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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClp85wafvY

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjltU9O9iZ

“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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXi7X8bTsV

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRB33dpRNVe

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGClfxTjGmi

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kQIpl86Cv

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8GFx1xICf

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCy6BGcHTL

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF36WNo0z3w

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAZuMujv41

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujUKrp8TQ7

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUULsOjJ7tJ

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?”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbIBc8NUrY

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdk6qygQSEN

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPiqnMVX1h

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PX3y3ysGW

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGN2B49oIC

June looked up, startled. “About what?”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEERqc4D6D

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7GPNoQ2Jf

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzifAsDHvr

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTg2EQhWPB

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9T5Ro2nIUW

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwWDl14YQO

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyozp1GSSg

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhMPFyR8qA

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPmMOpPiK0

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQQYz0F5BB

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Jk8h9V9uF

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pCaJFgtsL

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2M1FLiYQh1

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiPFEbwMP9

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMv8ABIZPv0

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8bKgnF1Sq

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSphQ5c73kl

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNQoOLWnj7

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCJt2lL058

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZr5RjHPhST

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg4IF6KpVu

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11GwGeAt7Q

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdgkPqBU2R

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEBvsj8gGh

“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!”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoNp4G4b9O

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspseZsSSZl

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zVsRd7h0E

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVP10BfMnrT

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQYnfUmOCF

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5P6hVIQFRk

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExFHJWQIPo

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlC6ZkE7mE

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3aM3XSOh6

“Why did you take me?”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29GbqSURXB

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfQm8tZLOJ

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tX79tplWE

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnvlPCxfSK

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfb2OTAq6h

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DCJBy0H5S

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUBS2XWSbD

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2yz6UT4UW

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzx5TUWW6t

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4IQZHpbvX

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGlkkNfGpv

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMhSpzEyKZ

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN25G0ZBgX

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkrB2FliRk

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbz1kgJjc6

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AHA7G7VcI

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcudjHZ4jwD

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.”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO14ncHIXq0

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznsfXO6iRt

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.”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7AwiNsIsK

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUOngr2ZUY

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCc6GCUJV2z

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetKHbmSErG

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeb8uxH4k97

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbI4U91pCzy

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Gsmbyg2xY

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARtdRNItZ9

“Hello?”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdguYj496TX

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAN9VYGiV2

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFUIFGsNO1

“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.”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVnD7zeoWl

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxhVZnlOq3

“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.”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oKgL0qh32

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0jFaACtYn

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn91JrqyeSp

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUM4flXHzhe

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.”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7olOoIIAs

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gnB1OxlU5

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINHuDnnGsj

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ92bx3by5A

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKf08YH49vd

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrzBN4NWuv

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zVAyjTQ2O

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhavySuUPKD

“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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOPAG6EFqF

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzUsHq1bbU

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCFNBmTO76

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQ45B87pOE

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAeLC7KMVh

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkydiGnQIFX

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnf9vbd5Lce

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwpI3IN088

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjOsOXoyyD

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5pPb4P34U

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?”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbO7G2z6eBc

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsefB429VV

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0MAAj6P7z

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcGrdDJJ1G

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqzFpXHnCW

June looked up, startled. “About what?”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZ804VvxRB

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsB0cusoFV

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMenEmexGs

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RwT4ed9bD

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRYtXiSQUo

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDVhelYZk2

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9W1F11LSBu

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLA8uS8IlH

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49HxjvltjK

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCC6U1i3pjl

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8h6aNbetXM

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuQ0nA2hwX

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeR8FLpaShN

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkF9NfSIpry

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqRyN84YEe

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6H8E8IatEl

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5279fC2biN

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJe1VAwu5CD

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3ccFaYq2c

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2LJoqLmw8

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUN8q2tSO8

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLce5n6HGE

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHganqXp9R

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQPNL42mys

“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!”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGQ1qsKLXK

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjJJbWZF0g

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FE2W22b28

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVjpGnu916

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqokA4HQNQ

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOLSnOLopT

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6N7hDDGaHo

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZU2egBXr7

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLP51SgTJv

“Why did you take me?”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmA5jM2dpSF

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSOkynnTS0

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXra4dlcZB

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUbwOlp12K

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2MI6TDaLN

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnrNTkSrcH

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56GAeEqwr0

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66ZX5Rdlr2

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArvG20savJ

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8h3rAwKKRr

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUp7Wr8rapD

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDxEpKzOU7

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4OyA7OQ3o

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxd8BJ2X0Ca

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5D08R8eaz

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yUcPvpmeE

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKC41uljTdS

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.”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09zJKRg62W

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFz53HY8UL0

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWof9JwLnv

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMxvnfH90M

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SqlPrKNso

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYXKkTPspr

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdutmww3eCQ

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡespeUaHOrZ

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8VvtVdj0F

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxjudHdL4J

“Hello?”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZqnVKYdol

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9yhiE2Vr8

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBq1RsDvpkw

“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.”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfl2pYnO4U7

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7J4msBpLs

“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.”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuQNCLnP4j

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeL9sP3TUKn

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.

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrs8sjSSpSb

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TKL3AdrtJ

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.”

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJsXCb4yeH

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3Gq08UUds

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr90YvDzZgb

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

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflZ36xEZzW

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhz1VJgXYt

320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvNQk1cUzv

ns216.73.216.228da2

介面主題:

字體大小:

行距:

段距:

自動加載下一章