Monday morning at 1:08 A.M….

When I woke up, I felt that familiar sensation of the chain on my neck. The cold
metal had returned with the unpleasant memories.

Outside, I saw the dark sky over the road. The bus mumbled along the road with a
heavy hum of tires that skimmed the tar. It looked like Ryan was driving the bus. I
moved a little and groaned in pain.
“Hurting, Little One?” Ricky asked. Shoot, I had forgotten I’d fallen asleep in his
arms…

“No, s-sir.” I gritted my teeth through the twinge of pain as my muscles flexed.
Ricky brushed my tangle bangs from my face. I shivered a little from the touch.

“She awake yet?” A gruff voice called out. Balz emerged from the bunk, shirtless. I
rubbed my eyes sleepily. Ricky muttered his response.

“Yeah, Rory just woke up.” Ricky said, stroking my hair. I turned away from the
harsh man. I peered through half opened eyes to see that it was 1:10 in the
morning.

“Just get her up so Chris can explain the rules.” Balz grumbled. Ricky sighed,
starting to shake me awake. I rolled to a sitting up position and stretched a little.
It wouldn’t be a good time to forget my manners, so forget what I had been
taught.

I watched as Chris walked into the front lounge. Instantly, I shied back into Ricky’s
side. He nudged me forward. With a sigh, I guess it was time to face the music. In
the cold bus, I gritted my teeth against the sparks of pain in my ankle. What I
wouldn’t give for some ice right now…

Chris shot his hand forward, yanking me up to my feet by the chain collar. I
swallowed a screech of agony as I tumbled onto my sore ankle. I nearly collapsed
onto the floor.

“Get up, Rory.” Chris commanded. I stood up, looking him in the eyes before
dropping his stare. He brought two fingers under my chin, tilting my head up to
stare at him. I felt Ricky’s stare bore into my back.

“Let me explain a few things to you, Rory. On this bus, we’re much stricter than
the Bring Me the Horizon boys. Disobey an order, and we won’t hesitate you to
keep you on the brink of death. Even think of escaping and we’ll find an even
worse punishment.” I gulped at those words. A punishment worse than death? I
wouldn’t want to test these guys…

“We tour and basically live on this bus for most of the time. When we’re at a
concert, you’ll be chained here. If you leave the bus without permission from one
of the boys or I and you’ll be punished. When the time comes and we go off tour,
you’ll live with one of us.” Chris continued on in his sickly sweet voice. All I
wanted to do was cringe away, but I was afraid of the punishment.

“Do you understand?”

“Y-y-yes.” I stuttered out. At that, I was thrown to the ground. Oh, I knew what I
had missed.

“Yes, what?” He growled, looming over to me. I swallowed gulps of fear and pain
as I cringed on the floor.

“Yes, Master.” I replied weakly. He grunted the signal of approval and stalked off
to his bunk. Ricky grabbed my arm and hauled me up. I was caught up in those
blue eyes again that seemed to eat away at my soul.

“Little One, you’re still hurt. Please, let me help you.” He whispered to me. His
hands grasped me close. I attempted to wiggle free. I felt the anxiety start to build
up again.

Don’ttouchmedon’ttouchmedon’ttouchmedon’ttouchme….My brain screamed over and over.

When he figured out I was trying to escape his close hug, he raked his nails down
my back and I felt still. My brain went from resisting close contact to shut down
mode. It was like shutting down a computer. I felt my systems close so I was able
to do nothing.

“Yes, M-master.” I stuttered again. Ricky stopped touching me and led me to what
seemed to be his bunk. He lightly pushed me down before going to get some
supplies from a cabinet. When he returned, he crawled into the bunk with me.

Eventually, we were positioned to where I leaned against the back headboard and
extended my leg the best I could. Horror sat cross legged on the opposite end
with my ankle in his lap. His nimble hands worn from playing guitar in the band
wove a white bandage around my leg. It would provide protection and stability to
my twisted injury.

“Feel better?” He asked. I nodded silently. His hand went towards me and I
flinched away. His eyes begged me to look back again and I saw him hold out pills
for me. I glanced to his face for an answer.

“Pain relief.”

“Thanks, Master.” I said quietly. He nodded as I swallowed them quickly. I
trembled as they slid down my dry throat. Ricky came to sit next to me. I felt a
little scared to be alone in a bunk with another man, but I guess I had no say in
anything anymore.

“You must be tired, Little One.” He cooed to me with my pet name. I nodded, not
daring to look at him. His arms wrapped around me and pulled me down against
him so that we spooned in the bunk. I subjected to this with no other option to go
to. Ricky just hugged me closer to him, still not realizing that I was going through
an anxiety attack right now. His hands traced little patterns on my arm until I
started to drift off yet again.

Notes