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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4lAlq3B9w

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpFjph4V1A

“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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkrD5Jftem

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgyCy1Y89o

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFr0KndVlW

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaYUSx0D9k

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruHGBh0USK

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1NpnvN025

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuImkBMMYp

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfrrXPkMox

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLu8pjAD1p

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0MawDxvQW

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?”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppchat7K09

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzEdoNmcOy

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTM75Noh5mt

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTNr0CkJqc

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhLTyFckrw

June looked up, startled. “About what?”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvvlovVmN7

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxItmjoi6cC

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJFUUY7ohk

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXh88I9Pm9

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0Aktaf04S

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXZiwwqYGR

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFQ1ziCKyb

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD57J31uDh1

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LQShKR9BD

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUG6Pzi4g5O

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCXCFu7Uu1

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vpoPiQOXt

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxS28bTuM9m

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITqa6yE1GM

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZIYWXUEPa

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbb5cv3HjY

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejd6vgUPUM

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4WuUNKgvL

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAABU0BI4wh

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswX1p1ITic

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvM5LCgFo7x

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRPZCS2B47

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCVZUFwasP

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pH6K2rSSj

“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!”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPX7LsojXV

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPF2ItdeUsO

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHQv5KWHsX

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUUsPiwmS8

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqg1XJg4T5

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmQUFhpPDQ

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2LNqRZC9t

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVYX0fJNaY

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOm40nTlko

“Why did you take me?”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4r7PuNASsh

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoh3LDeY4n2

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0VekXLEIl

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBllIZiXMCD

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXvZTUP63T

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWTlPzG7iU

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMDN6QNwTk

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uyP0WiDBe

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLcJfKnmMi

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVtYx9gcEo

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw15tFtmeAK

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTV0L6NDG8j

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hZIjHi3b5

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwozZEdHw9f

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUszP4sB5ib

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMKvFA83bD

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuG4U1sIHg

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.”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7tWpSMIGC

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndasQBMsEG

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.”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rDXhPuyvp

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4J0L2oHmtH

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡComsvaxaOJ

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEmqkW5kFx

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZrtvR9b1i

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfq89mQiJhW

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3rZYGFsmj

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK04tYw7NbA

“Hello?”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJKShBEQJ0

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuaNnbJRTR

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RqWlyU5Gp

“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.”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKi7v9HL4G

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEr7E2ktYMi

“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.”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhK4hog5JX

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlGtpz1Fna

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3UBJytebw

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpbrBPAZzh

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.”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2PXFqnzAK

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLS5hbnjwVY

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjz2owU085Y

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3HOS4Ji5a

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡma7JzFB7dS

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aDA8RdsiL

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGm1xmyxJs

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboyitdGe8h

“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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDvXQvyO8r

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrymQ616DK

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASMCSXTuY0

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2WStPwOX2

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7Fj0NEE15

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmGfP3Xfnt

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQDb3KQjJK

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0ZIF5hzos

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmh4fepbdVU

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMUgOFrIm8

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?”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwQJS0DEA7

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZpUAyvmxY

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTbZtqDp6G

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbAbxGuaK0

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhbBhwuGDw

June looked up, startled. “About what?”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3DMYWAUv4

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHkl5kPY9V

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFvauk2Bh8

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhUV8bXz2K

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68OQxZf0eR

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53IHTgc5It

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRxtcRAIat

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKvTugiM1I

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyJINbO17b

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2G9MdAKw3

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOdmzBtCXH

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7X8l6MsCX

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsNKdtZPpE

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXOlNoIHUR

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAGFaRo4Ay

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yotd0OnSQ

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qEoongtHC

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOka56GyR3x

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJpPKUogp4

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsLFVATuI3

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaEAr5owN3

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YOvMmoOeF

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPk5FHW2D5B

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDdrzkSuJT

“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!”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgs8I02qZd

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyyiCaRajo

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyMZEIiI2V

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwh2qJjmNg6

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QYIYyePVf

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4PeKPYjur

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDktU4el97U

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoKFOIpK5M

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhvwP4DwUG

“Why did you take me?”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvsrxlJwbW

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoA6KIwnBVX

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJRSJ9MqmM

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4RrD7pfV5

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7gQ8INKJE

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRuxCPgIzX

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9n5Bfk1Lp

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuZHW3pw8j

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhP9g1zpTA

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemi3yNTpYE

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiPWtCkjeN

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1A09PYmou

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4apdniceWd

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qV7eo5j9K

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUM0p83Syb

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjCkYoe8yw

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalQZwTLsjm

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.”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDSiH8LNjZ

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhearDbwOe

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1ahF6ZULM

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9r8LwxzpGC

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbD1wAwTN0L

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha5IY1EZms

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwQuguc5lj

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIwaPQtKRh

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRDmJvpkcP

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlMbVMx4Al

“Hello?”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciNeJoV1nF

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFSVaC6s71

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8103prMzn7

“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.”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlcG6yOrnM

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDpJmLPtY9

“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.”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7TtQdlXWr

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4AOQ89TqX

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.

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBT0MZlTsuD

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLQpqOzxI3

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.”

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGredzNT8L

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgZNZGDP8E

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NRzG52BkV

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

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfwiW7hQhF

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLJBSJgMpf

175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSl6wNhXuM

ns3.145.100.163da2

REGISTER

LOGIN

Interface Language:

Story Language: