, now felt oddly comforting.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAFF3W8kd4

Her mother was the first to rush forward, tears in her eyes. “June! Oh, June, we’re so sorry. We should have—”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQQFRB5S0s

June held up a hand, stopping her mother mid-sentence. “Save it. I didn’t come back for apologies. I came because I wanted to see if there was anything left for me here.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88EoXcxQuO

Her father, looking equally contrite, stepped forward. “We didn’t know... we thought you were lost to us forever. We should have done more.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWOHnc8TdS

June’s heart ached. Part of her wanted to embrace the small sense of victory, but another part was still raw from the abandonment. “I helped my brother because it was the right thing to do. But this... this doesn’t change anything.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1cNDIYO2f

Setting: Back at the kidnapper’s home, the man sat in silence, staring at a photo of June. The room felt colder, emptier. He had grown accustomed to her presence—the sound of her laughter, the way she would ask questions, her silent resilience. Without her, the house seemed too quiet, too still.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYrRkGtzgV

He walked to the window, gazing out at the street, his heart heavy. He missed her more than he had anticipated. The space she had once filled was now a painful void, and the house seemed too big, too quiet without her. The days felt longer, and the nights were filled with thoughts of her, of what they had shared.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3wszEUh9o

He had always known that letting her go was part of the deal, but the reality of it was unbearable. He busied himself with tasks around the house, but his mind kept wandering to her absence. He even found himself checking the time, hoping for a phone call or a message that would signal her return.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2OghGcCZ0

Setting: June’s family home, somehow they have forced June to stay atleast one night. The next morning, June was sitting at the kitchen table, her family surrounding her, trying to make amends with lavish meals and heartfelt apologies. As June looked around, she felt a pang of something missing.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡox1WXUq1io

“June,” her mother said, breaking the silence, “we’ve arranged everything for you to come back to live with us. We’re sorry, truly.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAaIFninC9

June looked at her mother’s hopeful face and then at her father’s remorseful expression. She could see they were trying, but the effort felt hollow. A part of her wanted to believe them, but another part—one that had grown strong and independent—was unsure.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXck01JOxrf

Setting: Back at the kidnapper’s home. The man sat at the dinner table, the plate of food in front of him untouched. The phone rang suddenly, startling him. He picked it up with trembling hands.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynZLnfqDlh

“Hello?”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxqhdF2Hjs

A familiar voice came through the line. “It’s me, June.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvibhCHhgVm

His heart skipped a beat. “June... where are you?”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4ImVpkIUL

“I’m at home,” she said. “I came back because they needed me. But I didn’t forget you. I just needed to see if I could find something here.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXssjoNfee

He felt a wave of relief wash over him. “You’re okay?”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLtsk4oB5X

“Yes,” she replied. “I’m fine. But I wanted to let you know that I miss you. I miss this place too. It’s strange, but... I want to come back.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1mkia8yjS

Setting: The kidnapper’s home, moments later. The doorbell rang. The man’s heart raced as he hurried to open it.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSekWU6z5C

June stood at the doorway, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She looked different—more confident, yet vulnerable. The man’s breath caught in his throat as he saw her standing there.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeATRIwBVd

“June,” he said, his voice choked with emotion. “You’re back.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8aJJzIlmC

June stepped inside, and he took her hands in his, his eyes searching hers. “I had to come back. I’ve realized what you’ve done for me. This... this is where I belong now.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvkbwkfGk2

The man’s face broke into a rare, heartfelt smile. The heaviness that had settled in his heart lifted as he realized that she was home, and not just in the house, but in the place where she was truly loved and cared for.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPO2EJ1UgUl

“I’m glad you’re back,” he said softly. “I missed you more than you know.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzHECk4FPc

June smiled, a tear escaping down her cheek. “I missed you too. Thank you—for everything.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLHl8fYBNY

They embraced, and in that moment, the past pain and confusion seemed to dissolve. The house, which had once felt empty, now felt whole again with June’s return. It was a new beginning for both of them—a chance to rebuild what had been lost.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlWihOe785

Afterwards, June and her captor, driven by their shared experiences, begin to gather all the children who longed for freedom and the girls who were constrained by their parents' expectations. They create a sanctuary where these young souls can finally experience life on their own terms, embracing their autonomy and forging their own paths.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9dc4KfePN

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWEc3Slfl6

“June, how are your grades?” her father asked abruptly, not looking up from his plate.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoW2NfE6gwB

“Fine,” June replied quietly, staring at her food. She knew better than to share her struggles with her parents, who seemed more interested in discussing their own issues.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wwUxC4uMI

“Just fine?” her mother interjected. “You need to do better if you want to get into a good college.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBaVB5MQIN

June nodded, but her heart sank. She had tried so hard, but it never seemed to be enough. The silence that followed was thick and uncomfortable, as if her presence was an inconvenience.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cqop4kHLS

Setting: June’s small, cluttered bedroom. The walls are decorated with posters of artists and dreamlike landscapes. June sits at her desk, working on an art project.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1LYbU0Fbf

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRLmRf1mia

“This is exactly why she’s failing!” her mother’s voice was sharp. “She doesn’t care about her future.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvxS0xaF2v

“She’ll be fine,” her father retorted. “She just needs to apply herself.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvwlfPgSzc

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4B2xD0F2I

Setting: A crowded middle school hallway during lunch break. Students bustle around, laughing and chatting. June stands alone at her locker, clutching her books.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3w7nKS3FIF

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVcpmxkz9k

A group of popular kids walked by, their laughter echoing in the hall. One of them, a boy named Ryan, glanced at her with a smirk. “Hey, June! How’s it going?”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCDz4MxRmA

June looked up, forcing a small smile. “Hi, Ryan.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVjGr3DM0Z

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYWSzRF441

Setting: June’s bedroom, late evening. June is studying at her desk. Her mother bursts in, her face tense.

June was hunched over her textbooks, trying to make sense of her homework. The door to her room flung open, and her mother stormed in.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcayUFVSMX

“June, we need to talk,” her mother said, her voice tight with frustration.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTowBeaT33

June looked up, startled. “About what?”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQAsZI0Us3

“About your grades!” her mother snapped. “You can’t keep ignoring your responsibilities. You’re falling behind.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJq60Inyc6

June’s heart raced as she tried to keep her voice steady. “I’m trying my best. I just need more time.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYkdx3HTjA

“Time isn’t going to fix this,” her mother replied sharply. “You need to get your act together.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7jvVfq9uI

The argument continued, a familiar pattern of blame and frustration. June felt tears sting her eyes but fought them back. She wished for understanding, but it seemed out of reach.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGo6ETplGp

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eKaJrBthk

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eoia1EYGK

"Stop struggling," the man growled, his voice low and calm, which only made her fear spike. She kicked and thrashed, but his grip tightened.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfM2LIs6L2

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFwpkbD3m9

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxonWlVjPnL

"Eat," he said, shoving a plate of food at her. "I’m not going to kill you, but you’ll need your strength."

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnnGQVV73N

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYEj6opVqk

She refused to eat for days, hoping to make him suffer the way she was suffering. He didn’t seem to care.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1c7XFbsySG

“You’re only hurting yourself,” he would mutter, his face expressionless.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtm4faX6p4P

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbyxeTmdHz

Weeks passed, and one day, the phone rang. June overheard the man talking on the other end, her heart leaping at the thought that someone might be looking for her.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8cnYirlIc

"I have your daughter," the man said, his voice steady.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Co4G8EsTj

June held her breath, waiting for the frantic response, the desperate plea to get her back.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iSEhLgExX

“Keep her. Or sell her if you don't wanna keep.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNXV2FfEzy

Her mother’s voice, cold as ice, sliced through June’s heart. The words repeated in her head like a broken record: Keep her. Keep her.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuMm34lCot

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxmXN6jUM4

The man hung up the phone and glanced at her. For the first time, he looked less like a predator and more like... something else. But June didn’t care. She hated him. She hated everyone.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlnwLz8akN

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Sr7ZvqSyC

One day, after what felt like years but was only months, she snapped.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvuI02Z4gK

“Why are you keeping me here?” she screamed, throwing the plate of food across the room. “What do you want from me? Just kill me already!”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJGwgq6GeC

He didn’t flinch, didn’t even blink. He calmly crouched down to pick up the shattered pieces of the plate, his movements slow and deliberate.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgi8imopmfR

“I’m not going to kill you, June,” he said quietly. “You’re safer here than out there with them.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69vcjvJfBM

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5NihZ4cei

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZnjqx7zm2

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlN4vxdLRd

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUL7TmULsuJ

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKLtJcax5V

One evening, as they sat in silence after training, June broke the quiet.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQDbTJ3idS

“Why did you take me?”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAGw7yK92H

The man didn’t look at her immediately. He sat back, watching the sun set through the dirty window.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOsoBu6kRP

“I saw what they did to you,” he finally said, his voice soft. “You deserved better.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdKlI6MTdn

June’s chest tightened. She hated that his words made her feel something—some kind of connection. But it was there, undeniable.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZr3LZ2r8aF

“Are you going to let me go?” she asked quietly.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CJmFIGHwx

He didn’t answer right away, but when he did, his voice was steady. “Only when you’re ready.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4eshFXQyb

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjBjPjL3In

One day, the phone rang again. It was the hospital. Her brother was sick, and only her blood could save him.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsoZdarfjZ

She went to the hospital, gave her blood, but when her mother appeared to ask her to come back, June simply shook her head.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrlxqVXTvb

“I’m not coming back,” she said firmly. “You never wanted me. Now, I don’t need you.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU84iJoJnQB

She returned to the house that had become her home, where the man who had once been her captor was now the only family she knew.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchwtzsko7o

“Welcome back,” he said as she walked through the door.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA17HeBhVD4

June smiled for the first time in a long time. “I’m home.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGtS77ouPk

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7KH5HUXat

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhBpfmOFHF

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8FppypZiu

Her mother was the first to rush forward, tears in her eyes. “June! Oh, June, we’re so sorry. We should have—”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxjLv54LO5

June held up a hand, stopping her mother mid-sentence. “Save it. I didn’t come back for apologies. I came because I wanted to see if there was anything left for me here.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvedMFztuc

Her father, looking equally contrite, stepped forward. “We didn’t know... we thought you were lost to us forever. We should have done more.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkI997jPH0d

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlquXxGxP0

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT57XClhx8n

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jbFRPWMrz

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NkM2ZmWTa

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Rx9uXfui0

“June,” her mother said, breaking the silence, “we’ve arranged everything for you to come back to live with us. We’re sorry, truly.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRQdFvZnm1

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRgilChVUc

Setting: Back at the kidnapper’s home. The man sat at the dinner table, the plate of food in front of him untouched. The phone rang suddenly, startling him. He picked it up with trembling hands.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFmSk2WCFY

“Hello?”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1LV6oEATI

A familiar voice came through the line. “It’s me, June.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gGskv4Gj3

His heart skipped a beat. “June... where are you?”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9lnmJ1laN

“I’m at home,” she said. “I came back because they needed me. But I didn’t forget you. I just needed to see if I could find something here.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEhFUnXRVU

He felt a wave of relief wash over him. “You’re okay?”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAxJooJK3c

“Yes,” she replied. “I’m fine. But I wanted to let you know that I miss you. I miss this place too. It’s strange, but... I want to come back.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0s8nDnghs6

Setting: The kidnapper’s home, moments later. The doorbell rang. The man’s heart raced as he hurried to open it.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VtOJ4CCuS

June stood at the doorway, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She looked different—more confident, yet vulnerable. The man’s breath caught in his throat as he saw her standing there.

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJHGOIiMnG

“June,” he said, his voice choked with emotion. “You’re back.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXABT23AyR

June stepped inside, and he took her hands in his, his eyes searching hers. “I had to come back. I’ve realized what you’ve done for me. This... this is where I belong now.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLvdGTOGAo

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52HpacYEgX

“I’m glad you’re back,” he said softly. “I missed you more than you know.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgk9RAUJXEJ

June smiled, a tear escaping down her cheek. “I missed you too. Thank you—for everything.”

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRiMAHxSC5

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6oY9SvWT8

554Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2ipJ2B8Be

ns216.73.216.179da2

Reading Theme:

Font Size:

Line Spacing:

Paragraph Spacing:

Load the next issue automatically