Hedidn''''''''tturnaround,butReyacaughtaglimpseofhisstrikingbckeyesintherearviewmirror.Shifty,restless.Asmallhodangledfromoneear,givinghimacool,celebrity-likeaura.
Thesilverringgleamedasthemansmirked.
Blindfolded,Reyaspeirerideligthegag,itspstickytastestrangeandfn.Bythetimehertonumb,thecarfinallystopped.
Shedidn''''''''tknowwhatawaitedher,butshewasn''''''''tafraid.
Theywerehandsome,dressedinexpehes,polishedinmannersandfriendlysmiles.Booksalwayssaidvilinswereugly,whileprinceswerevishandcharming.
Adoorcreakedopen.Thepersoncarryiurnedafewersbeforetossioasoft,bouncybed.
Someoedherinabridalcarry.ShewonderedifitwasSilverRingorCo.
Asahomicidecaptain,Luhadgiventlesssafetylectures,yetitneveroccurredtohimtogiveooReya.
Shewasjusttoowell-behaved.Unshakableinthefaceoftrouble,alwaysfindingherownsolutions.Itmadehimpt.
"Whatareyoudoing?"sheasked.
Themaninthedriver''''''''sseatstartedthedorderedSilverRing,"Don''''''''tlethertalk.Blindfoldher."
"Takingyousomewherefun."
"Littlegirl,we''''''''rehome,"Co''''''''svoicechimed.
Herwristswerefreed,andtheblindfoldremoved,butthegagstayed.
ThoseeleganthandstiedahandkerchiefoverReya''''''''seyes,thenstuffedaballgagintohermouth,segittightlyatthebackofherhead.Herlipswereforcedwideopen,leavingonlymuffledwhimpers.Herarmswereyankedbehindherbadbound,pressedunfortablyagainsttheseat.
Reyacouldn''''''''tdie.Atleast,notfromphysicalharher,thiswasjustahrillingadventure.
Sowhewomenpulledoverandcalledouttoher,askingfordires,Reyafeltnoarm.
Shedidn''''''''tknowthatsometimes,uglinessfesteredinside—andthatitcouldhidebehiifulmask.
LuandMoxihadbeensofocusedonprovidingforReya''''''''smaterialhattheyhadfottentowarnheraboutthedangersoftheworld.
Blinking,shetookinthemessybedroom:clothess
Themanwhoyankedherintothecarhadartist''''''''shands.Slenderfingersadorhastrangesilverring.Theycmpedaroundherdelicatewrists,dragginghereffortlesslyintothebackseatbeforeshecouldevenscream.
uryearsago
Reyamentallyscoffed.Thebedsheetsfeltwrong.Theairsmelledwrong.