Ellia only had a few hours to sleep with him after they had finished. Nikodemus had drifted off into a deep sleep so fast afterward that he almost didn’t hear the creaking of the bed as Ellia sat up.

He opened his tired eyes and saw her sitting on the edge of the bed, hunched over with her feet on the floor.

Throughout the night, he had his arms wrapped around her waist, deciding that she made a better pillow than an actual pillow, and was quite uncomfortable without her.

Despite the fact that they had only just met, Nikodemus knew that Ellia wasn’t the type of woman who would mind it if he was playful with her. His fingers danced along her lower back..

Ellia glanced at him sadly, and then at her crumpled clothing that had been hastily tossed to the floor the night before.

“That was fun,” she said, standing up. “But I have business to attend to. I will assign a guard to you and—”

Nikodemus grabbed her hand, attempting to pull her back down. “Come back to bed. I haven’t had such a good night since—”

Ellia gave him such a glare that he thought he was looking at an entirely different woman for a moment. He released her hand.

“I need not remind you…” Ellia murmured, bending over to pick up her clothes. “That you are in no position to make demands.”

Nikodemus couldn’t help but feel used at her words. He had hoped he had made a genuine connection with her, but it appeared that she simply viewed him as a tool just as the other women did.

“You will face punishment if you try to escape.” Ellia said. "Not that you could manage it even if you tried."

Even though he knew he shouldn't, he couldn't help but snort his laughter and make a joke, "You can punish me."

She shook her head with a disbelieving grin. Despite the fact that she wanted his compliance and his fear, she couldn't hide the fact that she was a good woman deep down.

She poked his nose with a finger. “Be good…” She whispered.

Nikodemus stole a kiss, taking another risk. He was happy when she leaned into it.

After that, she pulled away again, zipped up her suit, and headed out the door.

Nikodemus threw the blanket over his head and went back to sleep. He didn’t like his life, not in the least, because he was essentially a sex slave and little more, but at least he got to sleep in.

Despite his desire to sleep in, however, he was not dragged into the world of sleep like he wished to be.

He was dragged into a world of vivid memories with his mother, father, and little brother.

Within these vivid daydreams, he saw himself and his little brother, Carl, clear as day, feeding the animals in their family owned ranch.

Carl was a ten-year-old at the time with dusty brown hair and caramel brown eyes. His skin, like all the people in the Wasteland, was tanned from spending long days in the sun. Like all siblings, Carl and Nikodemus fought often over silly things—like who was taller, who was smarter, and who the coolest person in the Bible or one of their favorite fairy tales was. They rarely came to blows, and rarely fought seriously, but they nonetheless liked to push each other’s buttons.

Nikodemus was twelve at the time, and his feet were firmly planted on the middle rung of the corral panels that fenced in the grazing camels.

Nikodemus tossed the ear of a spiky cactus inside the fence and hollered, “Come and get it, Casey!”

One of the ten camels encircled by the fence turned around, facing the pair of rowdy children.

“Hurry up, you slowpoke!” Carl yelled, forming an O shape around his mouth with his hands. “We haven’t got all day!”

The camel groaned as is trotted towards the cactus Nikodemus had thrown down. Nikodemus made a face, tapping his fingers on his cheek as he watched the camel moving at a glacial pace. “I swear she does this on purpose sometimes.”

Carl crossed his arms over the top rung of the fence. “Well, she has gotten pretty fat. Maybe she’s pregnant again?”

Nikodemus’ eyes narrowed. “Nah, she’s totally doing this to annoy us. And she’s fat.”

The boys called to the camel, urging her to hurry and eat the cactus. Eventually, the camel arrived at the cactus and put its leathery mouth around it, spines and all.

The boys whooped with excitement. “Look at her go! I don’t know how she can stand it!”

Once she finished the ear, the camel turned her back on the boys again, lowering herself to a sitting position with her spindly arms stretched out in front of her and her legs tucked under her.

Nikodemus grinned. “I dare you to jump in there and then climb out!”

Carl’s eyes widened. “But you got into huge trouble when I dared you the other day!”

Nikodemus tsked. “I guess you’re too much of a coward...”

Carl pouted, puffing his cheeks out. “I’ll show you!”

Carl climbed to the top rung, intending to hop the fence, when a strong hand grabbed him by the straps of his overalls and off the fence.

It was Father, and Father set his son down by the V of his overall straps, Waving an admonishing finger at him. “Your brother scared your mother half-to-death when he jumped into the hyena habitat last week! What are you two thinking?”

Carl knew he was in deep trouble, but he tried to defend his actions through splutters. “But—Nicky dared me to! If I didn’t do it, I would be a chicken!” Carl said, using Nikodemus’ pet name.

“There are worse things than being a chicken,” Father said, shaking his head. “Like being dead, for example.”

“Come on, Dad! You know how it is! Nicky will never let me live this down!” Carl protested even as Father rolled his eyes. “I guess we’d better punish Nicky, too, then. Nikodemus! Get down from there!”