Hear Me Ch. 03

DISCLAIMER - Characters are 18+. Please be aware that this fantasy story includes scenes of graphic non-consensual sex. This is a work of fiction for erotic entertainment purposes only. Sex should always be with enthusiastic consent in real life.

Special thanks to my amazing, magical editor: majicman21

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I had always wondered how it would feel to be embraced, to have that warmth of another being seep into me. Skin to skin. I had guessed that it would feel like a warm bath after a long day of scavenging. A piece of bread fresh out of the claycooker. A cool blanket on a summer evening.

Saw it too. Daily. Babes bound to their mother's chest, fathers holding the little one's hands, kids tackling each other while playing. Some evenings the village would gather to dance arm in arm around the fire, singing and laughing, switching partners as they went. New couples huddled to the side giggling and whispering.

Those were my favourite to watch. And I would, from afar, out of the way in the trees. Quietly whistling along to the melody. Wondering. Fantasising, really. That perhaps one day I'd wake up in someone's arms. That warm embrace against my chest too.

But not like this.

My prayers to the heavens had been heard and I was being punished for my insolence. For even daring to wish for such a thing. Now that I was in someone's arms, I couldn't possibly feel anything less than utter fear.

My flesh having already been ripped apart by the beast next to me. Its limbs caging me under him to save the rest of me for later. I was lying sideways, his body pressed behind me. Layed there naked as he felt me up, my predator barely awoken from his slumber.

I shivered as he plucked my nipples, trying so hard not to move or make a sound. My shuddering breathing betraying me instead. I felt trapped under his horrifyingly strong body. Felt so good. Sending pleasurable jolts to my core.

Then he'd slither downwards. Make me suck my breath as his callused skin brushed over the welts on my ass and thighs, occasionally pushing in a little till I whimpered. Heard his breath deepen. As if he liked hurting me.

And then he'd go up to repeat. He was hard behind me. My heart was thrumming under his touch. I stiffened when his hand went between my legs, seeking my wet sex. He let out an appreciative sleepy groan. Doom me.

I told myself it was because of the touching prior to breakfast like before. My body simply expecting it, even after being mauled by him.

When he unexpectedly withdrew and left the bed, I exhaled. It was like I had forgotten how to breathe. He entered the bathroom. This was my chance to get out.

I winced as the slightest movements felt like stones being rammed into my muscles. I tried to bear it in an effort to slide off the enormous bed. When I got to my feet, I felt dizzy. I hadn't slept much last night, Kane's twitching scaring me to my core. Thought he was waking. Didn't know people did that as they fell asleep. Maybe it was just him.

Kane came back into the room. I hoped he would ignore me but he beckoned me to come to him. I did without a second thought. When he turned me around, he stiffened for a moment. Muttered a curse under his breath, staring at my bruised bottom and thighs. I wished I wasn't naked anymore. He turned me to face him.

"You've disappointed me." His eyes told me as much. A sense of shame washed over me. "I shouldn't have given into these so-called protocols and adjustment periods. I've left you undisciplined for too long. That's going to change."

I didn't want to disappoint him. I wanted to be good. So good he would never take me to that room again. His eyes shifted to my right cheek and my hand instinctively went to it. It felt swollen. "Fucking right on time." He looked vexed. "We're going to Jona today. It's a mandatory check-up."

By the time we had left the house, he had me dressed in the same dress I came in with, the fabric covering and scraping against my sore flesh.

Jona's face changed from pleasant to one of worry when we entered. She ushered us into a room after a stiff greeting. When she turned around, she looked visibly tense.

Without a sound, she went to a machine, pushed buttons which echoed through the room and gave her papers. She gathered them. Began reading through the papers, writing things down.

Then she walked over to Kane, handed them to him, barely looking at me. The silence was suffocating me. "What happened to your face, Kane?" she finally asked. I really wished she wouldn't have asked. The scratch on his cheek suddenly looked bigger and redder than it was. My hands felt clammy.

"Just a harmless accident," Kane answered. I couldn't read him but Jona clearly wasn't pleased. "Rhea, sit on the examination table," she said, turning to me.

My heart started to quicken. Would she beat me too? "She'll stand," Kane interjected. Quiet again. The air was thick around us as Jona lowered her stool to sit before me, her eyes shifting to my swollen cheek. I trembled.

"Hey sweetpie, this won't hurt a bit. Just like last time," she smiled reassuringly. I smiled back tentatively. She wasn't angry at me? She tilted my head to the side to check my right ear. I winced as her hand brushed my cheek.

"I want her nails trimmed short and-"

"You can wait outside for the next part," Jona snapped tightly. My muscles tensed. Did she have a death wish?

"I want to make sure she gets the best care."

"You'll wait outside, Sergeant." There was anger in her voice. I kept looking down. Didn't dare to meet Kane's gaze. He stood there for a while before turning without a word and left, slamming the door on his way out.

Jona wasted no time to undress me. I didn't move. When she went behind me, I heard her gasp. She didn't say anything and just stared for a while, assessing. Then came around. She took both my hands in hers, squeezing gently.

"Rhea honey," her breath shook a little. "You are protected by the law. I'm obligated to make a report. To remove you from his care. You'll be taken care of. You'll be safe."

I froze. Great heavens.

"But you must confirm. You must tell me he hurt you." I shook my head. My heart beat so fast I could feel it in my throat. No. "What... It's alright, you don't need to speak." She didn't understand. I took my hands from hers. Shook in the negative again. "Why?" She asked incredulously. "You want to stay with him?"

I nodded. She couldn't take me from him. I wouldn't let that happen. She was stunned. Paced back and forth in the room for a bit before slamming a different door shut on her way out. I heard loud passionate whispers. Oh Jona. My heart warmed a little. Whoever she was talking to was trying to calm her down.

She was practically shaking as she entered again. I could tell she was disappointed in me as she performed the regular physical assessments. I breathed through as she gently spread a cool ointment on my tender bottom and thighs, then some on my face. She disheartenedly filed my nails down as last.

When Kane came to get me, Jona had cheered up to her usual self. "Kane, there you are, welcome again," she greeted him. "I've been busy since you mentioned you want the best care for little Rhea. I ran some extra tests and very unfortunately there's an indicator she might be immune compromised. I've already registered her with the SHA as you know it's mandatory. She's to be monitored closely by me. Every other week as opposed to every other month."

I didn't know what I had compromised but it sounded like it might be a good thing, for me. I knew she was lying. Kane did too. But it seemed like he didn't have a choice in the matter. "Very well. I'll arrange for it," he said impatiently.

Jona looked expectantly at me, hoping I would change my mind before walking out of here. I blinked once slowly. She'd been good to me. I think she understood.

In the car, Kane sat me on his lap, my thighs stinging. "The fucking SHA," he sighed. It didn't seem like he was mad at me for it, his hand petting my hair. I carefully peeked at him and he planted a kiss on the top of my head. Relief and revulsion swirled in my chest.

Once at home, he filled the bath halfway. Sat me down with him, washing me, touching me here and there inappropriately. My heart ached. I opened my eyes, crying silently. Had I really angered the heavens this much?

"What a good girl you have been today. That deserves a little reward, doesn't it?" Kane purred in my ear, my back against his chest. "Open your legs."

I thought back to this morning. What he had said.

"We're going to Jona today. It's a mandatory check-up."

He hadn't seemed happy about it.

"If they take you from me, I can always go to Earth again. That sister of yours, she'll make do. The boy I can sell to a hospital. Tiny organs are hard to come by these days."

I had dropped to my knees. He was talking about Uvey and Josie. I wanted to scream. Clung to his leg, my body shaking. Oh heavens please protect them from this man, I had prayed. Make me pay for my sins. I'll do anything.

"Unless..." He had looked down, his face stoic. I had wanted to beg him. To please torture me. Please have me. I'd be good, I swear. My heart was pounding in my throat.

"Unless you wanted this." I nodded frantically. I did. I do. No matter what it was, I'd please this man with every fiber of my being. I'd be whatever he needs me to be.

That's what I had promised. What I had exchanged with the heavens and Kane for mercy. For their safety, my family. And he knew that. As evidenced by me having fooled Jona after.

So I opened my legs as far as I could. As far as I felt my heart being ripped apart. I told myself I was being forced to obey but in reality I needed badly to feel something else than sorrow and misery. Something to escape to.

When Kane's hand slid down my belly, I shivered, anticipating the pleasure he would give me. The pads of his fingers electrified my skin along the way. My tears disappearing into the water as they fell. I let out an embarrassing sound when he stopped right above my mound.

His other hand came to pluck at my nipple, drawing a few whimpers from me. He was terribly gentle. When he finally reached down right to that one spot, I almost sobbed. My body instinctively bucked with the delicious assault.

I hated him and the feel of his violating flesh against me. Yet I couldn't deny what my body spoke so loudly. It was like my skin was singing as he was awakening it.

My head fell backwards when his fingers entered me. He didn't move them. His other hand playing with my nipples. It wasn't enough. I waited. And waited. He still wouldn't.

It would be a terrible thing to do but I couldn't help myself wonder how it would be. Began to squirm my hips. Then rocking slowly. He let me. It felt so good. "There you go." I closed my eyes, losing myself to the sensation, going a little faster. My breath quickened. "Do you want my cock, little bird?" Kane purred in my ear.

I pulsed. I shouldn't. I didn't answer but I wished he'd do it anyway. Had I no shame? "I can feel your cunt fluttering." Pulsed again. "Yeah, just like that."

He slid out of me and pushed his fingers in my mouth. "Suck." H-he was just in there! His other hand slid back down and entered me, pushing against a sensitive spot. I moaned. And then I obeyed. His fingers were slippery, slightly sweet.

Finally he began to pump his fingers in me, pleasure rippling through my core. I sucked harder and he pumped faster. Both hands started moving simultaneously. In and out, deeper every time. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, mixing with the lewd sounds his fingers were making.

I gagged. Too far. But it didn't seem to matter. Gagged again. His thumb joined to stroke me below. Sending jolts to my core. My back arched with the sensation. "Such a good girl," Kane breathed in my ear. Dear heavens. "Do you want to come?" Oh please. My body screamed but I couldn't tell him, couldn't let him know I had completely abandoned my integrity.

He removed his fingers and I yelped as he pushed me forward, sending me on all fours, my thighs sticking above the water. I groaned. So close. "Grumpy, hmm?"

I felt him inching closer, his breath near my sex. What was he doing? "Fuck, you smell delicious." Then felt his tongue and lips. Making me hiss as his beard scratched my bruised skin.

He licked me gently. The pain bringing me down from the edge and swirling with the pleasure. He was right there. Playing with the small bundle of nerves. I moaned, my breath shaky. Felt like I was melting into a puddle. He knew so many strange things.

The scrape of teeth against the sensitive nerve made me jump. "I asked if you want to come," he muttered against my skin. A whine escaped my throat, everything twinging. Doom him. "Yeah? Show me how bad you want it."

He wrapped his lips around it, sucking gently. My toes curled. My mouth falling open. The shot of pleasure was instant. Like claws taking a hold of my senses and wringing every bit of me higher.

I pushed against his mouth, rolling my hips. Fuck, it felt good. He groaned, making everything vibrate. Yes... Yes I needed this. More of it. His fingers entered me, finding that sensitive spot, drawing back and forth. His mouth still sucking.

I came. Waves of pleasure crashing gently through me. Travelling to every trace of skin, every hair on my body, my scalp, every muscle along the way to the tips of my fingers and toes. It wasn't like anything I had felt yet.

It was devastating. Delicious. Decedent. I almost lost my balance. Trying not to make embarrassing sounds and failing. He let me come down slowly, still gracing me with this new tenderness.

When it faded, a delicate shiver ran down my spine. I was still panting. Pulsing on his fingers as he drew them out and put me back on his lap, his breaths also coming in puffs. Heavens, that was unbelievable.

When I could form a thought I realised he was still hard as a rock. Why hadn't he taken me? I waited for him to do so but he never did. Got out of the water after a while. I felt hot with shame. This hadn't been him taking his pleasure from my body. It was for my pleasure. I felt dirty.

I could only logically justify why I had let it happen. Why I participated. I told myself it was to protect my family. But even then I knew it wasn't the full truth. He had turned me into a depraved wench. Made me want it. And heavens did I want it.

Days passed, perhaps weeks, or months. I couldn't tell anymore. He did so many things to me. Such terrible things. Things I didn't know were even possible until it was happening. Taught me all the dirty words.

Fed me his cock until he came down my throat, making sure his cum didn't leak out from my lips, my jaw aching by the end of it. Took a few tries before I stopped panicking, knowing he will let me breathe eventually.

It hurt so much the first time he pushed his fingers into my behind, the sawing motion making me clench my teeth. I couldn't have possibly imagined all of him to actually fit. But he did.

He fucked me through my shrieks and sobs, the pain unbearable at first. Then ground my clit with his palm as he held me down, praising how it felt like I was going to take off his cock as I came.

He beat me anytime I showed minor hesitation. Or when I disobeyed, intentional or not. Telling me I should know better. My screams echoing in the devilish room with the key. Sometimes ringing in my ears and waking me up at night.

Kane started brushing my hair and dressing me in beautiful clothes. Ones I only could have dreamed of before all this. Only to tear them off of me later to ruin me.

Shackled me to sit on his face and took me to the brink of insanity over and over before allowing me release.

It gave him a disturbing form of satisfaction when he made me weep from pain, fear or exhaustion, telling me I will eventually learn to crave what he was doing to me.

He made me come every time to make it a point. Sometimes so many times until I was weeping for it to stop, all of it cramping. His touch was never physically unpleasant enough to match the revulsion I felt towards him.

I saw Jona a couple times. She made sure my skin wasn't bruised too badly, delighted when he'd tormented me some other way that didn't leave horrifying marks. I hated how pretty she made me every time, fearing what he would do to me later that day.

He took me to healer Antonio who said I would need an operation to fix my muteness but Kane didn't want the scar on me. Said I needn't talk to please him anyway.

Today was a special day. Kane was taking me outside to the park for the first time because I had been especially good. I was about to meet my people. There were lots of them on the moon he'd said.

I couldn't stop my excitement when we reached the gate. I'd finally have a friend, someone to relate to. I did worry if they would like me. The park was so beautiful. A large field of green grass, trees and bushes placed in an intentional way to create pathways.

Soon a man walked towards us, together with a girl who from afar seemed to be from Earth. Kane had instructed me to not engage until allowed so I kept my eyes on the man.

Kane greeted him warmly. "Daniel, good to finally catch up." Then gestured to me. "This is my Rhea." I stood a bit timidly while the man sized me up with his eyes, sharp and standing proud. Strong like Kane. Looked to be around the same age.

"You bastard," he laughed. "When you said you got a good one, I didn't expect a little minx like this. Fuck me."

"She's a handful. Believe me, it's a task," Kane said, obviously flattered. Daniel snorted.

"Oh bullshit! Cut the humble crap, Kane. They're already so rare to acquire but goddamn, seriously." He let his eyes linger before looking at the girl beside him. "You may say hi, darling."

"Hi, Rhea!" the girl said excitedly. Now that I could pay attention to her, she looked like my people but slightly different. She was so beautiful. Blonde, high cheekbones and full lips. I couldn't take my eyes off of her while we stared at each other. Couldn't place the strangeness.

"She's mute, isn't that fun?" Kane explained when I didn't answer. "I'm sure you'll get along. She pleases me greatly."

"Oh wow, I've never met a mute before. So cool!" she responded. My heart raced at the possibility she didn't mind. "Why is she so tiny if I may ask, Sir Kane?" Daniel and Kane laughed endearingly.

She was indeed taller, bigger. Not like moon people but still. "She isn't raised domestically like you, dear. She's a pure Earthling," Kane answered.

"Woah..." The girl looked enamoured. Hmm... perhaps it was that. Her physique was like models from the papers, healthy and full. Evident that she hadn't lacked food like most on Earth.

I wondered what kind of hell she must have endured her whole life here. She turned to her owner. "Is that why the marks on her face are different, Master? Like we saw in the documentary?"

The man leaned down, pointing. "Those are her real clan marks. Don't they suit her beautifully? Look at the intricate design, so delicate." I blushed. They liked my clan marks. I gave them a smile.

"She's so cute! Can I play with her, Sir Kane? Please, Master?" Her excitement was contagious. The men shared a look. "Go ahead, Lisa." Kane answered, Daniel giving her an approving nod.

"Rhea, you be good with Lisa, alright? She's a friend." I nodded. Did she really want to be friends?

"Thank you, Sir Kane! Thank you, Master!" the girl exclaimed. Kane and the man went to sit on a bench further away, each with a cup of steaming beverage in hand, chatting.

Lisa sat down on the grass, tapping next to her for me to sit. "Oh gosh, I have so many things to ask you! I've never been on Earth," she beamed. I sat next to her, holding my excitement. A friend... "Is it true Earthlings can summon lightning to strike someone down?"

Well, we did have dark prayers but I hadn't seen that happen before. I shook my head no. "What about cannibals? Do they really exist?" Brr. I nodded. She meant the savages. "No way!! They eat humans?" Nodded again.

"Euhh!" She did a gagging motion in disgust. "I mean I like sucking cock but I can't imagine actually eating one!" Lisa laughed. Wow. Okay, uhm... Wow. She was... forward.

"Aww are you shy?" I put my hands on my hot cheeks. Yep, definitely scorching. "Redder than the tip of an angry dick," she winked and I giggled with her. Tried to blink less.

She bit her lip. "You're so hot. Are you wearing anything under?" I smiled and shook my head no. I was really hot, I mean it was still summer after all. No need for underskirts yet.

"Good." Lisa suddenly leaned in and kissed my lips. I froze. What in heavens... I flinched away from her when she placed her hand on my thigh. Was she dim? Kane had just told her I was mute!

"Don't be shy, Master likes watching," she said before touching me again. I pushed her off of me. "What's wrong with you?" she asked offendedly. What's wrong with me? What's wrong with her?! She was going to get herself sick! And what was she even doing touching me like that?

"Hey!" a voice shouted. I saw Daniel and Kane coming towards us. Oh fuck. I shot up. "What happened, Lisa?" the man asked as he reached us. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

"I wanted to play with Rhea but she pushed me, Master. Why would she do that?" She sounded so confused. Why was she confused? I felt cold sweat dripping down my back. She was from Earth, was she not? What... What did I do wrong?

Kane interjected. "I apologise for her rude behaviour Daniel. I should've mentioned Rhea is not accustomed to our ways yet." My heart beat even faster at his words. I was going to be in so much trouble. Started to tremble, my eyes filling with tears, trying not to show as it would anger him more.

"It's alright, Kane. I forgot to educate Lisa that Rhea... had a different way of life." The man truly looked regretful. I didn't know what to do. I was just trying to protect her.

"Rhea, apologise," Kane said tightly. I dropped to my knees. Lowered my head and rubbed my palms together. Oh heavens, please make Kane forgive me. Please please please. I'll be better. Don't make him hurt me. "I'll see to it she's trained." And with that, we left.

When we returned home, Kane walked me to the room with the key. No, no please. I felt the room suffocate me, my legs trembling beneath me. He sat calmly on the couch. "Explain your behaviour." I tried not to cry, my lips trembling. I was grateful he was letting me explain instead of outright punishing me.

I looked into his eyes in hopes he could sense my true intentions. Touched my arm with a shaky finger, then held my hands to my neck, making choking noises. He looked bemused. And I finally let my head fall to the side. It was the best I could do. My chest thrummed with unease as I watched him consider my reenactment.

"Were you worried you'd make her sick, you sweet thing?" I breathed out with relief as I nodded. Hadn't even noticed I'd stopped breathing. He understood. "Come here." I went to stand before him. "You won't make people sick on the moon, alright? Next time Lisa touches you, you let her." I nodded. But how could that be? Was it because she was raised here?

"Still, you embarrassed me in front of my friend," Kane said in that hard voice I feared. I rubbed my palms together, begging him. I didn't know. "Now now, sorry girls take their punishment with pride, don't they, little bird?" He bent me over his knee before I could answer.

I tightly held onto Kane's leg as I took my punishment, crying miserably. He stroked and squeezed my bottom in between the hits. Dragging his nails across to ensure I wouldn't go numb. I mewled in delirious agony. Lost count after a while, focussing on my breathing. Didn't help.

*SMACK* "Fuck, those sounds you make," he revelled. He was hard beneath me, his breathing getting heavier as I squirmed in pain. It was like he was in a trance when he hurt me. I started to feel the familiar signs of detachment I'd been experiencing recently. "You're such a wanton bitch."

*SMACK* I squealed. "I didn't think you would be with how innocent you look. When we made the trade and I found you, I couldn't believe my fucking eyes you were still unclaimed." Hahh... What?

*SMACK* Fuccckk. "The bastard hadn't told me you were mute but once I had you sobbing while coming on my cock, I knew that once was never going to be enough." I couldn't make much sense of what he was saying, finally beginning to fade. The first few times it had happened, it scared me.

Suddenly Kane hoisted me up and pushed me to the wall, hurriedly unzipping his pants and entering me from behind. I barely realised it was happening before he was rutting against me. It might have hurt if I wasn't already dripping down my thighs.

"You can't live without this cock ramming into you, can you?" Somewhere in my mind I was aware of what was happening. "What do you say? Should we strap you to that toy I got for you again?"

I closed my eyes as his grunts synchronized with the rude sounds of our flesh slapping together. It was peaceful, drifting further. Far away from him and this body. His talking turning to nothing, a deep rumble from his chest.

Some time must have passed. When I opened my eyes, I was on all fours in his bed. And when he bit my shoulder, I came, so suddenly that it startled me, slowly dragging me back to the surface. "Fuck yes," he groaned as my muscles contracted, feeling dull. It didn't feel like my body. Hadn't for a while now.

*SMACK* "There you are, little bird." Doom it. He noticed. Of course he did. I kept still anyway while he rocked us. So tired. I wanted to drift back. "Think you can escape me, huh?

*SMACK* "Ungrateful even after coming like a vice," he spat. I could hear he was frustrated. He pinched my bruised bottom. "Stay here!" The pain was still tolerable. It gave me satisfaction knowing that getting no reaction from me pissed him off. That it bruised his ego.

*SMACK* "I said pay attention!" I held onto the sheets beneath me, waiting for him to take whatever he wanted from me. My only form of retaliation. He leaned into my ear, panting. "You want to escape in your own little head, that's fine... You can't help it, can you? You're not strong like her." His tone of voice turned darker.

"Your sister fought me so much harder when I had her."

My body went rigid. ... What did he just say?

"That's right. She goddamn near tore my head off that day." He was lying. He was lying to get a reaction from me. "A wild bitch that one, untameable. Couldn't get her act straight even after I took out the knife. Took a cock well enough for me to sell though. It would've been a waste if I'd returned empty handed."

No. It wasn't true. I-it can't be. "Her no-good husband frantically blabbering for a trade as I was preparing to leave. She tried stopping him and he had the gall to slap my property."

Everything he had said earlier was slowly rushing back to me, slamming me back to my body. His hips thrusting roughly. Painful.

"When he described you, I had to see it for myself. You were easy to find, singing melodies like a bird between the city ruins, so fragile. So free." I felt paralyzed, my heart racing. He groaned, his rhythm becoming irregular. "Now you get to sing for me all night, every night."

He had hurt Uvey... violated her while I was away looking for chocolate to give to Josie. No. No No. It can't be that. Right? I was going to throw up. Then why had Uvey not looked at me? Fought for me? Why wasn't anyone remotely aghast by what they saw? Was Kane really telling the truth?

Then I realised something... Josie. 'Mama say you go with nice man... No cry, back soon, okay?'

They had to have told him something beforehand. That I was going with Kane to a big house full of food and that I would be back soon. Or else he would have cried for me to not leave him. The nauseating lump in my throat prevented a wail from leaving my lungs.

'Two, and a sack of rice.' Berk had haggled the goat for twice more a year before. He... he really had just sold me in exchange for Uvey. Sent Kane to hunt me, to defile me and rip me from my home.

Uvey couldn't fight for me. Couldn't say anything because she had already done so before Kane even found me. Couldn't show me her face because she was ashamed to have failed to protect me like she had promised. Hid to hide her bruises. She would have left Josie motherless. Something was squeezing my chest into mince, my throat burning. My kin, my chosen sister.

All of my suffering had been for nothing. All the bruises, all the pain, all the terror I at least thought I was sparing my family from. It didn't make a difference, Uvey had already been violated by the same man who had threatened to defile her if I let someone take me from him. I was helpless from the start.

Kane had finished and pulled out of me at some point. Was brushing his hair now, looking content, his cock half deflated. I removed myself from the position. Still in disbelief. Cum leaking onto the sheets.

He said I could sleep with him tonight if I promised to be good that evening. I made sure I was. Then waited for the telltale signs of Kane slipping into deep sleep as I laid next to him. His leg would twitch twice and then his arm three times.

I sneaked out to retrieve what I needed and returned to the bed. I climbed on top of him, straddling him on my knees. Looking at the man capable of such destruction. His face was peaceful, turned to the side. Perfect.

I laid my head on his chest and closed my eyes. His heartbeat was strong. Full of life. I laid there for a minute, taking in his scent.

Sat up. Ready? I raised my hands, holding the handle tight. And plunged the blade into his neck as hard as I could. Kane woke up in a choke as I yanked it out to plunge it into his heart next.

I screamed into his face. He was holding his neck, garbling and coughing up blood. His eyes full of terror, looking into mine. I screamed louder with every plunge of the blade, locking my legs on his waist as he tried to throw me off of him. Every glorious splatter of blood purifying the skin on my body he had previously touched.

I was done praying. I screamed and screamed. Making sure the heavens could hear me. Hear my testimony. You. Don't. Touch. My. Family.

I kept going till the blade fell out of my trembling hands. Took a deep breath, taking in the sight before me. Kane had stopped moving a long time ago. Triumph coursed through my veins as I just sat there for a while, not sure what to do. It looked like a scene from many of my dreams.

Lights flashed through the window, the sound of cars outside. Then knocking on the door. "Is everything alright in there?" Someone must have heard. Good. I wasn't about to clean up the mess.

The pounding on the door echoed through the house as I walked through the hallway. "Police, open up!" When I opened the front door, everything fell silent. I was surrounded by shocked faces.

I truly exhaled for the first time since I was brought here as they stormed in and found Kane. Hope sprouted inside me. Uvey would never have to fear him again and Josie would be safe. I closed my eyes. That was enough for me.

~~~

"Breaking news tonight: Sergeant Kane Mercer, a respected venator officer known for his dedication to humanitarian work on Earth, was tragically found dead at his home after being stabbed more than 250 times by a young slave girl from Earth. The shocking attack took place last night at his home, where he had been caring for the girl as his dependent. The girl is currently in custody, and authorities have yet to release details regarding the motive.

Sergeant Mercer, who was beloved in his community for his charitable work and efforts to help at-risk individuals on Earth, is being remembered by colleagues and the community for his contributions. Tributes have begun to emerge as the city responds to his death.

Details about the girl's background remain scarce, and investigators have yet to disclose the circumstances surrounding the attack. However, one individual named Jona has publicly spoken out in defense of the girl, claiming there is more to the situation than what is currently known. The nature of Jona's relationship with the girl, however, remains unclear.

As authorities continue their investigation, the community awaits further updates. A vigil to honor Sergeant Mercer's life and work is scheduled for the coming days."

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Hi there, dear reader! Thank you so much for reading my story. Although it took longer than I anticipated, the story has finally come to its last chapter. I truly hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed sharing this journey with you. Comments are one of the best parts of sharing a story, and I genuinely enjoy reading each one. They help me grow as a writer and keep me motivated to continue creating as I get to hear how it has touched others. So please feel free to leave your thoughts. I'd love to hear what you think!