Chapter Text
Heaving a deep sigh, Caden put down the bucket he had been carrying. It was filled to the rim with water, causing a few drops to splash over the edge. He didn’t pay any attention to it though, turning to the window and sliding the curtains open. Pale light filtered in through the window so bright it stung his eyes and momentarily blinded him.
A soft groan rumbled in the back of his throat as Caden withdrew back into the shadows. He brought up a slender hand to rub his eyes and blinked several times until they were finally used to the light. Cautiously he stepped into the light again. The sun shining on the transparent glass illuminated every inch of dust on the window; a clear sign it needed proper cleaning.
Caden took the cloth off the table and soaked it in the hot water of the bucket. Despite his reluctance to do the chore he had to admit that the warmth of the water slowly spreading from his fingertips to his hands and through his body felt good to his sore muscles. It was a small sliver of comfort, but it was all he could hope for in the otherwise cold house.
However, he didn’t allow himself to relax, not yet at least. He shook his head as if shaking off the distracting feelings. There was work to do and he wouldn’t be satisfied until everything was picture perfect.
It was easy to slip back into the familiar routine: soaking the cloth, wringing it out, wiping the filthy window and repeat. It wasn’t long before the soapy water started to transform into a dirty mixture of dust and hair in brown water. Obviously, it couldn’t be used anymore now, yet a sense of satisfaction washed over Caden at the sight. No matter how small, it was proof that the boy’s efforts weren’t in vain, an instant result of his hard work. But much more than that it showed that he could be useful. It didn’t matter how domestic the task was, he had fulfilled it anyway. It was all he could do to chase that feeling of purpose.
Despite his best efforts not to, his gaze still managed to slip past the glass. His breath seemed to hitch, his eyes widening in awe at the white paradise that stretched out before him. A blanket of pristine, sparkling snow covered the forest floor. Long and sharp icicles hang from the bare branches of the trees and even the tough bushes had relented to the thick layer of snow.
It was mesmerising, and if it wasn’t for the weak sunlight that slowly but surely began to fade, Caden might’ve kept staring like that for the rest of the day. Oh, how he longed to be out there, to feel the icy wind on his face, breathe in the frozen air and feel it burn in his lungs. To smell the scents of the woods and hear the crunch of snow under his feet. More than ever, he wanted to witness the wonders of the world that had been ripped from his hands.
But the musty smell that filled his nose quickly broke that illusion. Instead of feeling light and clean like snow, reality settled on his shoulders like boulders. It was torture to see what he had been separated from. He was so close to what he truly desired, and yet so trapped all the same. That heavy, wooden door wouldn’t budge for him, it never had.
But the longer he stared out the window, the darker his thoughts became. The high pine trees no longer looked inviting as they blocked out the sunlight and casted ominously long shadows over his head. Sharp thorns bored their way through the snow, a merciless, impenetrable wall. But worst of all was the opaque layer of snow that turned the forest floor into nothing more than a landmine. The soft white seemed innocent at first, but deep under that deceiving blanket was where the real danger was hidden; huge, metal mouths with rows of sharp teeth, impatiently anticipating its next victim to sink its unforgiving jaws into.
For a moment he was experiencing that night again. Darkness enveloped him from all sides with only the dull star and moonlight to guide his path. Every little sound made him flinch: the rustling of leaves, the sudden cry of an owl. His heart pounded rapidly in his chest, the panic driving him forward recklessly. The loud bang of an instrument snapping shut had prevented him from going an inch farther, white, hot pain shooting up his leg as his agonising screams had pierced the night air.
Terrified by the memory, Caden swiftly pulled the curtains closed, tugging so hard the fabric tore under his fingers. But all he could hear was his own racing heartbeat as he backed away into the far corner of the cabin like a frightened animal. Struck by fear, his body trembled uncontrollably, an uncomfortable twinge jolting up his right leg. Horrifying images flashed through his mind, the memory so stronger could swear he felt the warm liquid of blood seep down his skin again.
He almost didn’t dare look down, dreading what he would find there. Yet he forced his gaze to drop down to his feet. A sharp breath of relief escaped his lips when he found there was nothing there. He checked the skin for any damage but all that was left were healed scars. He was alright. He was safe. Forever safe within the small confines of the cabin.
Utterly exhausted, his body slumped against the wall. As the adrenaline slowly began to ebb away, his heartbeats gradually returned back to its normal pace as well. He silently promised himself something like that night would never happen again, resigning himself to this fate with the sweet lie that it was all for his own good. This was where he belonged, and this was where he would never leave again.
The sun was slowly beginning to set, its last few rays of light disappearing behind the treetops that surrounded the cabin. Caden had settled down on the couch after finishing his chores. Now he silently sat under the warm cozy light of the lamp, reading an old book he had found the other day. It was nothing special, covered in dust and the once white pages changed to yellow. But it was an opportunity to pass the time and therefore one he didn’t want to pass up on.
But it wasn’t the small words written in black ink nor the old literature that made it difficult for him to keep his focus trained on the book. The house was eerily quiet, as if even the floorboards were holding their breath. Time seemed to slow down, every second, every tick of the clock feeling like a taunt of Caden’s anxiety, a delay of the inevitable.
Dread pooled in the pit of the young man’s stomach. The worst time of day had arrived, when he could do no other than nervously wait while his thoughts ran free, jumping to all kind of scenarios of how the evening could play out. The unpredictability of the situation was what made him feel nauseous, hating every second of feeling this powerless.
It wasn’t long before the book was completely forgotten. Caden’s ears were pricked like a cat’s, noticing every little sound. His eyes darted around the room as if he expected someone to just appear out of nowhere. He felt as if he was being watched but couldn’t decipher where it was coming from, and that only made things worse.
After another nerve-wracking moment of hesitation, he finally decided to stand up and put away the book. But just as he was about to pull himself up from the couch a loud slam broke the suffocating silence.
Startled, Caden jumped up from the couch, his body moving automatically as his head snapped to the front door. He could hardly hear the sound of footsteps entering the porch over his own thundering heartbeat roaring in his ears. It took all his courage to ignore the primal instinct to run back into his room and hide, but he knew there was no escape.
He stood nailed to the ground as the keys turned in the lock, clicking open a moment later. A chilly rush of air entered the room when the door swung open, revealing a tall silhouette against the trees. The figure slowly stepped through the doorway. The cabin lights illuminated the deep lines of his muscles, casting menacing shadows over his face. With a nimble shove The man kicked the door shut, letting it fall back into its secure lock.
The man then turned around, his jaws opening as if he was about to say something. But when his gaze finally locked with Caden’s no word came out and he halted for a moment, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes before it disappeared as quickly as it had come. His eyes softened slightly at the sight of Caden, but an amused smirk played on his lips, nonetheless.
“Ah, there you are,” Mr. Mourne said, his voice booming through the silent cabin. “I was just about to call you, but I see you were already waiting for me. How… typical.”
Before Caden could respond, the man stepped closer and reached out a hand to roughly ruffle his hair like an obedient dog. The underlying mock in the action didn’t go unnoticed by Caden, and he had to bite his tongue in order to keep quiet. Instead, he answered with a small dip of his head, forcing himself to stay still under the man’s piercing gaze.
“Welcome back, Sir,” he muttered back, the words slipping out before he could stop them. He probably wouldn’t even have noticed if it wasn’t for the way the man’s smirk widened, internally cringing at how weak his voice sounded.
But Mr. Mourne seemed to enjoy the honorific title he had used for him, chuckling lowly as he let his hand slide down from Caden’s golden hair to brush his thumb over his jawline and lift his chin to force him to meet his eyes, his gaze lingering on his soft features a bit too long for comfort.
“That’s what I like to hear,” he whispered, leaning dow so his breath ghosted over the shell of Caden’s ear, causing him to shiver. “I’ve been thinking about you all day, you know?”
Without warning, Mr. Mourne shifted so he was pressed right against him, trapping Caden between the table and his body. Caden flinched as the older man’s nose grazed the sensitive skin of his throat, leaving a trail of goosebumps behind. He could feel his hot breath brush against his ear, sending another shiver through his body. Fear gripped his heart like icy claws as the man’s hand slid down from his chin and throat until his fingers curled possessively around his hipbone instead- almost bruising now as he pressed them both closer against the table with deliberate force. It was too much, too difficult to withstand and still keep still. He felt so vulnerable like this, trapped against his captor, completely unable to move or escape. Not that there was anywhere to go anyway.
His eyes caught a quick glimpse of the man raising his other hand, instinctively jolting back as if he expected to be hit, bracing himself for the impact of the blow. But surprisingly the anticipated pain never came.
The arm didn’t even touch him as it moved past him to set something down on the table, and the next moment he felt the man pull away from him, allowing him some space. Surprised, Caden’s eyes fluttered open again, watching in stunned silence as the man took a step back.
“I brought you a little something,” Mr. Mourne said, crossing his arms over his chest as he observed him with an amused look on his smug face.
Caden shot a brief glance over his shoulder, regarding the plastic bag with a hint of wariness. He narrowed his eyes; a gift from his captor was never a good sign, and he didn’t trust how smug he looked. He tilted his head questioningly, letting his eyes dart back to the man. But Mr. Mourne just shook his head, taking a step closer again to rest one of his big hands on Caden’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry, it’s nothing bad. Go on, open it,” he coaxed gently, giving his shoulder what Caden guessed was supposed to be an encouraging squeeze.
After hesitating for a short while, Caden let out an almost inaudible sigh and turned around, his fingers gripping the soft plastic of the bag and pulling it closer. His mind raced with countless possibilities, every new idea worse than the other. Part of him wished he could just refuse the gift, to turn his back and never face the horrors it hid. But he pushed through, having learned the consequences of disobeying by now. Besides, he could practically feel the other man’s stare burn into his back- his presence like an ominous warning on itself.
Swallowing his fears, he moved to open the bag, his fingers trembling in spite of his best efforts to hide his nervousness.
Confusion washed over him like a wave as he regarded the contents of the bag. It was nothing like he had expected- nothing at all. In fact, it seemed like the nightmare he had dreaded was nothing more than simple groceries. Was this a joke? A trap? Why would Mr. Mourne act so secretive about something as simple as store products.
“What is this?” He asked, furrowing an eyebrow as he looked up at the other man again.
His captor let out an entertained huff and stepped closer to reach inside the bag himself, pulling out a small box a few seconds later.
“Here, take a look at this,” he said, holding it out to Caden and showing it off as if it was the most valuable thing on earth. “It’s a cake. A raspberry cake to be exact. I saw it for sale and figured I’ll take it since you said it was one of your favourites. So, here it is.”
Caden stared at the clean white box, the words slowly registering in his mind and erasing the fog of confusion. Surprise flashed in his eyes, mixed with relief and something dangerously close to… affection.
“You remembered…?” He repeated softly, sounding almost touched. It was hard to believe the usual cold and stoic man would go out of his way to surprise him like this. But Mr. Mourne simply was a man full of surprises. And, shamefully, it had a certain charm to it that Caden couldn’t ignore.
Mr. Mourne’s expression softened, a small, almost genuine smile forming on his lips as he let his fingers thread through Caden’s blond locks, the gesture soothing in its own possessive way.
“Of course I did, sweetheart. I know you better than anyone else.” He murmured lowly, pressing a slow, soft kiss to his forehead.
Caden couldn’t help but melt into the touch, his body reacting automatically to the tender touch as if he had been conditioned to respond that way. His eyes fluttered close for a moment as he relaxed. There was something just so comforting about being close to this man, feeling the warmth of his skin, his fingers brushing through his hair so gently and yet holding an undercurrent of possession to it. It was something he had grown to crave- the intimacy of being close to somebody.
“Now, why don’t you cook us something nice for dinner and we can have a piece of cake for dessert. How does that sound, hm?” Mr. Mourne’s voice interrupted Caden’s thoughts, pulling back a bit to look him in the eye.
Caden opened his eyes again, barely managing to hold back a soft noise of disappointment as he felt the man’s hand untangle from his hair. He knew they could not stay like this, although he wouldn’t complain if they would. Instead, he gave a small nod of his head, lowering his voice to something close to subservience.
“Okay, I’ll start right away.”
Once Mr. Mourne had left the room, Caden had gone to the kitchen. As he had made his way towards the pantry and fridge, he found himself getting lost in the familiar routine. He was used to this by now- making dinner for his kidnapper every day, cooking and serving his meals, cleaning the cabin, doing laundry, doing the dishes… anything and everything to be useful, anything to make himself feel wanted, to earn those rare moments of praise.
While his thoughts still lingered on the man working in the other room, he had gathered the ingredients and started to cook. Soon the delicious aroma of food wafted through the kitchen, promising a satisfying meal. And for once in a while Caden experienced something close to contentment. He liked being busy in the kitchen. It was one of the scarce moments when he actually felt in control for once.
Even when they ate together later that night things had gone smoothly. Mr. Mourne had been too focused on his food, and Caden had not tried to make conversation. The silence had been heavy nonetheless, but not suffocating. And honestly, Caden was fine by that. It was one of the better days, a glimmer of light in the dark tunnel where he had settled.
Now Caden was back in the kitchen, washing away dirty leftovers of food from their plates. He was nearly done, scraping off the last remains of food as Mr. Mourne’s voice cut through the silence, calling him over from his place at the dinner table with a simple flick of his hand.
“Caden, come over here for a moment.”
Caden froze, his body tensing at the underlying hint of authority in the man’s voice. He knew that tone all too well, the demand wrapped in deliberate sweetness, leaving no room for argument. So, he pulled the plug out of the sink, letting the hot water wash away and quickly drying his hands before he finally turned around and stepped towards him.
Caden came to a stop in front of him, but Mr. Mourne did not seem satisfied just yet. With a swift pull on his wrists the man tugged him closer to stand between his legs, close enough to read every slight change in his expression. The man then pulled a card out of his pocket, holding it up to his eye level.
“I don’t think you know what this is,” the older man drawled, “but believe it or not, it holds lots of value.”
Rasing a curious eyebrow, Caden examined the card. It looked like a simple business card, with a phone number written on the back. The only thing that really stood out were the three little figures drawn on the back: a circle, square and triangle. Nevertheless, it did not look like anything of much value.
“Where does it come from?” He tried carefully, not sure whether he should be asking such straightforward questions.
A flicker of irritation flashed across Mr. Mourne’s face, but surprisingly enough it did not seem to be aimed at Caden specifically, more at the answer to his question. However, he quickly schooled his expression into something softer again, his smirk returning as he leaned back in his chair nonchalantly.
“It doesn’t matter how I got it, all right? The story is too complicated for you to understand anyway.”
He paused for a moment as if he were trying to find the right words to explain the situation, flipping the mysterious card in his hand absentmindedly.
“The thing is,” he slowly continued, picking his words carefully, “I encountered an organisation that offers a way to efficiently make lots of money in a short amount of time. All they ask of their clients is to participate in a few games.”
An uncomfortable silence followed his words. Caden stared in stunned silence as the words registered in his mind, searching the man’s face for any hint of the usual mocking smirk or cruel glint in his eyes that would signify this was just another one of his sick jokes. But there was nothing. No trace of humour or amusement. He looked dead serious.
“What are you trying to say?” He asked softly, swallowing hard before he finally found his voice. Dread swirled around in his stomach, making his skin prick uncomfortably. Whatever it was, he had a bad feeling about it.
The smirk never left Mr. Mourne’s lips however, but his eyes darkened with something more profound, his voice taking on a serious edge.
“Like I said, this is an effortless way to make big money in a brief period. But as you can imagine, I do not have the time nor the energy to join them myself. That is why I have come to the conclusion that you will take my place, Caden.”
Caden’s heart seemed to stop for a moment, his blood turning to ice. He could not believe his ears, his eyes widening in shock as he gaped at the man as if he had grown a second head. His mouth was open, but no noise came out, the lump in his throat preventing the words from escaping.
“M-me?!” He stammered at last, tripping over his words as he forced them out. “I-I don’t understand… I don’t… I can’t…”
At once, the smirk vanished from Mr. Mourne’s face. His expression darkened in a matter of seconds. His grip tightened on Caden’s wrists, not enough to hurt but enough to remind him who was in control as he pulled him closer, his hot breath fanning over his face.
“Shut up and listen,” he growled. “You are younger than me, so you know those games better than I do. Furthermore, I simply don’t have the time. All I am asking of you is to stop pretending to be my housewife and make yourself useful for once.”
A sharp sting shot up Caden’s arms like a punctuation of his words. He winced involuntarily as the man’s fingers dug into his wrists, the pressure on his bruised skin unbearable. But it was his words that really hit him, the cruelty behind them slicing his fragile heart like a sharp knife. Shock and fear overwhelmed him from all possible directions, making it even harder to think straight.
Instinctively, he tugged at his wrists in an attempt to break free, but that only served to make the man tighten his grip even more, trapping him, keeping him caged between his legs with no escape.
“B-but why?” He started weakly, “I… I can be useful here. And the money…”
He didn’t get to finish his sentence as Mr. Mourne pulled him even closer with another sharp tug on his wrist, igniting a muffled cry out of him. They were so close now that Caden could feel the heat rolling off the other man in waves, could see the irritated twitch of his eye, his patience clearly wearing thin.
“I didn’t ask for your opinion.” He hissed with an unmistakable danger in his voice, a warning tone that made it clear Caden had overstepped his boundaries. “You are here for me, to serve me.”
Without warning Mr. Mourne abruptly rose from his chair, the chair scraping loudly against the wooden floorboards. He pulled Caden impossibly closer, the pressure sending a shockwave of discomfort through him. But the man did not seem to care, leaning down to snarl directly into Caden’s face.
“And I will not tolerate disobedience, especially not from you.”
With a swift motion he threw Caden against the wall, his body slamming against the firm surface with a sickening thud, instantly knocking the air out of his lungs. Caden’s head was spinning, his thoughts a blurred mess as his body shook. It wasn’t just the physical effects of the impact that were paralysing him, but the raw, primal fear that wracked through his body.
Mr. Mourne held him firmly in place, pressing himself up against him to keep Caden pinned against the wall. Before he even had the chance to react, the man’s free hand shot up to wrap around his throat, his calloused fingers resting balefully against his trachea, a silent but clear warning. The man’s voice dropped to a low, cold whisper as he hissed into his ear.
“If you can’t even do what you’re told, then I don’t need you anymore.”
Caden gasped as the hand around his throat tightened, a familiar sense of terror washing over him. The man’s words hit him like a brick wall, his heart hammering even harder in his chest. He felt as if he couldn’t breathe, as if he were drowning in the intensity of his captor’s possessive hold on him. He wanted to nod, to agree, to appease and placate him, but the words stuck in his throat.
Instead, he desperately pulled against the older man’s grip, trying to escape the pain. But his efforts were in vain. Mr. Mourner’s grip was like iron, effortlessly holding him in place. Every weak struggle, every little bit of half-hearted defiance was met with the tightening of his grip on his throat. His fingers bit into bruised flesh, the pain forcing a strangled noise in response.
The air grew increasingly thin and Caden could feel his head starting to swim. Dark dots danced around the corners of his vision, mixing with the unshed tears pricking in his eyes. With every ounce of energy, he clawed weakly at the other man’s arms, his nails scraping the skin in a desperate attempt to escape the darkness slowly closing in on him.
“I-I… I am sorry,” he managed to choke out, his voice pleading and hoarse under the pressure of his captor’s hand. “P-please… forgive me, I’ll… I’ll do anything...”
Just as the shadows were about to claim him, the pressure on his throat loosened the slightest bit. It was not enough for Caden to pull away, but enough to survive. Eagerly, he sucked in the air around him, his eyes slowly opening again. Mr. Mourne stared back at him with a crooked grin plastered onto his face as he kept his hand on Caden’s throat for a few moments longer, almost as if he was enjoying the feel of his fingers exerting power over his body, before he finally withdrew his hand, giving him a mock-affectionate pat on the cheek.
“Good.” The man purred, a clear hint of condensation in his tone. “That wasn’t so hard now, was it?”
With that, he took a step back, distancing himself from Caden. As soon as the pressure was relieved, Caden collapsed onto the floor like a rag doll, clumsily catching himself on his hands and knees as he hit the floor. His lungs burned as if they were on fire, hot and painful as they screamed for air. He gasped and coughed; his body aching with every rapid rise and fall of his chest.
After a few agonising moments, his shallow breaths gradually began to slow down, yet his body still shook violently with fear. With tears falling down his face he reached up to carefully brush his fingers along the bruises on his neck, wincing as he felt how his captor’s fingerprints had left marks on the skin like an evil claim, an undeniably shackle that kept him bound to him.
A dark shadow loomed over him and the next moment Mr. Mourne knelt before him. He roughly grabbed a fistful of Caden’s golden hair, yanking his head back so he could look him in the eye.
“Stop crying.” He commanded gruffly, his tone dismissive and harsh as he glared down at him.
The words hang in the air like an ominous threat as Caden stared back at him through tear brimmed eyes. He desperately wanted to shrink away, to pull back from the overwhelming presence of the man. But he had come to a point in his life where he had learned that resistance and defiance would only lead to more pain, especially now.
Instead, he nodded as best as he could, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes. To his relief, the man seemed pleased with his response. He slowly, like a warning, loosened his grip on his hair and moved to reach for his mobile phone and the business card.
Caden quickly wiped away the remaining tears on his cheek with trembling hands, sniffling quietly as his eyes followed Mr. Mourne’s fingers tapping the keys, each beep like a promise of his quickly sealed fate. The ordeal had given him even more certainty that this would lead to no good, but the lump in his throat kept him from giving voice to that thought this time.
“Don’t try anything stupid.” Mr. Mourne said, eyeing Caden sharply as he held the phone in between them.
The intensity in the older man’s gaze made Caden shiver, but he didn’t need to be told twice. His mind immediately linked what the man was referring to. No defiance, no protests and no begging for help or rescue. He had been isolated from the world for what felt like an eternity, but even now, with the phone within arms reach, he was smart enough to remain still and quiet.
Silence filled the air around them, thick and heavy like a palpable force. Seconds seemed to slow down, each tick of the clock sounding like an years slowly dragging by. Caden hardly dared to breath, afraid that any wrong move could erupt another outburst from Mr. Mourne. But just as Caden noticed his limps getting stiff from waiting, an almost inaudible click came from the device between them.
“Hello. Who is this?”
A mixture of shock and disbelief crashed down on Caden when the sound of the deep voice on the other side of the line reached his ears. He had been this close to giving up on the idea that someone would answer, and yet here they were. He exchanged a quick glance with his captor, the man already gesturing for him to reply with an impatient motion of his hand.
“Uh… hello,” he croaked, his voice still hoarse and strained from crying. “I… I wanted to ask about your business card…?”
He fidgeted with his hands, waiting anxiously for a response, his focus solely fixated on the phone.
“Do you wish to participate in the game?” The question came, straight and to the point. “If you wish to participate, please state your name and birthdate.”
Caden’s heart skipped a beat, his hand twitching nervously. He could feel the expectations weighting down on his shoulders like burning coals, hot and unrelenting until he faltered under the pressure. This was it; the opportunity to prove himself finally. He could earn Mr. Mourne’s trust, his respect, his… love.
A rare glimpse of determination flared in his chest, a renewed found desire and motivation flickering awake. A longing so strong it overruled all his other sensible thoughts and emotions.
Before allowing himself any more wasted time for second thoughts he spoke up, his voice surprisingly clear.
“Caden… Caden Hailstone.”
Dark pine trees passed by in a blur, their branches covered with snow that lit up as the car’s headlights casted a yellowish glow onto the road and the surroundings. The sun had dipped completely by now, leaving only the stars and the half-moon to shed its cold light over the dark forest.
Caden sat in the passenger seat, his body tense and curled in on himself. Even in the car with the heater on he still felt as if he was freezing. But he tried to ignore it, instead gazing out of the window to distract himself from the dread building inside of him.
The earlier confidence had worn off, leaving him restless with no idea what exactly was in store for him. Leaving the cabin felt so unnatural that all he genuinely wanted was to return to the place that he had learned to call home, though the word still tasted bitter on his tongue. It felt wrong to be out here- criminal, and he could feel his anxiety mounting with every mile they drove further away from his ‘safe’ haven.
For a few minutes, the inside of the car was quiet, the silence only interrupted by the sounds of the engine and the tires on the road passing under them. Caden’s knee jittered up and down nervously until a hand suddenly reached over to to rest on his leg, a thumb slowly running over the skin of his thigh through the fabric of his jeans.
“Relax, boy. It’s going to be all right.” Mr. Mourne reassured gently as if it was the most normal thing on earth.
Caden tensed up when he felt the touch on his thigh, the gesture sending another uncomfortable shiver down his spine- not from the cold this time. He knew that the other man probably thought he was just showing affection, but to him it felt like more of a claim, a reminder of who he belonged to. He kept his eyes ahead, not daring to look at the other man.
“I know… I’m just cold.” He mumbled softly, feeling his captor’s gaze burn into him but keeping his eyes stubbornly fixed on the road ahead.
“I can tell when you’re lying, you know that?” The other man remarked, his tone casually nonchalant as he turned his attention back to the road as well.
Caden had to stop himself from curling up into himself further, shrinking deeper back into his seat. It was as if no matter what he did, he could not escape the man’s observing eyes, always being scrutinised. It made a wave of unease wash over him, how the man always managed to see right through him.
The silence returned for another few moments, the only sound being the soft hum of the engine. Though this time it was a different kind of silence: an awkward and uncomfortable one, the tension between them almost palpable now.
“Listen Caden, I know how you feel about this,” Mr. Mourne began with a sigh, his tone softening slightly. “But you should know that I am merely doing this because I care about you. You understand that, yes?”
Caden’s stomach churned when he noticed how the man’s tone had turned softer now, almost tender in its own twisted way, but nonetheless feeling like a heavy weight on his heart. He said the words so casually, as if he really was just acting out of the kindness of his heart. It was such a stark contrast to his usual cold demeanour that Caden found it difficult to suppress his unease.
“…Yes, Sir,” he answered quietly, though his voice lacked any real conviction except for the ever-present underlying resignation.
Mr. Mourne hummed in approval, either not noticing or simply not caring about Caden’s reluctant compliance. He kept his hand on the younger man’s thigh, his fingers tracing small circles into his skin like a subconscious soothing motion. And despite Caden’s uneasiness, he found himself relaxing slightly under the touch, the familiarity of the action like a strong anchor that grounded him in reality, even in this unfamiliar setting.
Caden stayed mostly silent for the rest of the car ride, his gaze focused on the dark road in front of him. The tension had subsided and was replaced by a more comfortable atmosphere. Then the car suddenly pulled over to the side of the road and Mr. Mourne turned off the engine, the sudden silence almost deafening after the steady hum of the engine.
“Look over there,” the man instructed, his arm moving past Caden’s head to point at something outside the window.
More out of automatic response Caden did as he was told, following the man’s finger. His narrowed eyes scanned the darkness outside until they landed on a small wooden shed, illuminated only by the bright, flickering light of a lamppost.
“That is where you will wait to get picked up. And once this is all over, I expect you to be there again so I can take you back home.”
Mr. Mourne did not give Caden time to protest, already reaching into the glovebox. He fumbled around for a bit longer before he pulled out a small flashlight a few seconds later.
“You will need this,” he said, pressing the flashlight into Caden’s hands who took it hesitantly. “It’s dark out and I don’t want to risk them driving past you because they didn’t notice you.”
Overwhelmed by the sudden overload of information, Caden’s eyes darted from the small flashlight in his hands to the wooden shed outside and back to Mr. Mourne again. Due to his surprise, it took a little longer before the other man’s words fully registered in his mind. However, when they finally did, Caden’s face paled, panic flashing in his grey eyes.
“You won't wait with me?” He asked, disappointment creeping into his tone. For some reason, the idea of waiting on his own out there in the dark frightened him to the core. The fact he had to leave was already bad enough, but having to welcome this disaster on his own was a total nightmare.
“No, I won’t,” Mr. Mourne confirmed calmly yet firmly, leaving no room for argument. “They are only expecting you, so I do not want to scare them off by accompanying you. But I will stay close by to keep an eye on things.” He added, clearly sensing the sudden anxious shift in Caden’s demeanour.
Caden was at a loss for words, his mind reeling with information. He felt like a discarded toy. This was exactly what he had been afraid of; being separated from the only person who could make him feel whole. It was cruel, a taunt of his dependency, a jab at his fear of being alone. Yet he was powerless to change it.
He shook the thought off before he could fall deeper down the spiral of insecurity. The man would not just get rid of him that easily, or so he desperately willed himself to believe. There had to be a reason he had survived this long, and- whatever that reason may be- he would pursue it to the end. And if that meant proving his worth repeatedly, so be it.
With a reluctant sigh he unbuckled his seatbelt, the click being loud in the otherwise quiet interior. His hand shook slightly as he reached out to open the car door. But before he had even reached the handle another click echoed through the small space, the doors locking in sync.
Alarmed, Caden quickly twisted his head to his hostage. The older man had an amused smile on his face, but there was no real malice behind it. In fact, there was something almost tender about the way he slowly reached out to take his smaller hand into his bigger one, bringing them up to his lips to press a soft kiss against his knuckles.
“Caden, before you go… promise me you will come back to me. I need you, sweetheart.” He murmured against his soft skin; the words spoken softly- a rare moment of gentleness from a man who thrived on control.
Caden felt a shiver run down his spine at the pet name, a mix of pleasure and unease rushing through him at the possessive tone the man was using. A rush of heat shot up his neck, making his cheeks glow a rosy shade of red. He was torn, both embarrassed and oddly pleased at the term of affection and the gentle action, despite the underlying possessive implication. He hated how the man had this effect on him, how he could go from being the cruel bastard from earlier to this almost gentle person.
He swallowed thickly, nodding feverishly. The truth of how much he needed him too hurt, and he couldn’t bring himself to speak it aloud. It was too much, the emotions too overwhelming, the feeling something dangerous he didn’t even dare to admit.
Mr. Mourne gave his hand one last encouraging squeeze before letting his hand slip away again. He observed Caden for a brief moment longer before letting out a soft huff and giving him a dismissive wave of his hand.
“You can go now.” The command was firm but not harsh, almost like an afterthought to what had transpired earlier. A peace offering disguised as on order.
Stunned, Caden replied with another small nod before backing out of the car, his hands still shaking but due to other reasons this time.
The car door opened with a soft creak, the pavement hard under his feet as Caden stepped onto the road. Once outside, the chilly air hit him like a slap to the face. The harsh wind was made of countless sharp razorblades that cut the sensitive skin of his face. His dream to go out had long been forgotten. Instead, it had been replaced by a longing for the warmth of the cabin, and even that strange sense of comfort he had experienced just now. But the sound of the car engine sputtering back to life was enough to remind him that was not an option.
With a sharp inhale Caden gathered up his courage and stepped towards the wooden shed. The snow crunched under his boots, the sharp howl of the wind making his ears hurt. He was shivering by the time he arrived, stepping under the canopy to shield himself from the army of white flakes fluttering down from the sky.
He turned around just in time to witness the car manoeuvring off the road and into its hiding spot behind a few trees and bushes. Thanks to its black colour and sleek design, the car was invisible to anyone who didn’t know it was there. The only thing that betrayed its presence were the fresh tracks it had left in the snow. But judging by the rate of how fast the snow fell from the the dark clouds, it wouldn’t be long before those would be covered too. And despite himself, Caden felt the tension in his shoulders ease up with the knowledge that the car was there, that he was there.
A couple of long, cold minutes passed by until Caden felt chilled to the bone, his fingertips stinging painfully. His breath came out in small clouds, barely palpable in the dim light of the flickering lamppost. He shone the flashlight around just for the sake of keeping the blood running through his freezing fingers when the light settled on something that piqued his interest.
Just outside the shed was a sign that he had not noticed before. Unable to ignore the rush of curiosity coursing through his veins, he stepped outside once more, examining the sign carefully. To his disappointment it turned out to be completely frozen and covered with snow. He reached up, tentatively brushing the snow off the sign. Faded letters and paled illustrations slowly began to appear, but they were too vague to make sense of. Caden’s best guess was that it used to be some kind of bus stop but was no longer in use.
A soft sigh of dismay left his lips. For a moment he had believed he could figure out where he was, but the place was simply too derelict.
In the meantime, a pale-yellow light flashed from behind him, casting long shadows onto the road. Startled, Caden whipped around, squinting his eyes against the brightness. A van drove down the road, approaching him with constant speed.
A jolt of anticipation passed through his body as the vehicle began to slow down and eventually came to a stop right in front of him. Then the tinted window rolled down, revealing a masked stranger dressed entirely in pink. Caden gasped in shock, fear igniting in his chest like millions of tiny stars, making his skin prick uncomfortably.
“Mr. Caden Hailstone?” the driver asked, their voice muffled behind the mask. It did not really sound like a question but more like a confirmation, a protocol that they had to adhere.
“Y-yes, that’s me...” he muttered, forcing his voice to remain steady. The tension returned in full force, making it even harder to keep his head cool.
“Password?” The stranger demanded, their tone monotonous and yet carrying a certain hint of strictness.
Caden swallowed thickly, hesitating. Every fiber of his being was ready to bolt- his mind screaming at him to run. But it was as if he was frozen to the spot, his body refusing to cooperate.
“Red light, green light. That… that is the password.” He answered quietly, not taking his eyes off the driver.
The stranger did not respond directly, but the back door of the vehicle slowly slid open. He did not need to say anything for Caden to understand what was expected of him.
Caden cast one last hopeful look over his shoulder in the direction of Mr. Mourne’s car. But there was only darkness, the silence speaking for itself. So, with trembling legs, Caden cautiously made his way to the back door, taking a deep breath before stepping inside the vehicle.
At first, he thought it would just be the stranger and him alone together, but then the soft sound of snoring quickly squashed that idea. Caden looked around, his eyes swiftly falling on two people sleeping on the back seat. His body stiffened at the sight of them, feeling as if he was interrupting something.
He turned his head back to the driver, forcing himself to speak up even though his voice trembled.
“Excuse me,” he started hesitantly, clearing his throat awkwardly. “May I ask how long the car ride will be?”
Once again, the stranger did not respond. Instead, a strange hissing sound answered his question. Before Caden could understand what was happening, steam filled the vehicle in just a few short, terrifying seconds. A shocked gasp escaped his lips, accidentally giving the steam free access to his lungs. He desperately tried to reach for the door, but the drug had already invaded his system, his panicked trashing reduced to sluggish movements. His eyelids grew heavy with exhaustion. Using up every last ounce of strength, he fought against the drowsiness that engulfed him until the last spark of resistance faded and the darkness swallowed him whole.