Chapter 12

The next five days, Avery spent in a haze of pain, both inside and out. Avery would swear the man was insatiable. Sometimes the man would bind him to that fucking cross or the bench, other times he just chained him to the bed. Each time, Barry would come and help him to the bathroom to clean up and slip on a pair of the silky pjs. Fortunately, the salve seemed to keep his back from aching and tightening too badly.

Each night he would curl up on the bed, and drop to sleep in near exhaustion. He almost wished that Mr. Degasio would lose control, and he would never have to wake up to this nightmare again. But if anything, Mr. Degasio was in total control. He knew exactly how far he could push Avery's body and exactly how much he could mark his body and where. The only thing Avery kept clinging to was the thought that this was only a week, less than a week really, til Monday, right?. His father had only sold him for the week, right? That meant his father planned to come get him again, and maybe this nightmare would be over. Even his father's abuse was nothing compared to this.

Avery settled on the bed the last night of this nightmare, unable to get to sleep. Barry had brought his duffle bag back and sat it next to the bed so he'd have it for getting dressed tomorrow, assuming he was actually leaving.

He pulled his duffle bag up onto the bed next to him and began pulling out a set of clothes as wishful thinking for his trip home. As he reached for one of his shirts in his bag, he frowned as he felt something hard along the side of the duffle.

He almost broke down completely. His phone. He'd forgotten about it when he'd been dragged down here. Tears streamed down his eyes as he quickly glanced at the locked door. It was late, and Mr. Degasio had only left him a couple hours ago, so he didn't expect him to come back so soon.

As he thumbed at the phone, he didn't really expect it to turn on since it had been sitting for several days without being charged, but it came to life showing only about a 5% charge left and flashing a message reminding him to connect to his charger.

He noticed several text messages waiting, some from Erin, but most were from Matt.

How is ur vacay going? Erin texted. Mom and Matt took me skiing yesterday. TTYL

Did last minute xmas shopping today. Are u home yet?

Merry xmas! Enjoy the snow!

Snow? Avery thought. Christmas? He felt his eyes tear up again as he realized he'd had no idea of the passing of the holiday--not that the holiday meant anything to him anyway. Just another fucked up Christmas in his life.

R U Ok? I haven't heard from you in several days.

No, he wasn't ok, he thought, but he couldn't tell her that, couldn't let her know why. He quickly typed a response. I'm fine, busy, tired. Think I'm getting a cold.

There that should satisfy her.

He quickly flicked through the texts from Matt.

Hey, Avery, just thinking about you. Had fun yesterday with u. It was sent Thursday, obviously after his bag had been taken, and Avery couldn't help the tear that slipped down his cheek at the memory of their first kiss--his first real kiss. It seemed like forever since then. A fat, wet drop landed on the face on the phone. He swiped it away as he quickly read through the other texts. Matt had sent at least one text every day, sometimes more.

Hey, what's up? Hope u r having fun out with your dad.

Hope you aren't gone too long. I miss u.

Avery felt himself clutch at the phone, his tears blurring his eyes. Nobody ever missed him.

Merry Christmas. Hope u have a great day. Wish I could spend it with u.

Is everything okay? Haven't heard from u...

Hey, just saw your dad at the store. R U back?

Oh, fuck, Avery thought. His dad probably hadn't thought about someone actually noticing Avery was gone. How would his father explain his absence? His dad probably didn't think it would be necessary.

What's up? R U mad with me? I'm sorry if I'm bugging u.

Jesus, Avery felt his heart breaking. God, if Matt only knew what he'd been doing, he'd be so disgusted with him. He quickly wiped at his tears so he could focus on the keys to text back.

Matt, I'm good. Of course, I'm not mad. I've just been busy here, feeling a cold coming on, and forgot to charge the phone.

Avery sighed, hoping that Matt would be appeased by that response. He laid back on the bed, still clutching his lifeline to his friend. When it vibrated, he jumped.

Ahh, ok. Good. I was worried about u.

A second message came in a second later. R U home? Do u need me to bring u anything? Soup? Tea?

Oh, crap. He couldn't let Matt visit his house.

No, I'm good, using the meds u brought me b4. Just sleeping alot. He lied, well technically, he was sleeping a lot since he didn't have anything else to do.

Ok. Get some rest. Sleep well. Luv U.

Avery froze. Luv U? Had Matt meant to type that? It had to be just a friendly farewell greeting, right?

You too, was all Avery could think to respond.

He quickly turned off the phone and buried it back in his bag, silently thankful that Barry nor Mr. Degasio had searched his bag.

Then he paused. He had a phone, he suddenly realized, he could call for help. He glanced around furtively, listening carefully for movement outside the door. Making a rash decision, he dialed 911.

"Trenton Emergency Services," the voice answered. "What's your emergency?"

"Uh..." Avery froze, not sure what to tell them. "I..."

"Sir, are you hurt?"

"I'm...yes..."

"Sir, do you have a location?" the woman's voice asked, beginning to think the caller was in shock and couldn't respond.

"No.... I don't...." Avery stammered.

"What's your name, sir?"

"Uh... A-Avery..."

"Hang on, sir," she responded. He could vaguely hear her voice turn away from the phone. "Captain, I have a man in shock on the line. I need a trace for a location immediately."

Then he heard her turn back towards the phone. "Avery, can you tell me what's wrong, where are you hurt?"

Now that he'd made the phone call, he had no idea what to say. He couldn't think straight. What would they think of him? How could he face the disgusted faces of the cops who would find him? Of, Sheriff Nelson, who would undoubtedly find out. They'd know he'd been repeatedly raped, and he knew he couldn't take the revulsion in their eyes at what he'd allowed to be done to him. And then Matt would know too. And that would be the worst of all.

He looked down at the phone numbly, unsure of what do to. Suddenly the words "powering off" appeared, and he knew it was too late anyway. The phone was dead.

He suddenly heard the jangle of keys outside the door.

"Oh, shit," he mumbled, nearly dropping the phone. He shoved it in the bottom of his duffle bag as the door swung open.

@@@@

"We only have tonight left," William cooed, stroking his hand down Avery's thin belly, ghosting over his jutting hips. The man hooked the padded cuffs to a hook in the headboard, like he'd done several times before.

Thank God, Avery thought. He could make it one more night, right?

He felt William shift down slightly and start stroking his cock. Just one more night. Just one more night. Just get it the fuck over with. He let his mind float away, numbing himself to the man's touches. He barely felt anything as the man rolled him to his stomach and used his body to himself.

As William neared his orgasm, he pulled out abruptly and flipped Avery back over. He grabbed Avery's balls and squeezed, eliciting a cry from the boy.

"That's it, scream for me," Mr. Degasio's eyes glittered. The man's hand snaked up to Avery's neck, and Avery could feel the fingers squeezing at his windpipe. Avery's eyes widened as he felt his breath being cut off. He felt panic rise through his chest.

"Yesss," William hissed, "give me your fear!"

Avery felt a warmth splatter across his chest as he gasped a last breath, yanking uselessly at the chains on his hands. His vision blackened. Oh, God, this is how it's going to end?

@@@@

"What the fuck did you do?"

Avery vaguely heard voices floating around him.

"He's fine," Mr. Degasio's voice stated. "See, he's waking up now."

"What about the fucking fingerprint bruises on his neck?!"

Was that his father's voice, Avery wondered as he slowly swallowed. His hand fluttered up to the tenderness at his neck. Oh, God, the man had choked him. Then he suddenly realized his hands were free.

"A little breath play," William shrugged. "The kid's fine."

"Fine?!" his father snapped. "How am I going to explain those bruises on his neck?! He has school in a few days?!"

William was obviously becoming irritated by his father's whining over his condition. The man had left marks that would be impossible for his father to explain.

"Here," William threw a couple hundred dollars at his father. "Buy a bunch of turtlenecks. The bruises will be gone in a week or so."

"Thank god it's winter," his father was grumbling as he stuffed the money away. "You'll have to be more careful in the future."

Wait? In the--? No, no, no.... Avery curled over into a ball, burying his face in his hands.

"Get up, boy," his father snapped. "We got to get home. And apparently stop by the store for shirts."

Avery rolled out of the bed obediently because he definitely didn't want to be left here. He slid a pair of khakis on and pulled a sweater over his head. He could feel his father sneering at the bruises on his throat, mumbling under his breath.

His father wrapped a scarf around his neck before leading him out of the house of horrors. Avery had never felt so relieved to be with his father as he was at that moment. He slumped down in the car, tucking his duffle bag at his feet as they made the drive back to Euphoria.

His father had stopped by the mall and had Avery wait in the car while he ran in to grab the turtleneck shirts. By the time they arrived home, all Avery wanted to do was crawl in his own bed and forget this week had ever happened.