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