Free Forsaking Home (The Survivalist Series) by A. American

and reapplying the ones he’d worn coming into this torture session. Once he was secured, the men pulled him to his feet and led him toward the door. Shane was thankful to be getting away from Niigata, though he didn’t know what would happen next.
    Once outside, the sun’s rays warmed his entire body. This reminded him that he was still naked, being trotted around the camp with just a hood. He was led back into the building containing the cells—he could tell it was the same one from the smell. A cell door was opened and he was led in. The cuffs were disconnected from the waist chain and his arms lifted over his head as a clicking sound filled the room. Before he realized what was going on, his arms were pulled high over his head, then the clicking changed in pitch as he was lifted to the balls of his feet. He was barely supporting any of his weight with his legs, and his wrists ached.
    “What the fuck?” Shane shouted.
    “Here, this’ll make you feel better,” a voice said, a second before he was hit with a bucket of water.
    The water was so cold, it caused Shane to yelp. Reflexively, he tried to turn his body, but before he could even react, he was hit with more water. The door was slammed shut, and one of the men said, “We’ll be back.”
    Shane pictured how he must look: cold, wet, naked, hanging like a side of beef. He began to shiver. The building was cold to begin with, but now that he was naked and wet, Shane knew he was about to experience a level of cold he’d never known existed.
     • • • 
    Kay was busy in the kitchen, humming to herself. The next lunch service would start in twenty minutes. She was stirring a large pot of red beans and rice and thinking of the girls. She was worried about them, and whatever cruel fate they were experiencing in detention. She had heard rumors about what happened there, but she didn’t even want to think of what those three were going through given the crime they’d committed. She smiled, thinking about how they would banter in the kitchen. Those girls had been different from most of the other women who worked for her, and she really cared for them. But there was nothing she could do for them now. Any attempt to help would land her in detention with them. Kay tilted the big pot and started raking the beans and rice out into a serving pan. As she carried the pan to the dining area she was greeted by the usual racket from the crowd.
    Kay set the pan in the warmer and turned back to the kitchen. Before she made it through the door, someone called out to her.
    “Hey, Kay!”
    She stopped with one hand on the door to the kitchen and looked back. “Oh, hi, Aric.”
    Aric approached and nodded for her to go into the kitchen. He followed her in then motioned for her to go to the dry storage room. Kay led the way. He took a look around the kitchen and closed the door behind them.
    “Is everything all right?” Kay asked with concern in her voice.
    Aric turned to face her. “Oh yeah, everything is okay. I just wanted to talk to you in private.”
    “About what?”
    “Fred and the other girls. Have you heard anything about them?”
    “Oh no, I’m the last person who would find out about them. You’d probably know something before I would,” Kay said.
    “Well, you know how it is. Everyone around here seems to have a source of their own. I was just hoping you’d heard something.”
    “No, I’m sorry,” Kay said, lowering her eyes to the floor. “I wish I knew something. I’m so worried about them.”
    “Tell me about it. I know they did what they’re accused of, but I also know he deserved it,” Aric said, running a hand through his hair.
    Kay looked up at him and grabbed his arm. Her eyes were pleading. “Then why don’t you say something? They’ll believe you! You’re one of them.”
    “Pfff, they wouldn’t listen to me. If I said anything, it’d go badly for me, and I don’t want to end up where they are. It wouldn’t help at