A hand tightened around my own on my right. I squeezed my eyes open before turning to look at the person. It was Donna that had her head down and was whispering something I couldn't hear. I tried to go back to sleep, but my body started stretching on its own.

At the sound of the bed sheets screaming, Donna snapped her head at me.

Well, I guess I'm up now.

Donna threw her arms around me, and I stiffed at the touch. For years, all I knew was the empty embrace of steel so when entombed in a hug- I was confused.

I still liked it though- despite not knowing how to respond.

18. I got a hug today.

Donna held me at arm's length. "I'm so sorry we didn't find you sooner. Jeremy's been in this pa- I mean vicinity with us for years and years- he's been here since the start!" Tears danced down her rosy cheeks as she pulled me into her chest once more. My face was smushed comically against her shoulder as she whispered sweet nothings into my ear.

In the glass window behind her that peered into the hallway, I saw Kyle and two other men I didn't recognize. Kyle glanced behind him and stopped talking when he saw Donna and me.

He smiled and motioned his other two friends to come inside. The other two stopped talking and came inside. When the door opened, Donna released me, and I shook a little bit to gain my bearings.

"Hello Kye. This is Xavier. He runs this, um, community and this is Dr. Jeffree. He's your new doctor and counselor" I eyed both men but stopped on the doctor. He looked neat and tidy, and looked like he had a slingshot stuck up his butt. I smiled to myself when the visual came into my brain.

Kyle pulled up a seat next to Donna. "As much as you may not like it, we have to get some understanding on who you are and what happened down there."

A man that radiated dominance went out in the hallway and pulled two more chairs inside. He wore baggy jeans and a T-shirt that was tightened around his arms. He placed them right behind Kyle and Donna and sat down. The doctor sat down while the other stayed standing. "As Kyle said earlier, I'm Xavier, and I'm in charge of this pack"

My head cocked to the side. "Pack?"

Donna and Kyle whipped their heads around and whispered furiously at Xavier. He made a "whoops" face and sat down. He cleared his throat and placed a hand over his chest. "I'm sorry I neglected my duties as the leader of this community and didn't find you sooner. No one deserves to live like that, and I'm glad Kyle and Donna stepped up where I faltered. I assure you now that you are safe. I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. I'm genuinely sorry, and I hope you can forgive me"

"I forgive you" I said smoothly. I turned my head away from them and stared at the sun's rays swallowing the room. I placed my left hand one of the light rays on the bed and flexed my fingers. Scars I didn't know existed bathed in the sunshine, but I didn't care.

19. I'm glad to be free.

"You forgive me? That quick?" Xavier questioned.

I turned towards him and brushed my hair out of my face. "What's done is done" I shrugged and sighed. "What about the doctor that stabbed me earlier with the needle?"

Xavier gained his composure before answering. "He's been put in jail with Jeremy. They will have a trial in a week about their actions, and then we will go from there"

Kyle huffed. "The doctor thought he had a chance. Once you went out, he tried to take you out the window, but we stopped him before he could do anything more stupid"

I nodded slowly before a man that hasn't spoken before cleared his throat.

"Well, Kye, I know you just woke up, but I need you to answer a few questions for me. I'm glad you are safe, but we still have no idea who you are" Dr. Jeffree adjusted the clipboard in his lap.

"Are you ready?"

I glanced at Donna for reassurance. "Yes"

"Alright, do you know your full name?" Dr. Jeffree asked with his pencil ready.

I scrunched my eyebrows together. "Give me an example"

The doctor opened his mouth but then shook his head. "I'll take that as a no. Do you know your age?"

I shrugged. "Greater than 12"

The doctor chuckled to himself before scribbling down on his paper. "Let's just say 17" He flipped the page and sighed. "Do you know what your life was like before Jeremy?”

I looked down at my lap as Donna rubbed my hand with her thumb. I tried to remember, but I never could remember who I was or where I came from.

I don't even know if Kye is my real name or just a name Jeremy gave me.

20. I'm glad I like the name Kye.

I shook my head and looked back at the doctor. "No, I can't. My memory starts with Jeremy. I only remember him and the cage" My body subconsciously hunched over with the thought of being in the cage. My hair came into my line of vision, and I put it behind my ear.

The doctor shook his head and asked the next question. "I know this is hard to answer but what did he do to you down there?"

“We won’t badger you for answers so take your time” Donna reassured.

I thought for a bit before answering. "Well he fed me, but it was when he remembered to- and sometimes he wouldn't remember for a while. He'd ask me this same task, but I could never get the answer, and he'd punish me. I would get whippings, boiled water ran over me, or he'd dangle my cage over a fire. Sometimes he'd put me in the oven, and I wouldn't wake up for a long time"

Donna started crying sometime while I was talking and Kyle began to rub her back. Xavier looked like he was ready to kill someone while the doctor kept writing. "Did he do anything else?"

I shook my head. "Most of the time it was just me, the cage, four red walls, and a red ceiling. When he came down, I knew the pain was not far behind"

"That's not a way anyone should live" Kyle whispered. "Was it like that in the beginning when you first met Jeremy?"

A faint memory surfaced, and I grabbed the left side of my neck unconsciously. "Well, first I want to make it clear that I never knew Jeremy's name until Donna and Kyle came"

Kyle was shocked. "Really?" I nodded. "He must've been covering his tracks"

I shrugged. "Maybe. Possibly. But, I had a memory come to me just now"

"What was it?" Xavier asked.

"I don't remember the context, but I do remember him trying to bite me"

"Bite you?" Xavier jumped up so fast that his chair toppled over. "He tried to mark you?"

"He tried to bite me" I corrected. I fixed my neck so he could see where. Xavier leaned over and brushed his thumb over my neck. His touch tickled and he moved back to his chair once he was done. "I think I kicked him through the bars"

"Kicked him?" Xavier let out a big laugh. He leaned over and patted my back. I tried to hide my flinch as much as I could as he sat back down.

"Some repressed memories I see" Dr. Jeffree sighed before giving me a pity smile. "If you ever remember what happened just know you can talk to me" He stood and gave me a nod and then left.

My eyes followed him and shifted to my hand still encased in Donna's grip.

"Are you alright Kye? You're very calm for someone in your situation" Kyle said.

I took a deep breath in and released it. "I don't know honestly. My memory starts with a man who taught me pain, and I've always thought that it was the right thing. But now I find out that it's not" I looked up at everyone. "I wish I could give you more details, but my memory is failing me"

"It's okay sweetie" Donna said as she patted my hand. "I promise it'll get better with time"