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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2fIS4NUpi

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlABp3iVEg

“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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2cxFjGmHR

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqe6kzWKvdG

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0zkg0cf7O

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTqoHNDzr5

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhxQ1Hsgc7

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXam6itff4

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5901i5fCz

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHflXKJ4h0s

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAb7FSzSYEI

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Dr2zfEYFV

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?”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZakrkec7z

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi8bKc0rda

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLz9Cm3Nywd

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPmnbUjR5k

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7wLStEpzE

June looked up, startled. “About what?”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoRd6IRVfm

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlZP4iU2Yw

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0YOlEHsmm

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4boO5Yv5Wz

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBA8cr5pyi

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdk6uCjTcJ

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmC6TWDilI

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyZuTty3SJ

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKWWBvk66T

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiK4DQHCLR

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9IDyh5DZL

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpfBGm0iPn

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGePP6Q7y6

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRp0YLwGMI

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqrgy8N8Oi

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7J7zA4eZA

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gqDel3IFk

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ41fUmFwI

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOXBrDfYkV

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBqGsY3kZR

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQh6QMEgfW

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmLizOOHh9

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKBCuwavlt

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtYxIthsBj

“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!”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJWP7iXdpo

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPPzIpHrB5

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkSMZf86EJ

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtro03HNY1

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHB4bGaujn

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4rujvbg7n

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZ2hdwbPBi

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo79lCUK605

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqMSnsy1dW

“Why did you take me?”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiX6CBvRzpj

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirupPnZ9Wv

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OdOpBoEe8

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JWwWSJrn7

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiRjYiRiT6

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKXWsskYr6

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHz9i65zy2

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSgkUH3pCO

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0fcN9sz2s

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6CSAkC5fQ

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3qeYsYsdU

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsuBhpieFi

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h6W43cFi3

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lzt0doBut

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNflKsuwTb

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuetQcKqlUF

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiEa3YoAC9

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.”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgrgpnTpSj

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVObF5Jyap

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.”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00EU6CN3MI

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nEQ3WgJ2A

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNH5Agov4e

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJizQlKUJuR

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5ugo1f7Yw

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NXeOWePG3

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYp0Sy61DJZ

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6SFOuWBa9

“Hello?”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdpTuq6dAK

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AN9HsURYa

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMzSW88E3A

“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.”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBM0l5g5D0

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQfovgbjdS

“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.”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAI1fvlBliw

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DJbEt7XXI

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0pBOnDPPZ

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldYjitEQDB

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.”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF7uKiWVEh

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXdunQNSx3

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6I64PhPM6P

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiyy1uJxJY

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCY8lWOINq

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizbcWnMtdx

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBxBatTAE3

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccHTxqaMEH

“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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMstnu2VIk

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWchOahqRJ

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoCX9kg7nD

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaEDvY3wma

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XYo9rop8P

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXzZ1gf7of

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVn0Mo1IEN

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHnglV61gh

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0U1gcyP6e

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZkq7B9n24

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?”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1SNGkdeIi

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV8azs03e8

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmYRLbkTYs

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuGGr3QBPi

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJjGMZqunS

June looked up, startled. “About what?”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyg7EWWLABo

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QYxJhcoPl

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlweHSAKv89

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUwDaajjWx

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbGLvZssUD

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ixPC2SMfV

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAIrmePnsK

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9nxhkyjAh

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGlp9cXgKs

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybzD9tDyCr

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4SERoQjPi

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kj6HJivYx

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxE8v1bBvhm

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcbKZGyiwa

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkFOMygHyr

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5F5XI7vK0l

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgU0vjWhmnq

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjEyyTdVxd

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTzS44mQPN

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiauYHBZuPq

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZ8desSVY6

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj18ormYN9m

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVj9GP4yGG

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIu6IA8FWs

“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!”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNrl5AKHTU

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJO2yYTLVV

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnWDqSVBFU

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWWNmWKpYG

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqMzGW6dew

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilG9gxb4cx

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiaatTX8bf

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwTg4wWpSG

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGFE2VZfOI

“Why did you take me?”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcR1nX20Bhr

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfOu79MaEk

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrh1hJBdSh

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovjQMdz8iy

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PaIo7q289

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahFd5ZW83T

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5sEkmMymb

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3mKnK04lP

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexhfw2TZaP

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqC67If4XbW

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qr58YqBsc

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWlcvY1F5f

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd65srEVC0H

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8x951CcBpK

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRtboAwcE5

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VeGk2H968

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYFgydK1hr

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.”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm97ezJskif

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0h0yTP0n7U

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1FHB5NOeB

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2Dci1g9fN

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6inlDcYvzj

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4YTv7C2Pv

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnpwHW3uts

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9KSvfxocg

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMnFWfDiLn

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFg5oweEKc

“Hello?”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwSBqYzbt5

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGENG5jIwW

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRZBFEiFWJ

“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.”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2724Fh2CHS

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWQGdR37o4

“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.”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1eU9trbpS

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSaJn9mVsC

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.

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihKNhCTFwG

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtYkRSDik3

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.”

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwG6lPNIbf

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvn4W5ijXC

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jPEwlj4G7

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

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITjK7LAQqQ

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPVCEUf1fM

273Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlrbdrKn4W

ns216.73.216.176da2

註冊

登入

介面語言:

故事語言: