Van relaxed on his bed and waited for sleep to wash over him, it wasn’t until 3 AM that the sandman showed up.

He felt like he would vomit, he opened his eyes but it was still dark. He could smell fresh laid-out hay and something fowl in what he figured was the corner. He moved his head to see if he could look around, he felt like he was on a bed, not a very comfortable one. It was thin and cold.

Why was it cold? Shivering he was reminded back home of how cold the house always was. His mother always hated the warmth so he had to suffer just to please her. He shifted trying to get a bit more comfortable but his hands and legs were not cooperating.

Ah, that’s right, this was the barn. Now he understood why he wants to hurl, his stomach was twisted in knots as soon as he thought of the porridge he had that night. Shuddering he tried his best not to make his stomach even weaker, ‘It’s only milk. It was just milk.’ He dry heaved a few times but tried his best to keep it down.

“Well, you’re up ‘erly. Sleep well little fox?” he heard a rough voice and shrank slightly but the sudden movement hurt more than he thought it would and memories rushed back. Tears welled up but he couldn’t make a sound. No, he shouldn’t make a sound. “You did good, nuttin’ to clean up this time. How about a nice reward for tonight? Steak and some good ol’ mushed up taters? Huh? Sound yummy? I’ll even add some of yer favourite sauce.”

He felt like he was being pulled up by rough hands, and he suddenly remembered that he wasn't wearing anything. Everything was in view of this man. He tried to shrink back down but was handled more roughly and was forced to walk somewhere. Then he remembered that it was the third day, he was always brought out for a washing. He finally obeyed and let the man lead him to the usual post.

His arms were brought above his head making him stretch until he was on his tiptoes and brought back down a bit. He couldn’t do much, the man walked away then and the sound of running water was heard. He prepared himself for the strong water to wash over him but was surprised by a gentle shower.

“There isn’t this better? Bein’ a good boy n’ all? You get treated all gentle like. Let me wash you up proper.” He felt hands on him and shivered, the hand was lathered up in what he figured was soap by the smell of it. The hands ran over him in gentle strokes, playing with his exposed flesh, chest, throat, face, arms, legs, stomach, that.

After washing him up he was forced to turn around twisting the rope that held his hands together, making it impossible for him to try to run. He felt the hands on his back, always in a gentle rough motion. When it reached his lower back he knew what was about to happen next.

He felt the fingers slide down and press on his back, it moved gently over the ring before pressing further. He tried not to cry out knowing that it would hurt more if he did, all he could do was silently cry.

Jolting awake he winced as the force of his waking body rediscovered the healing wounds, sitting up slowly he tried to remember what it was that was making him feel uneasy or why he woke up. He got up and opened his door and heard silence, closing the door he got his comfortable clothes together and started his weekend morning routine. He walked out with his desired clothes and scent and showered. Redressing his wounds and getting dressed he felt so much better, he took a few pain pills and stepped out of the bathroom to a nice smelling breakfast.

He walked to his room and wrote the e-mail and walked out in time to see Sen setting the plate out for him. Ari was already seated and eating. Van felt tired and figured that Ari didn’t want to do much with her food right now and started to eat. He felt so relaxed and suddenly very hungry as if he hadn’t eaten anything proper in days.

He finished his food and patiently waited for Ari to finish as well, feeling a new rush of energy and wondered what she would want to play.

After breakfast Ari lead him to her room so they could play, they sat in the middle of the floor playing with her collection of teddy bears. He felt happy spending time with her, it was the most fun he had in what felt like years. His little sister outgrew playing house and whatnot when she turned 13. It was lonely at first but he figured that spending more time with his Girlfriend would solve that loneliness.

Ari looked up at him a few times and grew quiet until she just sat there. Something in him woke and told him ‘Danger’ he looked around and behind him but saw nothing. He turned back to Ari and gauged where she could be looking.

“Scary,” Ari mumbled which made Van flinch but she pointed to the window. He turned and saw a flicker of some sort and understood.

“Does it give you scary dreams as well?” Van asked she nodded and he relaxed now understanding the situation. His sister often could see something that wasn’t there, but no one believed her. So he asked if it gave her nightmares and she said ‘Yes’ so he told her that he could get rid of it by scaring it away. “I’ll make it go away, close the door first it will only work if only you see it.”

“Kay,” Ari got up and gently closed the door and Van got up and mapped out the room by walking around it. He then looked at the flicker, he felt a deep growl in his soul and suddenly it was dark.

---

I closed the door as he said and looked back at him. He walked around the room and walked through the scary cloth thing. It had a mask of a bunny. At first, it was silly but it stays in one spot watching me. I thought it would go away because this man was more scary. It didn’t work and stayed there.

The man looked at me and I thought ‘Doggy’, he looked around and looked at me again tilting his head. I told him there was a scary thing at the window, he was surprised and then looked at the window.

I then saw something long and yellow wiggling from his cheeks. Then his hair went all fluffy and yellow, I could hear a growl coming from him as he saw the bunny. He looked back at me and his eyes were yellow and red but he still looked like a Doggy. He asked if it gives me scary dreams and I said yes. He told me to close the door because it would be gone if only I see it.

I saw Daddy turn on the TV and go back to the kitchen to make us Lunch and closed the door quietly. When Doggy was done walking around he stood still and closed his eyes.

Then something sparkly flew from him and he turned into a Dragon that Daddy tells me about in the stories he reads to me at night. Was Doggy one of those Dragons? He flew towards me and I could hear him make a funny noise. He flew around me and I heard him make a mean noise when he faced the Bunny but Doggy was standing still with his eyes closed. The Dragon rose and roared shaking the room.

I remembered that my dolly fell from the shelf and the Dragon ate the Bunny in one bite after they rolled around on the floor. Dragon got up and walked back to me and made the funny noise and walked back to Doggy and they melted.

I told Daddy this but he only thought we were playing. Doggy knows what I’m talking about and he said that was all that mattered. If one person believes me then that was fine, he tells me that I shouldn’t worry about making other people believe me. He’s right. Having Doggy, believe me, is good and he chases all the bad Bunnies away.

---

“Dawddy turned into a Dwaaydon!”

“Dawddy?” Sen asked Ari confused. Was she talking about Van? Why was she calling him Daddy? Sen looked to the doorway and saw Van standing there, he had a black shirt on and dark sweatpants with Bee socks this time. Van only shrugged implying that he didn’t know anything about it. “Sweetheart, he’s not-”

“Dawddy tell Daddy!” Ari said.

“It’s ok,” Van said soothingly walking up and patting her head, Ari and him looked at each other and she nodded smiling.

“Dawddy chase all bad Bunnies way,” she laid down and closed her eyes. Van walked out and headed for his room. He quickly told Ari goodnight and caught up with Van.

“What is she talking about? What happened?” Sen asked pulling him to stop him from walking any further.

“Exactly what she said.”

“Why is she calling you Daddy?”

“I believe it’s Doggy.”

“Doggy? Oh, ooooh! How is it that you spent two days together and now have a secret language?”

“I have a little sister, we always spent time together”

“How old is your sister?” Sen asked wondering if he was telling the truth about his age.

“She’s 19, so 5 years younger than me. She went to study abroad when she was 16.”

He walked in front of Van staring at him for a moment then said “Your not lying about your age are you?”

“Why are you so obsessed with how old I am? Just because you survived longer doesn’t mean you know more than me.” Sen only shook his head.

“I just thought you were older, I wasn’t expecting you to be so young. Also what were you two talking about? What does she mean that you turned into a dragon.”

“I think you need to spend more time with your daughter. You have more free time now and yet you don’t seem to spend most of it with her. Isn’t that one of the reason why you took this job? To spend time with her?”

“Answer my question.” Sen narrowed his eyes, it made him curious to what the two talk about. He seen Van look away towards the floor he never seen his boss look like this before. It was so strange on such an intimidating guy. 

“Can’t we talk about it tomorrow?”

“You have work tomorrow and you won’t have time to talk after dinner unless you cancel your Tea Time with Ari.” Van looked at him horrified, “By the looks of it you don’t want to.”

“No, I would never intentionally cancel on her but it’s pretty late right now.” Sen wasn’t sure why he was trying so hard to get out of it and it was a dead giveaway when he’s inching towards his room.

“Fine,” Sen caved and let him retreat to his room, ‘It must be his safe place,’ he thought and went to clean up after the Tea Party but found that it’s already done. He wondered if Van would continue to do this or forget to do it one day. Well at least he gets to turn in early or at least think of himself for once, it is after all 8 pm.

He walked to his room and picked out the clothes he’d sleep in and walked to the bathroom. Setting them on the counter he closed and locked the door. Turning on the shower and striping off his clothes of the day, tossing them to the hamper. Humming at the warmth and just standing for a few moments enjoying the rhythmic water on his skin.

He started washing himself then his hair, his hand lathered up in soap travelled down. He hasn’t properly taken care of himself since the last time / Ari was with his sister and mom.

“Mmm,” his hand gently worked him to life, his other hand started to massage his pecks. His body instinctively leaned to the wall, he’s not sure how loud he can be here but at the moment he doesn’t really care. “Nnn,” he slowly moved his fingers over the head in small squeezes before sliding to the base.

Closing his eyes he sighed as his hand kept moving in the same slow rhythm. He only started moving faster after a few minutes. His impatience getting the better of him once again needing a quick release. “Haa,” the quick movement over his sensitive tip sent a surprise jolt through him and after that he couldn’t keep it quiet. “Ah! Ha ah! Guh. Fuck! Oh fuckfuckfuck.”

Shuddering with the release he breathed heavily for a few moments before washing himself off and getting rid of the evidence of his nightly enjoyment. He lazily dried himself off and got dressed. He made his way to his room to rest and wondered what Emily would think of him. Having someone to think about wouldn’t be too bad. He certainly made her wait long enough.

“I’ll go see her in the afternoon,” he mumbled before falling asleep.

The roar of water was in sight now, he no longer was waiting for it like before. He was now beside the ladder and the dragon was bravely facing against the water rushing at them. The dragon looked back at him and told him to run.

Sen ran towards the dragon and held onto it they stared at each other for a moment before the dragon looked back to the water and stopped breathing fire. It picked him up and shoved him up the ladder. Suddenly the dragon was gone again. He didn’t go to far up this time and went back down to check. He found that it was holding onto the ladder with it’s teeth then suddenly let go. Sen grabbed onto it’s horn and pulled.

It suddenly turned into a small Snake again and with the little thing in his hand they both climbed up and out into the open. “I’m never leaving you behind.”