Aaron’s POV

“Jack, you there?” I repeated for the third time. I could tell they were on the other end of the line, but both boys muttered nervously to each other. Kynder had just left the room after she had talked to Jack Barakat.

I still couldn’t believe what she had told Jack about being punished. Honestly, that girl had gone through some tough crap from Miles! She was always so skittish, never made eye contact, basically starved herself, and never talked! What had happened to cause her to act like that? Austin seemed to be the only one that could actually approach her and even when he went to gently touch her hair, Kyn would duck her shoulders and recoil as if his hand was a burning hot iron.

I think Alan had gotten a chance to talk to her or something because she seemed indifferent to him, or at least she didn’t avoid him like she did with Tino and Phil. I don’t even know where I stood.

“Okay, how is Kynder, really?” Alex’s voice popped up over the line suddenly. I sighed and leaned back against the couch.

“She’s starved herself since she got here, won’t talk, and has scars all over her arms from Miles’s whip. Phil and Tino, the extremists as usual, tried to take a fire iron to her after they heated it up when Kyn ran outside to sit in the garden. It sounded like Alan was trying to calm them down, but I think Tino and Phil took it a little too far.” I sighed and explained. The jingle of silver chains could be heard from down the hall. Jack and Alex gasped.

“Why was Kynder so intent on going outside?” Alex questioned. I sighed. Who knows?

“I have no clue. She’s freaked out by Tino and Phil now and won’t step anywhere close to the fireplace. The thing was, she wouldn’t get near the fireplace even when we got her on the first day. She came down from her room twice and wouldn’t even step close to it.” I remembered. The two things she hated the most were fireplaces and people touching the back of her neck.

“I was going to say something about Miles’s ways of breaking her to you when we stopped and pulled over that one day, but I didn’t want to seem like I was trying to stop you from taking her.” Jack claimed sadly.

“You seemed pretty anxious when you saw her.” I admitted. Peering around the corner, I saw Aus and Kyn coming towards me. It was my time to get up and take the conversation elsewhere. Once I was in my room, I closed the door and sat at the desk.

“She wasn’t as submissive as fearful, really. I saw marks on her neck when I touched her cheek and the way she shot off was another clue. Each time she breathed, it seemed as if she winced. I would take a closer look at her.” Jack suggested. Alex grumbled his agreement in the background.

“Well, I think Austin is taking major steps in trying to get her more social. She’s been following him around like a lost puppy since he’s the only one she really seems to trust. I think this week he’s going to try to get her to be friendlier with Tino and Phil. She’s warmed up to Alan and doesn’t mind me so much, but ever since the poker incident she’s afraid of the other two.” I explained. They took some time to think over what I had just said.

“Well I wish we could make it down for the Fourth to meet up with you guys, but we’ve got some business that day. I hope Kyn gets better, and warms up to Tino and Phil. I’m sure she will.” Alex said gladly. Quiet footsteps sounded past the door.

“I think Phil was going to try checkers today. I don’t know, but he wanted to do something easy. I didn’t think checkers was the best idea since if she beat him Kyn might think she’ll be punished…” I sighed loudly. The footsteps halted and I cursed myself.

“Tino likes his garden, so that’s easy for him. Phil might want to try….a puzzle? Jack, help me out here!” Alex muttered his last comment over to his best friend

“Side walk chalk?” Jack suggested in the back ground.

“Do we even have chalk?” I questioned to no one in particular. Phil would be on his own. I guess he deserved any hate he had towards the incredible pain he nearly put sweet little Kyn through. She was a sweet girl who never questioned anything, unlike past girls that had been through here.

“Well, I know she’ll open up soon. We gotta go. See you.” Jack and Alex signed off. Clicking off my phone, I threw it back in the charger.

It might be a long week. I could only wonder how well Kynder would take to the fireworks on Saturday.

Notes