Page 44 of Stabby Little

"No." I roll my eyes. "All you made me want to do is cuddle and watch a movie."

I'm thinkingScary Movie. Miles's favorite movie is perfect for this stormy weather.

"Did I encourage you to throw out those severed hands before Finn goes apeshit?" Sparrow clears his throat. "I moved them to the freezer. I didn't want them next to our grapes."

"I'm keeping the hands."

"Grant would tell you to toss them. He'd say they're stupid to keep in the fridge."

"Grant isn't a murderer. He doesn't get a say in this."

"Great idea to not obey your Daddy."

"My imaginary Daddy," I observe.

Unfortunately, Sparrow has stellar observational powers, too.

"Grant wouldn't be your imaginary Daddy if you summoned up the courage to speak to him." He nudges my ribs. "Maybe you'll convert him to the tribe of Sodom. He might like guys if you show him what he's missing out on."

"Sodom?"

"That's that Bible city God smited. All the dudes were fucking each other and doing immoral ass shit."

"Emphasis on the ass," I drawl. "And smited? That's even less of a real word than mostest."

"Way to ignore my point."

14

OLLIE

My dreams area minefield that night. The second I close my eyes, I'm back in the warehouse.

Rows of cages spread out as far as the eye can see. They stretch to the ends of the concrete walls, each containing a boy. Must and mildew enter my nose, no doubt from the rusty pipes. Sniffles and cries rush into my ears, triggering an outpouring of emotion for the captives.

I scoot back in my cage and press my neck against the metal bars. Sparrow and Finn sit to my right and left. They sense I'm distressed—the news of the Room A boys' botched escape scares me.

The Room A boys attempted to manipulate the shower guards. They staged a mutiny: one jumped a guard while his back was turned and rammed his elbow into his neck.

Another kneed a second guard between his legs, then kicked him to the ground. They would've gotten away with it if a third guard hadn't burst into the showers at that precise moment and shot their kneecaps.

The guards fended off the boys. They locked them in their cages and didn't let them leave for six months.

In my dream, Sparrow threaded his hand through my cage bars. He did this when he knew I was stressed. He squeezed my palm.

"It's okay." Sparrow's soft voice comforts me. "We'll break out of here soon."

I shake my head. "You don't know what Jack is capable of. He'll kill us if we attempt to break free."

"We must try. The worst thing we can do is sit here like ducks. We must hit the guards when they're not looking. Attack them when they turn their backs."

"It's no use." I press my knees to my chest. "They have cameras everywhere. They'll lock us in our cages if they see us conspiring."

I dreamt Jack took me into his secret closet. He never missed an opportunity to take advantage of me when the other guards weren't looking.

His favorite activity was making me beg for mercy. He had a guilty conscience, but that didn't stop him from acting on his sick fantasies.

Jack spreads my ass cheeks. "Show Daddy that rosebud. He's waited all day for this shit."