My head was pounding when I was conscious again. I squinted at the sun shining through the windows. The light caused my head to throb even more. I looked to the side to see that I was alone in the room. I tried to roll onto my side, but my hands were stuck above my head. I looked up to see that they were tied to the headboard with rope.

The last time Jimmy did this to me was when I threatened to kill myself. This must have been the way that I acted at Noah's. I tried to behave, but this was all new to me. Jimmy told me that it is only scary because it is new, and I had to believe him.

I started pulling my hands down, and the rope burned into my flesh. The muscles in my arms ached and I continued to try and free myself.

The door opened and I stopped moving. Emme walked in, and her swollen belly led the way. Her auburn curls were pinned behind her head. She had on a large sweater. I could see steam rising from the bowl in her hands. She raised her eyebrows and smiled when she saw that I was awake.

"You're up," she said. "I wasn't sure when I should come up. I checked on you a few times, but you were still asleep. I had a feeling you would be awake now though. Have you been awake for long?"

"No," my dry voice cracked.

"Good." She sat down on the edge of the bed. She put the bowl on the nightstand. She fixed the blankets so that they were tucked around me. "Try to get comfy."

"Untie me, please," I said as I pulled down on the ropes again.

My face winced in pain as the rope rubbed against my skin. Emme smiled when she shook her head. Her nose did its little wiggle twitch.

"You know I can't," she said. "Taylor has given me strict orders not to. You understand that I can't do that. The boys will always tell us what is best for us, so I can't go against what he says."

"Please," I begged. "Just for an hour, or maybe even a couple of minutes. It really hurts."

"I told you I can't," I said. "Just try to get as comfy as you can. Do you want any more blankets or pillows? Maybe that'll help? I have some oatmeal for you. Lift up your head and I'll give you another pillow."

Emme leaned across me and I lifted my head as she tucked the spare pillow behind my head. My shoulders felt a slight relief, but my arms still ached. Emme grabbed the bowl and stirred the spoon in the oatmeal.

"Can you untie me so that I can at least eat?" I asked.

"Nope," she said, shaking her head. "I already told you that I can't. Just open your mouth and I'll feed you." She giggled. "This will be good practice for when my son is born."

I groaned and pressed my forehead against my arm. I did not want to lie here and be fed like a baby. I should not have caused such a scene yesterday.

"Don't be difficult," she said. "It won't be that bad."

I rolled my head off of my arm and scowled at her. My stomach was empty and it grumbled. Emme smirked and I knew she heard it too.

"Open up," she said, filling the spoon full of oatmeal and bringing it to my lips. I opened my mouth and she fed me. The strong taste of brown sugar filled my mouth.

"Wasn't difficult, was it?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

I stayed quiet as she gave me another mouthful of oatmeal.

"You know, I was a complete mess when I first watched them kill someone too," she said. "I was here for maybe five months or so - you know how hard it is to keep track of time here - before someone came onto our property. Anyways, I had just learned about their traditions, but I had never seen them before. One day Jenny and I were cleaning the bathroom, and there was all of this screaming coming from downstairs. By the time we got down there, she was already hoisted up by the hooks.

"I started screaming and I could not stop myself from screaming. It was like seeing something out of a horror movie. Taylor made me watch before he locked me in our room for a couple of days. Every time they killed they made me watch, and guess what?"

"What?" I asked before she filled my mouth full of food again.

"It got easier," she said. "Taylor told me that at Charles' they kill in the basement and not in front of the girls. If you ever come here again and have to watch them kill, I promise that it gets easier. Thanks to them we always have food on the table and never go hungry."

"There are other ways that we could get meat," I said. "They don't have to kill people."

"But this protects us. No one is going to hurt us now. I imagine that the outside world must have been pretty cruel to you."

"Yeah."

I did not want to think back to what those men used to do to me in that strip club. Jimmy had hurt me a few times, but it was to teach me a lesson. It was for my own good. I'm better because of it. Those men in the club only did it for their own pleasure.

Emme leaned forward and tucked the blanket around me. I raised my shoulders and stretched out my sore muscles. She moved the pieces of stray hair off of my face and tucked them behind my ears.

"Get some more sleep," she said. "Jimmy told me that he wants you to sleep so that you will feel better. Taylor and he are over at Noah's. I'd love to spend the whole day together and have some girl time, but I have to clean. I'll check on you soon, okay?"

"Okay," I said.

I knew that it would be a struggle to sleep with the pain running down my arms and my shoulders.

Emme gave me a smile before she closed the bedroom door behind her. I could hear her humming as she walked down the hallway.

I was going to be stuck here waiting until Jimmy got back from Noah's.

--

Time seemed to drag on forever as I waited. The pain between my shoulders became more intense and spread down to my back. I wiggled on the bed to try and find a comfy spot, but it only made the pain worse. I stopped moving and curled my fingers in and out. They had gone numb a long time ago.

My stomach was aching with hunger. I could see through the window that it had become dark outside. I listened as Jimmy and Taylor came back a while ago, and I could hear the clanging sound of plates as they ate dinner. They were leaving me up here.

This definitely was part of my punishment. I don't blame Jimmy though. I must have embarrassed him in front of his family yesterday with all of my crying. I had to learn how to behave myself. I could not let Jimmy stay mad at me, and I need to thank him for everything that he was doing for me.

I waited until I heard someone climbing the stairs. The door opened and Jimmy walked in. His lips lifted into a faint smile when he saw me. He sat down on the edge of the bed and brushed my hair off of my forehead.

"Julie," he said.

"I'm so sorry," my croaky voice began to apologize.

"Don't," he cut me off. I shut my mouth. "You were doing such a good job."

"I'm sorry. I-"

"Be quiet! Don't say another word until I tell you to. You were such a good girl and now you are acting out. All I have ever done is love and protect you, and this is how you thank me? You've embarrassed me in front of my entire family. They love you, and you are not appreciating that. Next time we see them your attitude better change drastically. You have to prove to them that you are the good girl that I know you are. Understand?"

I nodded and a tear rolled down my cheek. Jimmy reached over the top of me and undid the ropes. I gasped out in pain as I moved my sore joints. Jimmy watched me as I stretched out my muscles. He reached out and pulled me onto his lap.

He tightened his arms around me and stroked my hair. If he was holding me like this, it must mean that he was not mad at me anymore. I really hoped he was not because I did not want to be punished more.

"No sleeping in tomorrow," he said. "We're leaving in the morning."

I looked at Jimmy shocked. He was so excited about coming to see his cousins, and now after a few days, we were going home early. There would definitely be a punishment waiting for me at home.

"Jimmy, please," I said. "I'm so sorry. I do not want to ruin your time with your family."

"It's okay," he said. "I get three days alone with you in the house. No Tommy, no work, just us."

I leaned and kissed Jimmy. I got three days without Tommy's sickening stares and smirks. It was a reward instead of a punishment.

There was the sound of laughter coming from downstairs. Jimmy grabbed me and threw me off of his lap and onto the bed. He got up off of the bed and walked over to our suitcase. He had his back to me as he pulled out some clothes.

"Jimmy," I said.

"What?" he asked, clearly annoyed.

"How can I show you I'm sorry?" I asked.

Jimmy let out a deep breath and stood straight. His eyes scanned my body. I looked down at myself to see that I was just wearing one of his T-shirts and a pair of underwear. Jimmy bit down on his lip and kneeled on the bed.

"Take off your clothes," he said.

"Excuse me?" I asked.

"Are you questioning me?" he asked. "I want you to make this up to me. You screwed up big. The only way I can see you making this up to me is by giving me a son."

"Jimmy, I know that -" I started.

"Are you saying no to me?"

I bit down on my lip and shook my head. He reached out and ran his fingers through my hair.

"Good," he said. "Now, take off your clothes."

I let out a shaky breath as I reached for the bottom of my shirt. Jimmy and I have been talking about children for a while now, so I can not let it bother me now. We were going to have a son because that was what was going to make us happy.

"I love you," Jimmy said.

"I love you too," I said.

I pulled my shirt over my head. Jimmy was soon on top of me, and he was kissing my neck and my chest. His hands reached for the waistband of my underwear. I closed my eyes and thought about the little baby that Jimmy and I would be holding in our arms.