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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy39AVuq2Km

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7j1Gup6LS

“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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhW9KpdW0oA

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIV5iMUv3pz

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2Rd1MkCcb

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajP9HIsFcz

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7rkYitWl8

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnjDoWjwbG

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8VPxSp41M

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1R07HKdi7T

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWAw82WCZr

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzZCTXH6oH

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?”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFVhVmYMPz

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLdKIuZx6J

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiChWdxNhj

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzO4i9V2zeU

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNpjT5l8wv

June looked up, startled. “About what?”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjQAws6iej

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzZnXTsGKf

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Z01yCRnH2

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnAy7Cfwf7

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFL7O80P9x

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirzktEs9eJ

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNCBpxXvbz

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMvPU086yE

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRigzryVPs

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZ0kk3eBDB

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmgTsNNTLw

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkjTvxBMc6

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsB37s2FqN

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdAlW3xQBM

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsENdU9YiQ

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNpNDGGDNX

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqbt2aIOri

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfYCK461EN

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvVJ5V0zyy

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9quwK04Iw

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9dPqtl1Cw

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJMTdVVfGI

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWq30GlvkL

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUzHBTSSeL

“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!”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiBefGA1yP

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3T3ibeESCK

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rRGVxPS47

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgBtHU7ALp

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc07Nn6wdah

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3agXmxWvy

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOphyfiz5q

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwcvtsMUVZ

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMcAhMLOYJ

“Why did you take me?”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJn4NpVDDv9

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Oco9pLfvD

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OfubBWVjz

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2wIPglz8E

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FKA4zJyrR

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79Ey27VKYo

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlcHe7UOpK

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7oiYLJ6kx

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmWbWmoQhu

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvWAWZYXfa

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroNDYVYSW6

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0L0Ntn0vfr

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSQg4Q3svc

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVxuzp5jZI

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYIHSaPFOY

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfxm8IoX5K

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNstWxIWZa

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.”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurHiY81FnS

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9dtveYyCb

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.”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77ySscw5W6

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTD5HlXWNls

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedRTCvi8lP

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAm851Z0vC

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACeToHzSe1

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GmGWo9tMm

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMT0fPubwy

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡte68LYbs8F

“Hello?”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmYg58ESFk

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06lxO6SHjL

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cz2jID3YY

“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.”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneWdme0eT5

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYyoN87CKX

“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.”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjxLSuJzFp

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ336HX3tbLn

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJd3rtCT6ft

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7w6J60XrR

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.”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtKJICSmXr

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9t2oO4ZJD

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmDhQFxEQi

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytOpPwWSQ7

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnBe1aSXCL

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceIUMjoWHY

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGa0GsCSfqp

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRcpXegHL9

“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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKl0GnPEAn

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnLNqUJjgM

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXv9kDdAgJ

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWbr43EfAy

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDzdKt1Gj1

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7WmJzn8Lq

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWdSSWFz0Y

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMy6LIqPB8z

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BSPQMalrQ

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQt7XPzQA1

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?”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAFwykpYTI

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1SQLrQ6g1

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdzsowrThn

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYB3I7MhSC

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEU2G0Gtrud

June looked up, startled. “About what?”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyDOT8XzP6

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjb3CSC6q36

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoe0mA1Q37P

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2s9dCAmkR

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4I3FzfK5w

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCmbrcLkSv

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4kE5ngkG4

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmrdSyUUMA

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2i1sAB9hr

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDtpkKP6uB

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLzZPDNasg

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWdXgK02u1

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6Mm0Osfu7

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCugTxw6nj

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWnY5pAslK

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjvn9as4qA

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbk2mZMsf1

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6hFP8NMz9

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvWNw40GmO

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAotspxksg

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDFNe6woBV

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58WmKkZLRd

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRf20iICI9n

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamIEaGrbNi

“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!”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCK0pgYxYH

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOWGAxGMre

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHsjKFcoCL

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91XJcWaPyS

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqv901TkvmZ

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bWdrMo7SD

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1fRTXuffR

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0A9sgntrt

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5P5Za8FQ5D

“Why did you take me?”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWl19uOnIT

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOucBFsx3JU

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyLs7TiBLH

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AoBOk6BRj

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PQ9DqfhFv

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITuOqzNvDg

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeNskAu4mF

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtmfBDHjMe

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIquOFQtfYM

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBriQkeaRv

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3cKcw1zct

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTVKBSd7Zx

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGtt8VnkJG

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXv81E6J3J

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJPz3Cupuh

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVCzYLjk6P

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29Cnp5HTyy

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.”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItKZwRHOKO

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKW3J4b1lfC

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2ZSjjTyUg

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOramw17KWm

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjAgBQEfxz

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ590CTL4WQ7

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjyBM4lXyu

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeEiA7RBDP

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwc0LfNNCSv

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3Wcn4eIcI

“Hello?”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBBS63Lj0j

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbW3KAek8I

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHVGBiZv4I

“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.”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkYinzC9c0

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iGZEBUGok

“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.”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7t6FjVjTTY

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQn5CkP2gH

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.

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXvfte8BxW

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhMiPc14E7

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.”

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUX4NFne1q

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSk06hC9SNF

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3wd6rRTZw

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

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodt8QQz8gc

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8yHKGqaBU

144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCW2OCNfnvi

ns 15.158.61.12da2

REGISTER

LOGIN

Interface Language:

Story Language: