Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Katie -

Dani: ‘Wake up now.’

Her voice was like an echo in a tunnel.

Her hand was on my cheek, but she pulled it away as I started to blink.

I was on a bed with lots of pillows and my shoes had been removed.

When I looked around I saw a dark red room with dark wooden furniture, black I think.

There were black curtains with a thin red pattern embroidered across them, opened in the middle, but something covered the window behind them.

‘Dani?’

Dani: ‘Yeah, we're here now.’

‘Where is, here?’

Dani: ‘Home. I put some soap and things in the bathroom for you. You should go shower, then check yourself for injuries. There's first aid supplies on the counter, if you can't take care of something, let me know. There's deodorant, tooth paste, a tooth brush, and everything else I could think of. If you're missing something, let me know. Once you're done, I'll show you around the house. Then it's time for bed.’

‘Um, ok then... thank you?’

She stood up and I did the same, then I went into the bathroom that connected with the bedroom.

There were two towels folded on the counter, one red, one black, along with with the items she mentioned.

There was more than just the items she mentioned, there was also lotion, hair products, and a ton of other things, all unscented.

Hesitantly, I removed my clothes and started the water.

I pulled my hair tie out and released my long, light brown pony tail.

I was brushing my hair before getting in the shower when pain surged through my head and spread across my scalp.

I dropped the brush and whimpered in pain, caught completely off guard.

The door swung open with enough force I was surprised it wasn't knocked clear off its hinges.

Dani appeared before me and grabbed me by my shoulders, her eyes studying my face, with the red vessels present again.

Dani: ‘What is it? What's wrong?’

I couldn't speak, I was stunned.

She moved her face around, quickly sniffing me.

Without a word she turned my body and started moving her fingers through my hair.

Dani: ‘There's fucking wood in your head. You said you were ok!’

‘I-I had a headache, but I thought I just hit it when he pushed me....’

She grabbed me by the arm and took me to the toilet.

With the lid closed she sat and pulled me into her lap, wrapping one arm around me tight.

Dani: ‘Stay still! I'm fixing it.’

She barked, like she was angry at me.

Her fingers on her free hand went to the source of the pain.

‘Ow!’

I winced and jerked as she pulled on the wood.

She squeezed me tighter and I felt her next to my ear.

Dani: ‘I said stay still!’

She hissed, followed by what sounded like a growl.

In a fast yank it was out and she tossed it in front of me as I began crying.

It had to be two inches or longer.

She squeezed me tighter.

Dani: ‘I'm going to make it stop hurting, but I need you to calm down and stay still or I will give you a reason to cry.’

I nodded my head.

She started rubbing some kind of liquid into the area and after a few seconds the stinging was gone.

She ran her finger over what I assumed to be a scratch on my neck, then sent shivers through my body as I felt her tongue drag across it.

Dani: ‘You need to be more careful.’

‘I-I didn't know it was there, I'm sorry, but what was that? I don't feel it at all now.’

Dani: ‘I told you I was fixing it, now it's fixed. That's all that matters. Now, if you can avoid causing yourself further pain or damage, you should get your shower. I'm going to go have a snack.’

It was only when her hands grabbed me by my sides to lift me from her lap that I realized I was nude.

I covered myself as best I could.

Dani: ‘Very cute, but you don't have anything the hundreds before you didn't. Not that it's not nice.’

She looked down to my feet and back up before casually walking away.

After snapping myself out of it, I retrieved the brush and finished brushing my hair.

It was like the wood was never there when I brushed over the area where it was.

When I finished I got in the shower and let the hot water run over my body for a few minutes.

After enjoying the water a while I grabbed the shampoo that was unscented as well.

I looked at the conditioner and body wash, even the shaving cream.

It was all unscented.

I could only guess she was worried I have sensitive skin.

It was hard to tell with the water running, but I was almost certain I heard faint screaming from somewhere in the house.

Once I was done, I turned the water off and opened the shower door to release the steam.

I looked over my body like she instructed and got out to dry myself.

Without water running it was easier to hear the screaming, but it was still faint.

What confused me was that I felt like I should have been panicking, asking a million questions.

Like why I'm here, for starters.

Demanding to see my mom.

I felt like I should be so scared around her, but I wasn't.