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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyor5Lqqem

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkfD3lzJnS

“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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2aHDecFK8

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfKD1lj8OA

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5XHtifcqY

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxCRHoFkiv

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrzNdGAPze

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgQveTK2ef

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpknUtDKiI

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg60xIrYoAl

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvGiZox8JC

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhT8Fj2qPRt

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?”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeu3rnEvO3

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvQrxOnVsb

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfu8HzwHw9t

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVP6kplHsGi

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStBsycr0z7

June looked up, startled. “About what?”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWTFoUpIgX

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPmSkmySRF

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2RX6qIeTq

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rRKKlOvJV

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr0mLAn5jB

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPKqRrrfsX

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMW9OpWEUGl

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQD21on1Tr

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuVXJW5w3w

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXepKgDPV4

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVmWqnl3VJ

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDRoBip7kK

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIEyfM3w0e

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpWLSFFv6t

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMgiP3FDcQ

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBXtPuzKMc

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfpPIAriQL

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGajj6jWyc

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxszcsrYuAN

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSX7ClsIYU

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJIqdSwq9b

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ONmHInLza

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6EKs4c6ZO

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wYYnRwWUt

“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!”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUPm8tthf4

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilIJ6yPXGw

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR1JoSkCAi

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6qiq9yJOn

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAV61QxV7t

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrbrT9LFz2

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGZP0kB6Oz

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9er5WJ9KX

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIqf2E0WZy

“Why did you take me?”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hCjor5hcY

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOnQm8e6yh

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqghwDgtKIO

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qJraxKIaT

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsGaiTmYZH

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdL7XhCaWp7

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpGTUMpfSJ

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2O27Ndhfh

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz69l7ig3AP

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqdppkf8kJ

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv80DPQkQYz

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdfh4Ebzgq

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKMjLH0qFp

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2LRputtlf

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxx8gjZLhS

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhhNPrtR73

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAeDyuMBUN

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.”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkna9qLIYu

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xEWC0I2Re

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.”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3aw3hG9sf

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0Dl9q15m4

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSB73W6WLpv

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAcIHlpdJh

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPigCgkWVXR

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRh8LzBt0wM

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyjobLYGuL

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡburZNjcwKE

“Hello?”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFngt0y8iMN

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrzK3AiXSj

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZezMaxp1o

“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.”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuTgcNdN9C

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6yDrva2Ct

“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.”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGUBvBpCII

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouhNJpicqK

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzj30TL3WG

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTviVzozCs

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.”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUrqDBu2Aw

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIlw3ED2ph

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOklEJSTjr

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWN93jof3J

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpPJWmggXz

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4oWkqNCAF

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGl7Rpx4TM

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CDddIhvZN

“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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhO96jIJaK

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdPBoIqctQ

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsyj7Hpzcs

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu6i5vpCui

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5hgpQveSB

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukKGxGN1Kp

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmjxMqWDxb

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jAdfVyfSK

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVohEBv1CoG

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxrXf8ymIH

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?”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqwC4EDmu7

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPj1HSNsl7

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiL8fwL7yXS

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg72bIlNq04

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQpEf1bBeF

June looked up, startled. “About what?”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhDgIt8PR9

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoIqxArgzW

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7Gz3DFk5N

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfS0Eizkky

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPRMshWkzO

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjZa25RKkl

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipF4BwHqmL

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKn3uBylIsG

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04KaVVuBiJ

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0p7h0Ln8zt

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtt2NkioYFc

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZEq4pUK1a

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IXJzCFgdK

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1zPijeAFF

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IETh0HmxO

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLCxWoWImo

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4yOjDOpfm

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHw4i3eBiov

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xt0yV2CPw

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xDT7DeRWD

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoJfXxDEOF

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdC1oZfYXqk

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QmjGIcTEo

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcX7RGXCaH

“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!”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9v2TLvLy63

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCwNxB38dS

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRc6n23e4G

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw33IgUCfFi

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfHMLm4a0o

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQOcfDu7vq

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTHgwK2bX6

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiK3vcL2ct

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEJzSpSWso

“Why did you take me?”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8MkpxbyYS

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MmsYgP2Va

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBV9RKVD6H

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf8MzuNUSA

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiV9kOXdxw3

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwagEgB1La

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcikYNb2xB4

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3Y4snhDDx

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoJzobJGL2

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVGHj4tC56

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6OQX160qb

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMt6Wt7EHH

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7xRlJ0Ixf

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpi0yqJx3V

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYwEYgmSln

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuaH7SAJ9N

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF43RdJR1d7

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.”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUsKrP68Mi

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTBqGseYIy

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3jw35dadU

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFi3lO3wEO

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6c5T6TDpwP

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP0AVUAINO

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBk2Ckoy6RG

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5JqSAXQGK

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjMvMSvNeV

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPKsTEb1WB

“Hello?”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKW1ctYDqqC

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfPPITO4Xs

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3S6rHZ2Ic

“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.”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAlGnxY0iD

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdDDvV8wq4

“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.”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BGnY5PDrG

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDfLNRyo3c

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.

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGGiXstZGm

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8TXnd6Xxk

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.”

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlyAjebPEJ

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMKvICSn3N

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVJUeOBbZ9

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

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyxJKvbeoa

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5FY9jmmXZ

129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFYeTvQhIq

ns 15.158.61.10da2

REGISTER

LOGIN

Interface Language:

Story Language: