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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbh2zir8Ws3

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplvdWMp1p6

“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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mtz0YjhsQ

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yIRiMH3sN

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKiON03GCe

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArbSzH5N3u

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQHKOUAVMq

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHkkDYXOhn

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCl2jVS7hu7

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHU0caZqe2

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKokZSw9Hy

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnN7akRrsE

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtWvFJgGJ6

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0C65mLG6r

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBT1HPrqMI

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHxttAgeRQ

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtR6lcPZpu8

June looked up, startled. “About what?”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcU9luUcIBd

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vHaylf3hY

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPa8YmrlczK

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6ME6E6DvB

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmO1U5dgJ7

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSO4f2rhg9

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OqPl6j6eZ

"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31eH7LHRpH

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WhUdMagnb

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLfw3RZAvZ

"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQdae0cMmc

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvxhL0JcPU

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcUwQPXQGW

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrJkt29ICO

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSureQ8DsK

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLpbb2l1dy

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3jN3bQbvV

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9WzWlkUAJ

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE78iIRLuNg

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Nn10c43W6

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP90coQdCbJ

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQaqQ0STpf

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2yg8wwdfw

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPqPTHRj9j

“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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOWyAT8IcP

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyEFQnkPSl

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6mxPlYxaq

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvB2052M0eb

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRrODvTKoK

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEfBbGfDOx

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaiaWOD0Ah

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLf4gCnCqZ

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQiaMpsGa1

“Why did you take me?”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhmSLwfGpm

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wi0iFCSe0

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoG78yAStc

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRPhjKW0T5

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJKhF7qBLW

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlp903sCYBE

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ynObnl5su

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyu43DFqZbO

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEopxm7BW8U

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRLnwZllAN

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YtH8xGEFe

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6AUWgg8K8

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxnA1JkCej

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fupSAfbkZ

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4d1wM6Grd

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKef7j1VX5

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOG4pkQDPiG

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lvWSnx5Qt

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0fJXVkyWX

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWXJG7PSLt

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwv9FkoFKs

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VttBe2XKo

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfk1gPLsY7T

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0psR47f2bm

“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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGobSQCfTK

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtWyZI3lDp

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVimWPxj8v

“Hello?”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlOi6TbB5s

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8nWjwzqLJ

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1awEGwKGW

“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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Vmh6XzQX2

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIDLsCxbmY

“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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Zw60Rb0kA

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2j4OOa3rD

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8UI5A5E3E

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw8GIFTL5M

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqL7yaimBX

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUe2nHwhtW

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnLUJWqqxq

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0tCqmnrBr

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5kC9U3cQZ

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyaE7TUiOC

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9mgkGm0FP

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOQPZyuFbb

“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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CvbNYwiqJ

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTq8yo7wt0

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVuuKxAV1m

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m0uSO4lXC

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC40D55OC21

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSPQwQ5uJA

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5M0u2xQibj

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvn1o7vAVK

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0LC1PFbA9

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHVbtB64xo

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxymXefAEf

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktcvxYMh6K

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOenFL8xnp

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMkwy8SZ4u

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZrgLDBX0c

June looked up, startled. “About what?”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohXkdCj9h6

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAsariLYtw

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxLKVOwTiO

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVUjXpQIKH

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rEJ6OG6VV

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQQ3xDvWmq

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBckmNMxHb

"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ErBXdIz8G

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdY14s7yL8U

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmHqK7fovp

"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoYkgysv6c

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90j2BHCGna

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIEpsWYC39

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWqFiVuTvL

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYzUMSQkKe

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGfRpsgt31

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVwFKKvmt9

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitW7I32Yuv

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjp60fNsZZ

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Pem8vvN2s

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTrtUoHJ2N

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEYHxLGkL0

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsVyC5fuKT

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdc9sXjzWtg

“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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoneeisWUV

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLzyzXJYt8

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPUv9lbIxP

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlO0SirBg5X

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRJDc3uzBm

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVebCgFh2e

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgVV1Jx6An

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMhvhL77zI

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNzg1U2wsg

“Why did you take me?”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEgjMDzyzL

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugpD84J2nr

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUNOIcoM8L

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYVyw8mvE5

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWt4g3yV3C1

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVGlhthlre

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKBxBrBepX

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYas8N0rRgo

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlXkjhAFWd

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnhiMq9Xuj

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtXLLJKcfj

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEH9M8UVQK

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHl7UKDdVm

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSqNV2Jllx

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhLW7PlSdR

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3O94xJXwz

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaIBqRP5Vr

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T1KUqG4wP

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAQghcK9E7

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWwOllXJ0P

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiTyWLRTc6

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQkGll5iVg

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpYCJNvvj1

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidji3QshAN

“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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCILQP04hw

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxPITbql7v

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnt9DXERxB2

“Hello?”

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFmPDSV5kj

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABdDH1ZgFw

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHmCu7MYmP

“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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJPdPOH8Gr

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWyBlkHomE

“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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrC6GlPH6hk

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblrg3GUteD

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5g7Menhon

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD34I4IHOPm

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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zJzD6lkOH

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPemGOf756

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Q5r3T9GtY

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

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xnHRb3qep

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiywR33ENH7

291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgieehUE8Zs

ns216.73.216.25da2

REGISTER

LOGIN

Interface Language:

Story Language: