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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxT1pwMcGo

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9dmMHXP7j

“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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljnhXH4fX5

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfmOAAtLsT

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX73lXxzVeh

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldYu9010c7

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvm568Jsp7

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KwnvXmirX

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU71BafnSEP

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AKwzFvCPZ

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVdLu2b0hX

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UfwPpKp8K

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?”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rakEOR3Zz

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCv4mnHFaS

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pqebXAcIC

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBorGveZJnN

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNkqE5ppk7

June looked up, startled. “About what?”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAggMlcRKSt

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYRzJC7OfO

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuV17Ti7Lab

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkZwP8PuCd

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjYnqZP8U6

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtv3qb10Qfm

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ogIiXA3E6

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0biSTkgvA

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZBo4SgtGf

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ECs4nGVCq

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGlj1Mhkz2

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYV7e5a7H3

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxEfZupxbI

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPHSIBXiGd

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuPsm9Ofiz

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eoeLB42ax

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9HSd7vKeR

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3hpy7uGOy

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDx7pZ8Lqo

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKznssxD3dK

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mBUhH3oRr

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzSaDlhtpE

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6op7QkIv7m

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKm8ppnQoK

“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!”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FkRzURNtJ

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefZeRQI70m

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5xjRiiQso

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhd123Cm5S

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUdzQ8Mm6E

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qgeBPMTOy

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNodW8L5MgC

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVf3lc3rXb

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0wdGc2pXu

“Why did you take me?”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfzWWIxjCi

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHsNvIq9y9

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdiYxWL3ec

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV70eFHC4Y5

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6ZIEkD7O7

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AfVovGTEm

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyEXTapU7S

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uz6snjiuC

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoL0SAXG00

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1B91RG31V

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMHTjEPXZs

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBebCH4e5l

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaq3iR5kiM

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDOPGepbti

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfTCwajSbk

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIAsAPHszt

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuF2fH454B

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.”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKOnL3FFBJ

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcPIacfhC3

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.”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6exVAIyRBD

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhQU2htofZ

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOoZRCkc4e

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1djbNy4Ku

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuG0AcTLTHE

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37thVBWPut

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XFCd58PkT

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTT0fdx5M6

“Hello?”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpv4pxmEkHb

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2CVrfUzmd

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIHiuIGO5j

“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.”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReFCKlwiGc

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0ERoUClnJ

“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.”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKlp4Y2NID

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfVI3JB7dS

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkQzUEEp65

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGY3wTpIQ7Q

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.”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LX8DWGab4

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0InJ23C2V

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1AQezhEJo

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2sVbTrWJk

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZR0m76Vhk

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXl1vq7OpJ

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7a8bUdP5KY

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9Wy8rXkx2

“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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2Uyep3jdI

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8rOPrLXHj

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXs7O791ZS

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOo3iyhIMW7

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNRSBM7yS5

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjiz1Aidx5

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLrPYBrin2

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JjzvdFdPa

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mjtQb0iTw

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6kcLHus25

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?”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfndcKupGB

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKH5Cqb8sK

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXR2IdbMKF6

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFomWgcktn5

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6gZjt32mt

June looked up, startled. “About what?”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj37PDJqbXH

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMitLfbuGm

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJ3mjn5V7w

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4GoFuS14O

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nsYM6f9GH

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNTOWh4Zl3

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglcfGRjprM

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBf5i8ET6nv

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMzLxI1Igz

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZq69JaEOr

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8k9qJZSVhF

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxoK0yRkkK

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrig0fS6lTt

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjCKjCRhfJ

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHf7vH1z4rW

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4AWyqR2aK

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7OrDbC7f1

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI03Mu93Syq

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkkQ5PIiaJ

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuluGfEJUw

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZNqAIildG

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9qcEIX7ju

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovsXJrbUHL

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDQGUKDRgb

“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!”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpYGWHUgde

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJ7tRkj320

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZXvaYUMZx

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3FjHhULq4

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26OPt0BwYk

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXwWzs0EmS

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSXwtfO23P

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5bt8bsuDP

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXjGToglJ7

“Why did you take me?”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcC5OiXVj5c

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjJ4Kabjaz

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSBbQWtJFC

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMbE0GCGhp

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXbk5hU3G4

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7TFAcnP4H

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8gGYuKgt6

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxl4B2ufiP

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMR3GfwoslK

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx18ZujyZYn

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZAjai4Hyi

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0RcqhH7WO

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulPwRLv5Mt

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SHNX35qGK

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vqYKN9Plw

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHczRKiHiEK

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa9C7DqRlL

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.”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOH6m8Im4z

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvfTBdnAZ4

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwrL4r2hUU

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fiYYhTNSv

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQsNYuMFj5

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Mj8g1Qk5v

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LgvFgzbei

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2lgoPZpcZ

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1jzywJkYD

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0C831qlU0

“Hello?”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwQivx3SBP

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPsjXiZ3wP

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ60Ee1hboS

“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.”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7XOWbsBoL

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NlsO6LVsE

“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.”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrltU4cqlZp

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiSj923d61

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.

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAT5rby2j9S

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuGGRcpR3U

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.”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnuZaLIcjc

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eSLu3AHFd

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSMS3kGNR1

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4CuUtgzJb

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mm8OHR6Uq

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8HBz029i8

ns216.73.216.25da2

REGISTER

LOGIN

Interface Language:

Story Language: