Asahomicidecaptain,Luhadgiventlesssafetylectures,yetitneveroccurredtohimtogiveooReya.
Hedidn''''''''tturnaround,butReyacaughtaglimpseofhisstrikingbckeyesintherearviewmirror.Shifty,restless.Asmallhodangledfromoneear,givinghimacool,celebrity-likeaura.
"Whatareyoudoing?"sheasked.
Blindfolded,Reyaspeirerideligthegag,itspstickytastestrangeandfn.Bythetimehertonumb,thecarfinallystopped.
Shewasjusttoowell-behaved.Unshakableinthefaceoftrouble,alwaysfindingherownsolutions.Itmadehimpt.
Shedidn''''''''tknowthatsometimes,uglinessfesteredinside—andthatitcouldhidebehiifulmask.
Reyamentallyscoffed.Thebedsheetsfeltwrong.Theairsmelledwrong.
uryearsago
"Littlegirl,we''''''''rehome,"Co''''''''svoicechimed.
"Takingyousomewherefun."
Shedidn''''''''tknowwhatawaitedher,butshewasn''''''''tafraid.
Themanwhoyankedherintothecarhadartist''''''''shands.Slenderfingersadorhastrangesilverring.Theycmpedaroundherdelicatewrists,dragginghereffortlesslyintothebackseatbeforeshecouldevenscream.
Themaninthedriver''''''''sseatstartedthedorderedSilverRing,"Don''''''''tlethertalk.Blindfoldher."
Thesilverringgleamedasthemansmirked.
Theywerehandsome,dressedinexpehes,polishedinmannersandfriendlysmiles.Booksalwayssaidvilinswereugly,whileprinceswerevishandcharming.
Herwristswerefreed,andtheblindfoldremoved,butthegagstayed.
Someoedherinabridalcarry.ShewonderedifitwasSilverRingorCo.
Reyacouldn''''''''tdie.Atleast,notfromphysicalharher,thiswasjustahrillingadventure.
Sowhewomenpulledoverandcalledouttoher,askingfordires,Reyafeltnoarm.
Blinking,shetookinthemessybedroom:clothess
ThoseeleganthandstiedahandkerchiefoverReya''''''''seyes,thenstuffedaballgagintohermouth,segittightlyatthebackofherhead.Herlipswereforcedwideopen,leavingonlymuffledwhimpers.Herarmswereyankedbehindherbadbound,pressedunfortablyagainsttheseat.
Adoorcreakedopen.Thepersoncarryiurnedafewersbeforetossioasoft,bouncybed.
LuandMoxihadbeensofocusedonprovidingforReya''''''''smaterialhattheyhadfottentowarnheraboutthedangersoftheworld.