Innocence Lost by T.A. Williams Page A

looked up slowly and saw the entire cage was enclosed. She looked beyond the cage, realizing she was inside a house, and after a few moments she recognized they were in the living room of the house that was next to her shed. Then her eyes settled on Ethan standing just outside the gate.
    Concern filled Ethan’s eyes. “You got a nasty little cut on your head, little bird, but you’re going to be ok.”
    Ally slowly sat up and fought back the urge to puke.
    “That’s it, take your time. I told Roy you’re as tough as nails.”
    Ally glanced around for the man who had stabbed her dog but she couldn’t see him.
    “He’s not here, don’t worry, I wouldn’t let him hurt you.” He moved towards the cage and Ally scooted to the back. Ethan looked hurt. “I wouldn’t hurt you.”
    “I saw you all kill that man in the woods.”
    Ethan searched his mind for a moment as if the memory of killing a man was hard to find. “Oh, you mean the smokes guy? That was Roy, I didn’t hurt him.”
    “But you didn’t stop him.”
    “That was different, I didn’t like that man. He was always screwing people over. I like you.”
    The man talked as if that should have comforted her, but it didn’t.
    Roy walked into the room and stopped. His right arm was bandaged from his encounter with Tiger. Ally’s thoughts turned to Tiger and she tried not to cry. The man had stabbed him. She remembered her dog, the only thing she had left in her life, limping away into the woods. He was going to lie there in the woods with no one to take care of him. She was by herself again.
    Roy walked up to her cage and gave it a swift kick. Ethan gave him a hateful look but the man didn’t notice.
    “So you’re really all alone out here. There isn’t shit in this house, no sign anyone has been sleeping or staying here. Your dumb little ass has been sleeping in the shed when you’re right next to this mansion.”
    Ally didn’t say anything.
    “Where is all your stuff? You just sleeping on the floor in there? No bed? No food?”
    He hadn’t found her secret room.
    Roy spat on the floor next to the cage. “If you’ve survived out here all alone you’ve got some stuff. Tell me where it’s at and I’ll make sure you get at least a meal a day.”
    Ally said nothing.
    “Kids these days have no manners. If an elder asked me a question when I was younger, you better believe I would answer. If I didn’t my ass would be outside picking a switch so they could tan my hide. What you think Ethan, should I tan her hide?”
    “No, Ethan. She’s just scared. Give her time and she will let us know what she has.”
    Roy looked Ethan up and down in disgust. “Don’t get too attached.”
    Ethan glanced to Ally and back to Roy. “What…what do you mean?”
    “I know a guy on the far side of the city that…..collects youngsters. We can get ourselves a couple of guns, if not more for her.”
    Ethan began to shake his head. “No, no, no. We’re not doing that. She’s a good little girl, I’m not-“
    “You’re not going to what?” Roy turned on Ethan. The man stopped in his tracks and lowered his head. “Don’t you ever assume you can tell me what I can and can’t do. You understand me?”
    “I’m just saying. Let’s give her some time to give up all her stuff, then we can talk about it.”
    Roy spat on the ground near Ethan’s feet. “Don’t push me. You would be dead in a ditch right now if it wasn’t for me. She stays here as long as I allow it, then we’re trading her for some goods.”
    Ethan kept his head down until Roy stomped out of the room. He stood there for a few more minutes then walked up to Ally’s cage and looked at her ashamed. “Don’t worry little bird, I won’t let him hurt you. You’re mine now.”
    The man then left the room, leaving Ally alone in her cage.

Ben
     
                  “What the fuck is taking him so long?” Stevenson spat as he paced the room.
                  Mason glanced