Page 78 of His Pet

Everything happens so fast that it leaves me completely disoriented.

One moment, I’m on Cameron’s bed, floating in that sweet weightless state where nothing matters. Strands of a flogger are biting me in the best way possible, and Cameron is telling me I’m beautiful.

The next moment, someone is grabbing me, pushing me, making me move even when my limbs feel like they’re made of lead. There’s a crinkly blanket wrapped around me that feels strange against my skin. Someone is shouting. Actually, there’s a lot of shouting. I duck my head and try to make myself smaller, hoping that whoever’s shouting isn’t mad at me. A voice keeps repeating that I’m safe, which is a lie, because I don’t see Cameron.

Cold air bites into my exposed skin. I grimace as my feet hit gravel. There’s less shouting out here, but a lot more flashing lights. They lead me toward them and let me sit down, but then someone is shining light straight into my eyes. I bat the annoying light away.

“Hold him, please. He’s in shock.”

Someone grabs my hands, and the light returns. I give up trying to escape it. “Where’s Cameron?”

“You’re safe,” the voice repeats once again. “He’s never going to touch you again.”

“What?” He’s never going to touch me again? Does he not want me anymore? He said I was his forever. I want him back. “Where is he?” My mind is racing, thoughts too fast to grab. The flashing lights are sending jolts of pain through my head. Someone’s holding me, but it’s not Cameron. Where is he? He promised he wouldn’t let anyone take me.

“Hey, stay with me, okay?” The voice belongs to an older man. He’s the one gently holding my wrists.

I’m not safe. I want to go back. “I need to go back.”

“You’re not going back. We’ve got you now. You’re safe,” the man repeats like a freaking broken record.

“I’m not safe! I want to go back home.” What is happening? I feel like if I could calm down, it would become obvious, but the panic clouds my mind. My chest constricts. I can’t breathe.

“Yes, home,” the man says softly. “We’ll take you home.” Before I can start feeling relieved, he swiftly crushes my hopes. “Back to your family.”

My parents. Their image is a little blurry in my mind’s eye, like an old memory. Fear is the first thing that registers as I think about them. I’ve changed. I’m not the same Justin I used to be, and they didn’t even like him. They’ll never understand. They’ll hate me. “I want Cameron.” Why doesn’t he want me anymore? Does he hate me too?

The man holding me glances at the man with the light. “Hey, I think we might need something to calm him down.”

They want to drug me. The panic is back. Like a rising tide, it washes over me, drowning me under its intensity.

“No!”

I yank my hands out of the man’s grip and shove at him. He stumbles back. Before he can grab me again, I dart to the side, but the ground isn’t where I expect it to be. I fall, scraping both my knees on the gravel. Fueled by terror, I scramble back to my feet and take off between the cars. The shouts follow me.

“Stop him!”

“Juarez, what the fuck?!”

Someone wraps an arm around my waist. I fight back, but with my arms pinned to my sides, there’s not much I can do. Not when the person holding me is bigger and stronger. Not as big or strong as Cameron. Their smell is also wrong.

“Let me go!” I scream and thrash in the stranger’s grip.

“Hey, calm down. It’s okay. You’re safe.”

I scream again. Why do they keep saying I’m safe when I’m not?!

“Where’s the medic?” the man holding me calls out. “Hurry!”

More people appear. I kick one in the stomach when he approaches, but more take his place. They’re cursing now, yelling at each other to hold me down. I can barely hear them over my own screams. They push me on the grass, their weight heavy over me. But not safe. Never safe.

Something sharp pricks my shoulder.

“There. Everything’s going to be okay, buddy. We’ll take care of you.” The man sounds winded, and I can’t help but feel a little proud. I might not have won, but at least I didn’t go down without a fight. Would Cameron be proud of me? Or did he give me away to these people and he’ll be mad that I didn’t obey them? I don’t want him to be angry with me.

“Where’s… Cameron?” My tongue feels thick and heavy, too big for my mouth. My eyes are drifting shut despite my best effort to stay awake.

“Jesus. Poor kid. I hope the bastard rots in jail.”