"Strange noises?" Melanie asked with a yawn. "No, I slept like the dead. In fact, I can't remember the last time I had such a good sleep. I'm still a bit fuzzy now. Why don't you be a good girl and make your mum a cup of tea?"

"I'm busy," Madison snapped.

​​

"What happened to your neck?" Melanie asked.

Madison grabbed the collar of her robe, trying to hide the bruises. "I think it's just some makeup," she said.

Melanie narrowed her eyes suspiciously but left without another word.

By sunset, Madison had run through a series of possible plans, but none of them were good enough. She paced back and forth in her room, muttering curses against Catherine under her breath. As the light grew weak and the sun faded, she found herself growing nervous.

She listened to the sound of her parents and brother go to bed, relieved when the house finally fell silent. She checked the lock on her bedroom window and climbed into bed. A sudden fear overtook her, and she climbed out of bed and checked it again. She returned to the bed and pulled the blanket up over her, but she didn't lie down. She pressed her back against the hard headboard and stared at the white curtains covering the window.

Eventually, her eyes began to grow heavy. Absently, she reached for a glass of water by her bed and took a long sip. The water tasted strange and sickly sweet. She coughed, but the sudden darkness began to overtake her.

She woke to the sound of a low, cruel laugh. She jerked upright in bed and stared at her window. A man sat in the window frame, casually dangling his legs. She immediately recognized him as Adam.

"Don't come any closer," she said.

"Unfortunately, I won't," Adam said, his voice full of bitterness. "I'm under strict orders to protect your innocence. Not that I think you're innocent, Madison."

"I—what—but," she stammered.

"I—what—but," he mocked, making his voice high and breathy.

"If you're not going to assault me again, then what the hell are you doing here?" she asked.

"I'm here following orders," he said bitterly.

He jumped off the windowsill and paced around the room. She noticed that he held a camera in his hands. He aimed it at her and clicked—the bright flash blinded her, and she blinked in confusion.

"What are you doing?" she asked. "Why are you taking pictures of me?"

He checked a watch on his good wrist and returned to the window, "You'll find out soon enough."

With another cruel laugh, he jumped out the window. Madison stayed in her bed for a moment, then leaped out and raced to the window. She stuck her head out and stared into the street, but Adam was gone. She closed and latched the window and got back into bed, but she couldn't sleep.

The next morning she picked listlessly at her breakfast. Her eyes felt dry and tired, and she yawned continuously.

"What's wrong?" her father asked.

"Just tired, I guess," she said.

She excused herself from the table and returned to her room. Too tired to plan or wonder, she climbed into bed and closed her eyes. She woke up at sunset, feeling nervous and jumpy. She moved from room to room in the house, wondering if Adam would appear again. It seemed he was still taking orders from Sean, and she was terrified to know what Sean had planned.

She returned to her room and sat in bed all night, but no one ever came. As the sun rose, she allowed herself to relax and close her eyes, but a sharp horrified scream dragged her back to reality. It sounded like it was coming from right above her head. She closed her eyes, nestling into the warmth of her bed.

"Madison," Melanie shrieked. "What the hell is going on here?"

Her eyes flew open, and she found herself face to face in bed with Adam. His face was still horribly bruised, but he looked more human than he had before. Both eyes were open, and his lips weren't quite as swollen. He sat up in bed and leered up at Melanie. Madison couldn't help but notice that his chest was bare.

"Who the hell is he?" Melanie shrieked.

"I'm Madison's boyfriend," he said. "Well, more like her lover."

As he spoke, Lawson's face appeared around the door. His eyes bulged, and a vein throbbed in his temple.

"Is this true?" he shouted.

"No, dad," Madison shouted, sitting up in bed.

The sheets fell away, revealing her bare chest. She shrieked in embarrassment and pulled the sheet back up, clutching it to her chest.

"What the hell is going on?" Melanie asked.

"I don't know," Madison insisted.

"Oh, I think it's pretty clear what's going on," Lawson roared. "My daughter is acting like a fucking whore in my home."

"What?" Madison shrieked. "No! It's not what it looks like."

"Oh, it's exactly what it looks like," Adam chuckled.

"Put some clothes on and get out to the living room," Melanie hissed. "And bring your man friend."

They slammed the door behind them, and she turned to look at Adam. Her head spun, and her stomach churned. She gagged and scrambled out of bed.

"Oh, don't worry," Adam said, his voice dry and bitter. "I didn't lay a hand on you. This is all about appearances."

"I don't understand," she said.

"Madison," Melanie shrieked through the house. "Get out here now."

She tugged on a pajama set and wrapped herself in a robe. Adam swung his legs out from the bed and pulled on a pair of jeans and a tattered T-shirt.

"Well, babe," he said, leering. "Let's go meet the parents."

She glared at him and hurried down the hall toward the living room. He followed close behind her, smacking her on the ass as they entered the living room. The sound echoed in the silent room, and Lawson's red face turned even darker.

"Explain," Melanie hissed.

"I—well—I," Madison began.

"Easy," Adam said. "I'm your daughter's man. I've been coming over for a little roll in sheets every night."

"That's not true," Madison said. "We haven't slept together."

"No," Lawson said, shaking his head. "No, that can't be true. My daughter is a good girl. If you took advantage of her, I swear—"

"I didn't take advantage of her," Adam said. "She's been chasing me for months, and I have the texts and the pics to prove it. I didn't want anything to do with her, but when her other guy found out, he came after me and bad. After the beating I took, she felt bad, and let me tell you, she's been extra giving if you know what I mean."

"Shut up, Adam," Madison shouted.

"Told you she knows who I am," he said. "Anyway, I'm going to head out and let you discuss this as a family now. Don't worry, I know my way out."

He disappeared down the hall, leaving Madison confused and dizzy in the living room.