Jaylen POV

  "See why you can't just follow the rules? I don't like hurting you but you leave me no choice." Bryheem said as it was hard for me to pay attention to him let alone breathe at the moment. I continued my coughing spell as he talked.  "You're making me do things that I don't want to do Jay, but I can't let anyone get over on me. Including you." Je said as I mentally sliced this man in his arteries.

  "I hope you'll learn to fall in line soon.  This little rebellion act of yours will wear soon. Just like the others." He said as he placed me down on a bed and walked out the room. I was too busy concentrating on myself to even wonder who's it was. Within a few minutes, my breathing stabilized. "Here's a few ice packs to help with the pain." Someone said as they placed them on me. I hissed at the freezing sensation.  "Wow, they really did a number on you. Must've really pissed him off." They said as I ignored them. 

  "Here's a blanket,  wrap yourself up in it and sleep on the ice packs.  You'll thank me later." They said as I felt the bed dip, indicating that they had gotten up. I laid down remembering how I even put myself in this situation.

*Flashback*

  I was running towards the bus stop when I ran into someone.  "I'm so sorry." I said apologizing without even looking up. "It's cool. Looks like you're in a hurry." He said laughing. "Yeah. I'm not sure when that bus will come again since I didn't get a schedule for it." I said scratching my head while keeping my eyes on the same area. "I see. Well I won't hold you up then." He said as I took the opportunity to run towards the stop.  Luckily for me, I made it with 5 minutes to spare. 

  We met again a few days later at a restaurant. "Sorry." I said a I closed the door on his foot. He was on his way out while I was on my way in. "Its cool. We meet again." He said as I shot him a confused look as I met his gaze. "I'm sorry?" I said. "We met before, when you was rushing towards the bus." He said as it finally clicked in me. "Oh wow. The universe works in mysterious ways. I never really got to look at you.  Nice to put a face to the voice." I said smiling. 

  "I guess so" he said laughing. "Well I'll let you go. Looks like you're in a rush to get somewhere so I don't wanna hold you up." He said smiling.  "Yeah I kinda am." I said. "Well see you around." He said. "I'm sure the universe will bump us into each other." I said as we both laughed. Later that night,  I got interrogated by my friends on why I was so late. I just blamed it on the bus. Our third time meeting was at this pizza place. I decided to go there after practice because I was mad hungry. "We really gotta stop meeting like this" he said smiling as I walked in.

  "Ion know,  maybe this is a thing for you." I said as I sidestepped him and ordered my food. "What if it is? He said shrugging his shoulders. "Its kinda creepy but who am I to judge?" I said shrugging. "You're really interesting." "So I've been told. Guess it's a gift." I said as he nodded his head.  He was about to say something when he was interrupted by my order being called.  I paid for my food. "Guess I'll see you around." I said to his dismay. "Uh yeah. Is it too much to ask for your phone number?" He said with his phone out. He seemed nice so I gave him my fake phone number. What,  I wasn't that trusting (at least not yet).

  From that moment on,  we spent most of night texting and getting to know each other.  I wasn't really pressed to meet up with him just yet but the conversation was nice. After a few months of talking,  he inviting me out to this outdoor movie event.  I decided to go. It was fun and only the start of our meet ups. To be honest, part of the reason I stopped hanging around my friends was because me and him started to hang out more. I tried to balance it as much as I could but it just wasn't working.

  We were at a mini golfing area when he finally asked me out. "Hey Jaylen, we've been having a good time and I was wondering if you would do me the honor of being my boyfriend?" He said as he scratched the back of his neck. Now mind you, its been so long since I've been in a relationship that I didn't know how I should've responded. "Sure." I said as I smiled.  He leaned in to kiss me. I'm guessing this was the part where you was supposed to feel a spark or something.  I felt nothing. 

  "I've been wanting to do that all night." He said smiling. "I have been wanting to do that all night." He said. "Glad I could make that happen." I said to him.  We spent the rest of the night playing mini golf before calling it a night. We did a few more events before he finally asked me on a date. "Sure thing.  Do I need to wear a specific outfit or something?" I asked. "Nah. What you normally wear would be fine." He said. I was low key excited to go. Something told me that this night would be special.  "Mom I'm going now." I said as I walked to the door. "Have fun tonight baby and be safe. Make sure you text me when you get there. Love you." She yelled back. 

  Good thing I charged my phone. I walked a few blocks down the street to meet up with Bryheem. Couldn't tell him my real addresses when I didn't even trust him like that. "There you go." He said scaring me.  "Where are we going?" "Its a surprise." "I hate surprises." "Well you'll like this one." "Confident I see." I said as I buckled my seatbelt. He didn't say anything else as he continued to drive.  I spent the rest of the time texting my friends and family. "We're here." He said as he pulled up to this nice restaurant. It looked fancy as hell. Somebody got money. "You gonna sit there staring or you gonna come in with ya man?" He said with his eyebrow raised. 

  "S-s-sorry. It's just really nice." I said as I got out and followed him. "Reservation for Anderson." He said to the hostess as we greeted her. We followed her to this area called the moonlight. As the name implied,  it was right under the moonlight, giving everything a silvery glow. "Wow." I uttered. "I knew you would like it." He said as I smiled.  We ordered our food and made small talk. "Are you enjoying yourself?" He asked me. "Yes! The food is really good and this spot is perfect! Thank you so much." I said as he smiled and leaned in for a kiss,  this time in happily obliged. "So sweet." He said as I blushed. We ate a little bit more before deciding to leave. I took a picture of the room because it was literally like something out of a magazine and uploaded it to Instagram.

  He decided to walk along the mountainside until he settled on a nice spot.  We sat and talked about future goals and dreams.  He said he had to go to the bathroom.  I nodded my head while I took pictures of the area.  I texted my family and let them know I would be coming home in a few minutes.  "You ready to go?" He asked me as I nodded my head.  He grabbed my hand and lend me to the car.  On the way back,  I hummed random melodies. "Sounds beautiful." He said as I smiled. In a few minutes,  we were home. "Thank you sooo much for everything.  This was amazing! Thank you." I said as I hugged him.

  "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. I did too. Not gonna lie,  I was nervous at first but I'm glad you came." he said as I smiled at him. "Can't wait until the next one." "Me either. Get home safe and text me when you get in." He said as I turned to go home.  I never made it home to text him.  I didn't even get two blocks away when someone came up behind me and put a cloth over me, knocking me out. I was fading in and out of consciousness after that.  The last thing I heard was someone say put him in a car. When I finally gained conciousness, I was tied up in a chair.  "Sleeping beauty had finally woken up." I heard an all too familiar voice.

  I focused my eyes to see Bryheem sitting there smiling. "Where am I? Bryheem take me home. Stop playing!" I said as my head starting killing me. "Aht aht aht. You might wanna calm down.  I'll take you home soon enough. Just a little while longer." He said as he got up. I could barely even see where I was but it definitely was a storage area or some sort of safe house. I moved my legs for anything to help me out but was only met with bare floor.  "Where's my phone. Hey Blue. " I said groaning.  I didn't hear my  respond back. I repeated the phrase to no avail. I said in the dark scared and confused. 

  I don't know how long it was but I was out again.  "Aye! Wake up!" Someone said clapping as they flicked on the lights.  I was immediately blinded.  I refocused my eyes to see an unknown man standing there. "You must be the new recruit.  They're gonna love you." He said as I groaned again.  "I'm just here to make sure you get to the car.  He's waiting for you." He said as he came over to me. I heard shackles unloosening and clattering on the grounds. So that's why my movements was limited.  "Ight. Let's go." He said.  "You not gonna do my hands?" I asked him.  "Nah you'll be ight.  Let's go. He said standing up and walking away.

  I too that moment and ran up his back,  wrapped my legs around his neck and slammed him on the ground. I continued to choke his ass out. Thank you self defense classes. I opened the door and tried to run away, only to run right into another goon. "I hope you wasnt leaving so soon. I'd hate tho have to put you down. Bryheem said as he cocked his gun near my temple.  The child gun sent an instant chill down my spine.  "Now,  be a good boy and get in the car." He said pointing to the car in front of me.  Reluctantly, I got in. "Good. Thought I was gonna have to kill you. Just when I started to like ya. Would've hated to do that." He said. This was not the person I was talking to months ago.

  "Where are you taking me?" I asked as it fell on death ears.  I said it a few more times as he continued not to answer me. "Shut the fuck up! You're in no position to ask me shit! Now shut the fuck up, sit back and do as I say." He said as I got quiet. I noticed that it was sunny outside, which meant I was out cold for a minute. Within a few minutes,  we pulled up on this house. "Your friends and family must be worried sick about you." He stopped and turned around, showing me my vibrating phone. He placed it on the ground and shot it six times. Luckily, the screen protector I had on it held up so it only had dents in the screen. "He boss." His goon said as he handed him an aluminum bat. 

  I watched helplessly as he literally beat my phone into pieces. "Too bad." He said as a wicked smile came across his face.  A year fell down my face but I refused to let this nigga see me cry.  We continued to walk inside the house.  It was nothing to special to say the least. "Have a seat." He said as I was pushed on the chair. He then went on to explain how he owns me. "You work for me. You'll have clients who're begging to be pleased.  Your job is to please em however they desire.  Any money you make,  it comes to me first.  Steal from me,  I'll kill you.  Lie to me, I'll kill you.  Any questions?" He said as he held my face. 

  "I thought so.  Now sit here and get comfortable,  for this is your home. " he said as he turned on the TV. As soon as he did, my face was plastered on the screen.  "Police are looking into the abduction of this young man. If you have any infor-" was all I heard before he changed the channel. "Shit. We gonna have to play it out." He said. "Come on we out." He said yanking on the rope on my hands.  I guess he figured someone already saw me so he couldn't stay there anymore.  We drove for about an hour as I sat there in sadness as well as anger.  We stopped at a store. The news came on again, this time my mother was speaking. 

  "If anyone has seen my son, please please please bring him back to me. He is a really good boy and doesn't bother anyone.  Please find him!" She said as she started to break down and cry. My dad stood right next to her, consoling her. I can see from his face that he was too pissed to even speak. "Make a sound and I won't hesitate to kill you." He said a he forced me out of the store before anyone could get a good look at me. On the way out,  he didn't notice the woman reaching for her phone. "Let's go." He said as he sped off in the car. A second later and I would've happily been left. "Get out." He said as he came to an abrupt stop. 

   I had no idea where we were. "DJ, handle that. Let's go Jay." He said gently grabbing my hand and leading me to another car.  Maybe he did notice that woman after all.  As soon as we got in,  he drove off. I noticed that he wasn't going back towards the way we came.  Instead he went in a while new direction. I guess he figured that we couldn't go back that way since I was spotted.  At this point, I was scared because I didn't even know WHERE it was that we were going.  "Yup they're gonna love you." He mumbled as I looked at him confused. This was the second time I heard that shit. He pulled up to another house shortly after that. "You're finally back.  Oh, what's this?" The guy said looking at me. "Exotic one aren't you? We gonna make a nice amount of money off this one." He said. 

  It didn't take me long to figure out what he meant when I could hear faint moaning in the background. I know this isn't a whore house. Bryheem place his arm in front of me.  "He ain't doing shit until I say so." The man held his hands up and left.  He showed me to my room and told me to get comfortable. We didn't end up staying at this house too long because a few days later, a drive by happened. It was both, my first time being in those situation and watching people die. Bryheem grabbed me abs a few others, loaded up the truck and kept it pushing. He did end up getting revenge on who was responsible for this though. He allowed me to go back to school after everything calmed down. 

  It was a tricky situation with my friends.  While they were happy to see me, they were confused by my request for them not to tell my parents. The good news for me was that this was a new school so nobody really knew us like that.  I can't front,  it was so hard not visiting my parents or telling them that I was okay. I couldn't afford putting them in harm's way. The last family that actually got in touch when Bryheem's "toys" ended up missing. Including the toy itself.  I'll leave that up to y'all to decide what happened. One day, the 3 of us was at the park when my mom called Dion asking if he had seen me.

  I begged and begged him not to tell because I couldn't handle that lost. He eventually listened to me and lied and said that he didn't. I felt so bad about having my friends lie like that but this was the farthest I was gonna allow them to get involved. After that,  we never really touched on the subject.

*Flashback Over*
 
   "See, he should've fell in line with everybody else." "Dumbass thought he was special. Now look at em. Laying there half past dead." She said as they laughed.  "Come on girl, let's go get this money." The other one said as I could hear their footsteps fading away, indicating that they had left. In the years I had been here, that was really the first time I had to do anything sexual. Bryheem only let people look at me and that alone was $100 per minute so they had to have big money.  Only problem is, I may have decreased my "value". I spent the rest of the crying.  Crying for myself and for my family.

  "I have to get outta here."

Whew.  I've been fighting with myself on whether or not I should've uploaded this chapter.

Thoughts?

Jaylen?

Bryheem?