TEAM

ADELINE'S POV

"Wake up gorgeous." I feel sprinkles of water hit my face lightly and I jerk up in bed, desperately covering myself with the sheets as I stare at my unfamiliar surroundings. Colton stands in front of me, a scowl on his face and a cup of water in his hands.

"What are you doing in here? Get out." I say the first thing that comes to mind, but I know Colton isn't going anywhere. Veronica specifically said he is to guard me for God knows how long so I know I'll be seeing a lot of Colton from now on. The last thing I remember from yesterday is Colton picking up in his arms and laying me in bed and I immediately regret how desperately I was clinging to him. Like he isn't the one who brought me here.

"Well, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." He says with a smirk and I can't even believe that he's joking at a time like this. How can he be so cruel after all what he's done? After ruining my life? After bringing me to this hell hole.

"You know you're lucky Veronica put me in charge of you." He says placing the cup of water on my bedside table and folding his arms across his chest. "You need to get out of bed and get ready. It's almost seven a.m. and you need to be ready before that time." He explains.

"Ready for what?" I ask him, curious despite the disgust I feel towards him.

"Veronica." He states with a certain bitterness to his voice. I don't think Colton likes Veronica that much. I've been a therapist fir a good part of my life and if I've been reading Colton's actions, words and body language towards her, I would say she's blackmailing him in one way or the other. Why do I even care?

I guess I can't help myself. My entire life has been spent analyzing people and getting even their deepest and darkest secrets out of them.

"You're not the only new girl here today. She'll be introducing you to them and then you all will immediately start with your daily duties." He explains.

"We have duties?" I ask him, sitting upright in my small bed and scanning the room with my eyes for anything I can use to get myself out of here. I'm not going to be stupid and attack now though. This place is well guarded. Maybe even too well guarded. If I'm going to get myself out of here, I need to analyze every person, every corner and the daily routine of everyone in this place.

"What you think old men with huge bellies come here as they please to fuck you and leave?" Colton asks, smirking with a tilt of his head. He truly has no remorse. He doesn't even feel bad or disgusted at himself. I scowl at him and his smile immediately drops. I wonder why Veronica trusts him with me. I guess she really has something great and special that belongs to him. She knows eh wont cross her for anything in the world.

Colton walks towards me and stoops, looking at me straight in the eyes. I fight the urge to stick my fingers into his eyes and gouge them out. I bite my tongue and try to calm myself as he starts speaking.

"You came here at a good time so don't worry. You won't be in anyone's bed for the time being. There are five new girls here and fifteen old girls but Veronica will still put each of you through the same training. She will give you a new name. She will put you all o a strict diet. There'll be activities that you and the other girls will carry out from time to time and I better let you know here and now that those activities are really not cool. She will degrade you and attempt to break you. If you're not strong enough, she might. She will break your resolve and leave you wondering who the hell you are. By the time she's done with you, you might not even remember who you are." Colton gets back up on his feet once he finishes with his little speech.

"Why are you telling me all these? Do you go around giving tips to all the other girls here?" I ask him.

"I like you." He smirks. "You have guts and if there's someone who will manage to stay sane while they're in this place, it's probably going to be you. But I would be careful if I were you. Do everything Veronica says and watch your mouth while you're with her. She will punish you and she won't hold back."

"She can't hurt me. She can't break me." I say with all the conviction in the world.

"You sound so sure." Colton says folding his arms across his chest looking me up and down with a curious look on his face.

"I'm a therapist." I tell him. His eyes widen and he looks at me with all the concentration in the world. As if he wants me to continue talking.

"I know the darkest parts of my own mind. If there's anyone who will break me and make me lose my mind, then it'll be my own self." I look up at him with a death stare. He raises his brow before letting out a sigh and pushing himself off the wall.

"You should keep up with that mindset. You'll need it for what's coming." He says and then points towards the small wardrobe in my room. As he talks, I notice a camera in the corner of my ceiling and I notice it as a camera that only captures video and not audio. Which is why Colton must be so comfortable talking to me in here.

"In there, you'll find clothes. They're labeled from Monday through to Sunday. Pick the one that corresponds to today. If you're wondering what day it is, it's Wednesday. There's a clock right there if you haven't noticed it. You have about thirty more minutes to get ready. When you're done, just step out and I'll be out here waiting for you." He says and without another word, he walks out of my room and slams the door behind him.

My chest constricts as I open the wardrove and stare at the abominations inside that I'll be forced to wear. It literally covers nothing. I almost start screaming and shouting as I stare at the fabric in front of me but I quickly compose myself and send my tears back to where they came from. I won't cry. They won't see me cry and I wont break. No matter what.

I do as Colton said, taking a bath and getting myself ready for the day. I finish before time and met him outside just like he asked. Upon seeing me, he gulps, his eyes visibly widening and his body tensing. He looks me up and down and I immediately want to run back inside my room and slam my door shut. But I don't falter.

I return his look with confidence even though I feel very conscious of the thin clothing lining my skin. It's some sort of swim suit that covers only my nipples and private part. My entire ass and legs are exposed save for the exaggerated heels I have on. I let my hair fall don in waves in an attempt to hide my boobs but it does no good. I still feel completely and utterly exposed.

"Yesterday…" I decide to break the silence. "When you said you don't have a choice. What did you mean?"

He seems taken aback by my question. His eyes leave my body and settle on my eyes, a dark expression overcomes his face. he scowls and licks his teeth but all I see in his eyes is regret and hurt.

"Let's go." He says and starts moving forwards without another word.