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For the next week, dinner became the same routine. I would cringe whenever I had to chop off pieces of the raw meat and the sound of it sizzling in the pan made my stomach churn. Jimmy would stare at me until I would put a couple pieces on my plate. I know he only does it because he wants me to eat enough and stay healthy. It was the first thing I ate, I just wanted to get it over with.

Slowly, without me realizing, this began to change. Picking up the slimy pieces of human flesh didn’t bother me and I began swallowing it without any problems. Jimmy was right all along. It was another one of our little traditions that I would get used to. I shouldn’t have doubted him.

As days went by, it became obvious how excited Jimmy and Tommy were about going to Noah’s. They reminded me of those little kids at the orphanage around Christmas time. They would count down the days and talk about what they did last year.

Tommy hadn’t touched me again, but Jimmy always made sure to never leave me alone with him. I was happy he was there to protect me.

The night before we left, I sat on the edge of a bed as Jimmy filled a duffel bag full of clothes. My legs were crossed underneath me and he had the bag in front of me. He had a big smile on his lips and kept brushing his hair behind his ears. His hair had grown quite a bit since I cut it. I noticed that mine had and made me wonder how long I’ve been here. My best guess would be three months.

“You know what another thing is great with tomorrow?” Jimmy asked me.

“What?” I asked letting my lips curl into a giant smile.

“We don’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn,” he said.

“Yes,” I cheered.

Jimmy leaned over the bag and kissed me. I ran my hands up his neck and I felt his slide around my back. When he pulled away he left his face just inches away from mine.

“I can’t wait for you to meet them,” he told me. His hot breath tickled across my nose. “More importantly, I can’t wait for them to meet you. I love you.”

“I love you too,” I said as I leaned in for another kiss.

Jimmy let go of me so that he could throw the duffel bag off of the bed and onto the rocking chair that sat in the corner. He crawled across the bed towards me and pushed me down onto the bed. As his lips crushed against mine, I felt his weight overtop of me.

The alarm still blared early in the morning. Jimmy reached over me to turn it off, and then settled himself around me. He draped his arm across me and pulled me into his body, kissing the back of my head. I ran my fingertips down his arm and I felt him nuzzle his face into my neck.

“This is a lot better than getting up,” he mumbled to me.

I agreed and then let my heavy eyes close again.

I woke up again when I heard Jimmy walking around the room. He was already changed and I heard him zip the duffel bag closed. I yawned and stretched my arms up over my head. Jimmy climbed up onto the bed as soon as he saw that I was awake.

“Morning, beautiful,” he told me as he sat down on the bed next to me. He was facing me and had his legs crossed underneath him. “I was just about to wake you.”

“It was nice to sleep in,” I said before yawning again.

“Yeah, it was,” he agreed. “Well, it didn’t do me much good. I was awake most of the night. I was too excited to.”

My lips lifted up into a smile. Jimmy leaned down and kissed me before getting up off of the bed.

“Time to get up now,” he told me. “Dad and Tommy are leaving soon. They’re taking the car and going to Uncle Noah’s. We’re going to take the truck and go to Taylor’s.”

I felt Jimmy drop my pile of clothes onto my feet. I crawled out of bed and got changed. I put on the jeans and buttoned up the dark green plaid shirt he gave me. I made the bed as Jimmy went downstairs quickly with the bag. I was brushing my hair when he came back in.

“We’re going now,” he told me.

“Okay,” I said dropping the brush on the end of the bed.

Jimmy laced my fingers through his and led me out of the room and down the stairs. We went through the front door and I took in a deep breath of the fresh air. It was so much better than the stale air of inside the house I have been breathing for the last couple of months.

We walked down a stone path to the driveway. The long strip of driveway was made out of gravel. Charles and Tommy slipped into an old silver car that was boarded by a strip of rust.

Jimmy’s grip tightened around my hand. It was like he was afraid that I would take off running. My knuckles were soon becoming sore.

Charles started the engine and rolled down his window.

“We’re going now,” Charles said to Jimmy. “Don’t take too long.”

“We’re going now,” Jimmy told him.

Charles rolled up his window and we watched as they pulled the car out of the driveway. As soon as they were out of sight, Jimmy spun me around and pressed his lips hard against mine. His hand slipped around my back and he held me right up against him.

“I’m going to do you a favour,” he told me. “I’m supposed to blindfold you. But I trust you so I’m not going to.”

He pushed the bridge of his nose up against mine. They must not want me to see the direction to get into town. Jimmy knows how much I like it here though. He knows I’d never want to leave.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“We better get going,” he said before kissing my cheek.

I shook my head and he guided me over to the truck. He opened up the door and I climbed in. He closed the door and walked around to the other side.

The last time I had been in a truck was the night that Charles took me. The only thing I really remembered about it was home I could barely move as he buckled me in. That was the last night I’d ever need to go to that club, and the first night of my new, much better, life.

I watched as Jimmy opened up the door and slid into the driver’s seat. He pulled his seatbelt across him and clicked it in. I forgot about that and quickly put on mine. He turned the key in the ignition and the truck started up. Being in a moving vehicle felt odd as he pulled out of the driveway.

“I should probably give you a small heads up on my Uncle’s family,” he warned me.

“Oh,” was all I said. I wanted to ask why, but I wasn’t supposed to ask questions.

“Yeah,” he said. “They do things a little differently than us. They aren’t so particular with the way they kill. I just want you to be prepared for what you might see. You got that?”

“Yes.”

“Good girl.”

I looked out the window at the scenery passing by. It was nice to see something other than the same rooms all the time. It was mostly trees and farms, but I’d see the odd cow or horse. Something like this would have bored me before, but I was just happy to be seeing something new. They’ve helped me appreciate things much better.

I crossed my legs and put my elbow up on the window. I put my head in my hand and stared at Jimmy.

“What do you want to do to pass the time?” I asked him. I knew it was a risk, but he’s driving right now and he’s in a good mood.

“I don’t know,” he said shrugging his shoulders. “How about this? I’ll let you ask questions, but just for now. You have to stop once we get there. Also if your questions go in the wrong direction I’ll make you stop. Understand?”

“Yes.”

My lips lifted up into a big smile. He’s giving me a gift, no he’s giving me two gifts. He didn’t blindfold me either.

I had to be careful what I asked though. I knew what my first one would be. It has been burning on my tongue ever since I got here.

“How’d you get that scar?” I asked.

“What one?” he said chuckling. I laughed along with him.

“The one on your face,” I told him.

“I got it when I was fourteen,” he started to explain to me. “Tommy and I were playing out in the barn and it was just one of those freak accidents. I fell, and unfortunately the thing that broke my fall was a saw. Tommy freaked out and got Dad. The next thing I remember is waking up in my room with Dad’s attempt to stitch up my face.

“You didn’t go to a hospital?”

“No. What could a doctor do that we couldn’t? I didn’t die. Most of that stuff they give you and tell you is fake anyways. Maybe if I went the scar wouldn’t be as big, but it doesn’t matter.”

I nodded my head. Something like that should have killed him, but it didn’t. Most people would have thought that I should have gone to the hospital the night after I stole the key. I was fine though. I healed and got better. Going to a doctor wouldn’t have changed that.

“Now I get to ask you a question,” he told me.

“Okay,” I agreed.

I had no clue what he was curious about but didn’t ask me.

“How many boyfriends have you had?” he asked.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and tried to think about all of those boys who didn’t care about me. All of the boys who just wanted me for my body, unlike Jimmy.

“Seven,” I said. I knew that it wasn’t the correct number, but it was close enough.

“Seven?” he asked in disbelief.

“Yes. I love you so much more than any of them though,” I reassured him.

“Of course,” he said turning his head quickly to flash me a smile. “It’s your turn to ask something now.”

I turned my head and looked back out the window. We were now driving on a road filled with little stores and restaurants. This must be the town they go to. It’s so small, I couldn’t imagine them getting everything they need from here.

I tried to think of a question. I was afraid to ask the wrong thing and get my privilege taken away.

“What’s your last name?” I asked realizing that I have never figured that out.

“Wilcox,” he told me. He shifted his weight in the seat so he could stretch out more. He had one hand on the bottom of the steering wheel and the other was on top of his leg.

I’m part of their family now so I guess that makes me a Wilcox too.

Juliet Wilcox

I ran the name across my mind and I thought it flowed quite nicely. It wasn’t like Jimmy and I were married, but being part of their family must mean something.

“Did you have any siblings?” he asked.

“I had a little brother named Malcolm,” I told him. “He died with my parents.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”

That excuse still slipped off of my tongue. I never did talk about the accident.

“You ever think about leaving?” I asked him knowing it was a risky question.

“No…Never…It’s safer in our home. That’s why we are protecting you,” he explained.

“Thank you.”

It slipped off of my tongue just as easy as the car accident excuse.

“How much did you get tipped as a stripper?” he asked me.

I shrugged my shoulders. I haven’t thought about the club in a while.

“One to five dollars,” I said.

“Only?” he asked raising an eyebrow.

“Well, yeah. I mostly waited tables so I didn’t get tipped as high,” I told him.

“Why’d you mostly wait tables? You’re beautiful. You were probably the prettiest one there.”

I felt the heat rush up to my cheeks. It made me think of that last night with Lina and how she was trying to convince me that Donovan had feelings for me.

“The manager had the hots for me,” I said chuckling. It still sounded so absurd to me. If he did like me he would have said something, and I wouldn’t be here with Jimmy. “Well, I’m not sure. My roommate use to have these crazy theories about how he likes me and didn’t want to see me doing things to other guys.”

“I don’t blame him.”

Jimmy was smiling and I let a smile grow across my lips. I ran my hand through my hair.

“Have you ever been to a strip club?” I asked him.

He started to laugh and then straightened up in his seat. His face was starting to blush. It’s rare that I ever get to see him like this.

“Actually yes. Last time I went to Uncle Noah’s, Tommy, Taylor and I snuck out and went to one. When you said you were a stripper I couldn’t see you working in a place like that,” he explained to me. “That’s why I know you’re safer here. So I heard you sing.”

I felt my stomach lurch forward. Singing was a bad habit I used to have. I used to start singing while working and never realize I was doing it. I didn’t know I had done it since I have been in that house, why hasn’t he said anything?

“I’ve been singing?” I asked quietly.

“Yeah, and you’re really good,” he said. “I only ever hear little bits when you’re washing dishes or if you’re still cooking dinner when we come in. I love it.”

“I’m not good.”

“Well I think you are.”

He was the first person to ever compliment my singing.

“Thank you,” I told him.

I had to think of the next question, but my brain was dry. I couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“You ever feel guilty?” I mumbled.

As soon as I said it, I regretted it. I hoped and prayed that he didn’t hear me.

“What?” he asked leaning his body towards me. It was like he wanted to make sure that he heard me correctly.

“Nothing. I didn’t say anything,” I said defensively.

“Yes you did, Julie?” he barked at me. “Don’t keep secrets and lie to me.”

I had to come up with a question quick. My brain was so panicked that it made it even more difficult.

“You like being the oldest?” I asked.

I knew it was a weird question, but it was the only one I could come up with.

“Why?” he asked me knitting his brows.

“I don’t know. I just assumed it would be harder for you than Tommy. He can look at you for advice and as an example for when he gets a girl,” I explained.

“Julie, I won’t talk about that,” he said angrily.

I wanted to shrink away, but I couldn’t go anywhere. I turned my head and looked out the window. I hear Jimmy fiddle with the radio until some old country music came on.

Hours must have passed and neither of us said anything. We pulled off of a road and into another driveway. A little house with blue shingles and white window panes sat in front of us with a couple more rusted cars. Jimmy turned off the engine and undid his seatbelt.

“We’re here.”