Chapter 83

For every mental bitch slap in my life, each was more shocking than the last. There were a lot of those moments. Guys... I cannot stress this enough: this took the fucking cake.

Usually, my brain will scramble in panic, trying to fathom whatever shocking news I'm given. But this just blanked me. Like a bomb that shattered any line of thought. My mind was reduced to nothing but a sponge. It could absorb, but not react. All I could do was stare at her.

She stared back, a perfectly sculpted brow raising in amusement. As if waiting for me to respond, but I didn't. She finally unfolded her arms and snapped a finger in front of my face. "You okay in there?"

No reaction from me. Just... a sponge.

She scoffed. "I expected a bigger reaction. Then again, for all I know, my family never told you about me."

Finally, after a few seconds, my chest started to quiver. I made a teepee with my hands over my mouth and nose. "Jesus fucking Christ. Jesus fuck...." I suppressed the tears that rose to my eyes. That sponge in my head ran dry; she wasn't saying anything. It kicked my brain into gear. She needed to say something. Because all I had was what I knew of Hailey Prenta up until this point. And what I knew... required answers now.

She was the youngest of Jan and Mike's four kids. Shannon, Francis, and Luke's younger sister. She was kidnapped on the way to school. Taken. Luke blamed himself. Because while he was walking with his little sister, he eventually went his own way because he went to a different school that year, leaving her to walk by herself. That was the last time he saw her. She never made it to school and was never seen since. Presumed to be kidnapped. It's a moment that scarred the Prenta family, especially Luke, ever since she's been gone. And fuck, Hailey has been gone for 20-some years now. Luke carried unbearable amounts of guilt for it this whole time. Still does and always will.

I never considered the possibility of Hailey being connected to this shit-show, but it made sense. It made complete sense. Later, I would unfortunately learn a few other things that made sense too.

She shifted her weight and spoke with more amusement. "So you've heard of me?"

"How are you here? Alive? You.... You," I shook my head, inhaling sharply. Taking a step back, staring at her with new eyes... Fuck, this whole time I was here, this was Hailey. My damn hairdresser! It was almost a relief in a sense, seeing that she wasn't like the others here. She worked here. Then again, that was even scarier in a way. "Your family tried so hard. Luke was never the same. He told me everything that happened, and they tried looking for you for so long and they never found you, but they love you. Every year, for your birthday, they get together—" My rambling voice broke. Eyes watered more. Spinning around, I raised my hands on top of my head.

"Told you everything huh? Family is a whole other story. Anyway, yes. I'm here and it's really me. Don't wreck your hair," she said, dragging my arms back to my sides from behind me.

How could this be real? Happening? What are the chances of meeting like this? Too slim. Wait.

I spun back to her. "It's no coincidence that you're my hairdresser, is it?"

"If this were a coincidence, pigs would fly, and I wouldn't know Cle' de Peau Beaute' from Cover Girl." Sighing, she stood taller and pursed her lips. "Reid bought me back from the owner he originally sold me to over ten years ago. Then he assigned me to be your hairdresser once you arrived here."

Of course he did. My god. He wanted this to happen, for us to meet. She was brought back here just to meet me! For me to figure out who she was. It was all mind games. All entertainment to them. No doubt they would see this on camera and get a kick out of it. But my god, it was worth it. I found her. I fucking found her, she's alive, she's here!

I couldn't grasp the reality of this moment. Couldn't grasp her words, her story, and I needed to know everything. Everything. "I'm not shocked Reid would do this. So... he bought you back once he realized my connection with your family?" It was hard to hear she was sold in the first place.

"Yep. When I was 14, Reid sold me to a man named Troy. Then, two or three years ago, Reid decided he wanted to buy me back. He paid top dollar to have me back when it was assumed that you'd be captured. Took a little longer to get you, but here you are. Reid wanted us to meet – and when I learned about you, I was very curious," she said, jaw tightening.

"What... what happened before you were 14 and sold off? You were here? Being brainwashed like all these other girls?" Though she was clearly in too deep, she seemed strong-willed.

"Yes. Before any of that though, I had a family who acted like they cared. They fooled me. Then once I was sold to Reid the first time and left the 'real' world, I was shown reality. I was raised by these people and educated—"

"Wait, wait, no," I interrupted, narrowing my eyes on her. "You were not sold to Reid. Hailey was taken and kidnapped. Not sold." I guess they really did brainwash her. I wasn't shocked.

"You're right. I was taken. Because I was sold to Reid."

I sighed. "Your family would not sell you. I know you won't believe me—"

"I don't need to. You're wrong." Lips tilting in an amused and spiteful smirk, her eyes dug deeper into mine. "I've gone through the sessions and the training. I've gone through everything as a proud servant – and now am a proud worker. I know those sessions included necessary manipulation. The girls are fooled for their own good and so was I. But out of all the lies, I know I was not lied to about my family. I've seen the documents. I was sold."

I'll be honest with you guys. The way she acknowledged how she knows about the lying... it made me uneasy. She wasn't in the shadows like most of these girls. It made her sick accusation more credible. More credible, but still dead wrong. Because what she was suggesting, that her family sold her, it was insane. "You saw fake documents."

"Did I now?" Her smirk widened, and she rocked back and forth on the pointy heels of her shoes. "Let me ask you something: is my family filthy stinking rich?"

The tower of sureness in my body buckled a bit, but only for a second. "They would never—"

"They did." She tucked a blonde highlighted strand behind her ear and crossed her arms. "Please enlighten me about my rich father. What does he do – besides work for a place that takes him out of town all the time?"

Heart dropping at every word she said, I just stared at her. The direction this conversation turned was upsetting. I just found out who this chick really is! How am I supposed to process this! She was accusing her family, her father (fucking Mike everyone), of something so terrible. It was plain upsetting. And partly because... she pointed out some scary coincidences. Mike is rich, he makes a lot of money, and he leaves town for work. And sure, I didn't exactly know or remember what he did. But that's only a coincidence that Reid used against Hailey. "Your father... is a hard working man. You may not remember, but your family was 'filthy stinking rich' even before you were taken."

"I know. My grandfather was rich and that's how my family became as wealthy as they did. My father just continued in the same business as his father. And this 'business' has more than enough to do with Reid's success." Her almost cocky voice, the pleasure in revealing this to me, had full control over my fragile state at this point. Eyes digging deep in mine, she continued. "They make big bucks – and, with me as an example, many people in the company my father works for have also sold their children. And in that way... I can respect and admire my father for that. He's helping this cause that I'm deeply a part of. Yet, I can also personally despise him and my family for what they did to me."

I hated how she was spot on about a few things. I hated how she sounded so sure and certain. I hated how for a moment I wasn't certain. But she could not sway me like she was swayed. Mike had the biggest heart. Nothing she said mattered. I am a good judge, I am good at reading people, and for the type of guy Mike was... just... absolutely not.

I bit my lip and looked down at the floor. I wanted to hug her and deck her in the face. "Your father, your family, is full of love for you. But you're fucked in the head and I can't undo years of damage and lies."

"Think what you want," she said with a knowing smirk to herself. Walking off towards the standing large jewelry box next to her vanity, she opened the second drawer and retrieved a brown-stoned bracelet that matched my dress. "They love you and they didn't love me. I don't expect you to see beyond that to what they did to me." She came back to me and clasped the bracelet on my wrist. "You're all set and ready for dinner."

As if I'll be able to eat after learning this. My stomach was in knots. "I am sorry you don't see the truth."

She sneered. "I'm sorry you don't see the truth. You have the choice to though. Ask Reid tonight. Ask him to show you the documents and I bet he will."

***

I could not – could not believe – that Hailey was here. That she was Hailey Prenta. I could not believe it. After all this time, after knowing the heartache Luke endured for his unfortunate missing sister... here she is. Alive. And fuck, she had a wild theory. One that suggested Mike sold her to this hellhole. Sold. That... just... what? It pissed me off that she would ever think he would do that. I was pissed and upset that she had such a negative view on a family full of love for her.

The subject orbited my brain, continuously interrupting my focus and attention. Which was crucially set across the long dining table on Reid. The same one we ate at every evening.

"So, are your sleep habits improving?" he asked, pushing aside his dirty plate.

It took me a moment to grasp what that question meant. That's right. Reid changed the shock frequency on my necklace, an act of 'caring' manipulation. "I am sleeping better. Doesn't mean shit though," I said a fun taunting tone.

"It doesn't mean shit, huh?" he asked playfully.

"Nope, not a thing. So suck it," I said lightly, holding back a chuckle.

From where he sat across from me, the air between us was warm and flirty. Playful and open. Exactly how I wanted it. "There just is no pleasing you, is there?" Taking a sip of wine, his brown eyes stayed on mine.

Scoffing, I glanced to the massive window to my right at the end of the long table. Every evening, it drew my eyes. My only real glimpse to the outside world. And every time, it made me anxious. Right there, feet away, on the other side of just a sheet of glass... was freedom. Massive tree trunks and grass, level with the window. There were more leaves on the ground each day, which made me more antsy. Time was ticking. And this window seemed like the easiest way out. I could easily escape on foot.

But there was a lot to consider. I would want to know more. "Hard to please me when it's so fucking boring in here. Even for you guys, I can't imagine being pleased. In a way, you guys are all prisoners."

"I'm not sure what you mean."

I looked back to him. "Aren't you guys constantly watched too? With all the cameras? I would want privacy. I mean I'm sure even if you guys go outside, you're still being watched." I know asking questions seemed suspicious, but I think I worked his guard down enough to be safe.

"This is true. The perimeter of this institution is monitored up to a mile in each direction. Cameras are situated in every room in this place too. The bathrooms and my house are the only exceptions. I have full privacy there." He sighed. "You do have a point though," he said, leaning forward and resting his arms on the table. "We almost are prisoners. It contradicts our views of pursuing chaos and indulging in our hedonistic ways. Me and my followers want the freedom without cameras, but ironically, they are essential."

I was lucky he enjoyed going on about himself and this place. He said there were cameras everywhere, including outside up to a mile away. They will probably see me once I escape this place. I had to accept there was no avoiding that.

First things first is getting out of here though. And I think it needed to happen in this very dining room. "Well yeah, it would be stupid to not have cameras. Why are none in your house though?" I specifically remember he said his home is above his office too.

"Because it does allow some of that chaos I value. Not to mention, it is secure and secluded, even above ground."

"Yeah and that's another thing I don't fucking get. This whole place is underground, except for certain areas. Like this dining room, we are above ground here. The floor of my big ass bedroom is above ground. And now you're telling me your home is above ground. Why?" I scoffed. "It just seems reckless and stupid if you're trying to stay hidden."

"Offers scenery for some areas. Like my personal home. More importantly, being even slightly visible helps our business partners and buyers find us. We don't exactly have an address. You know first-hand, Miss. Jungle Explorer, how necessarily hard it is to find," he paused, aiming teasing eyes in my direction.

His reference to me hiking these woods, searching for this place with Jackson and Luke, pinched my heart. That felt so long ago now... and I missed Luke so much. Having his coat in my possession, back in my room, made it worse. I beg and pray to whoever is listening that my sweet man be okay. I wanted to ask Reid how he got that coat, but I couldn't bring myself to. His answer might break me and that could not happen right now. Same reason why I couldn't ask to see the files about Hailey.

I couldn't allow these things to change me, distract me, and ruin me at this point in time. Pushing that pain aside, I nodded. Reid offered some valuable information. I would want to get out and escape through an area that was above ground. Here in the dining room was the best option. It's the only time I get Reid alone and there is a huge window which could become my door.

The only downside: I would be seen by the cameras killing Reid and escaping. But maybe if I knew the camera angles... maybe if I knew more about the whole security system, I can kill Reid a few feet out of sight. I only saw one camera in here. It was mounted above the door. There was no way one camera could pick up every inch of this massive dining room.

"So besides your house, with all the cameras everywhere, I imagine you have a security room? With your nosy asshole workers watching 24/7?"

"Yes, there are always people watching. However, it's not just one security room. There is a security sect. There are a couple offices, each monitoring a different area."

"Are they always listening too? Like continuously?"

He sipped his wine, set it down, and thumbed the edge of the glass mindlessly. His long face rounded with a smile. "Depends." He arched an amused bushy brow at me. "Why? Are you scared about what we've already seen and heard?"

Honestly, on a side note, I was scared of how fast he was informed of everything caught on camera. I wondered if Reid knew I learned about Hailey. "No, just wondering how pathetic you are."

"'Secure' personally is the word I prefer," he said, searching my eyes with admiration. Licking his lips, he said in a softer voice, "Would you like to see the security sect?"

After agreeing I wouldn't 'mind' seeing it, Reid escorted me out of the dining room. Down several halls and an elevator, we were in a familiar area. We were nearing the business center. Just before we reached the main business area in the center of the institution, we stopped at a steel door off the main hall. Instead of typing in a code to unlock the door, Reid swiped a card above the keypad. That was something I haven't seen before.

"Are you the only one who has a card to get everywhere around here?"

"No actually," he said, "All staff has this card. Some doors you can use cards instead of a code, but not many. However, I do have exclusive access to certain places."

Once we walked through the steel door, the whiteness of the halls disappeared. It was just a small cement hallway with four doors on each side before the hall ended. Next to each cement door, there was a label. The door Reid guided me through was labeled 'North Wing.' Which, if I remember, the north wing is where the workers resided. From what I saw on the huge mount of computer screens, I knew I was right.

Inside the small room, there were two men sitting at a long desk. Their backs were to us. Above the desk, they faced a wall of screens. Each displayed bedrooms including some hallways. Some rooms were empty, some had people in them. My eyes were drawn to a screen that showed a rough fuck-session going down. The screens were small, but I could see the man pounding into some half-dressed chick on the bed. Out of all the other screens, that was the only one that had a red 'audio' flashing in the corner. Didn't take a genius to figure out what that meant.

Digital sounds of moaning filled the air from the speakers. It was faint enough though that the men heard us enter. Once they saw it was Reid standing behind them, their full attention was on him. The one man stood up and faced us. "Sir," he nodded to him and then to me.

"Good evening," Reid said, hooking his arm through mine. "I was just showing Albany around. Don't mind us." With his soft brown eyes, he looked down at me. Almost adoringly. "This room is dedicated to surveying the worker's quarters. Probably the most entertaining cameras to watch, obviously," he said, indicating the two people fucking. Now that I think about it, that could be another good money maker out of this place. There is big money in porn. Maybe that's the real reason these assholes are so rich....

Such a stupid thought. Shaking my head, I tried taking everything in. It was a very small room. In the corner was a mess of wires and cords leading to the screens. The desk was cluttered with papers, devices, and three computer screens dedicated to being just computers. Mounted in reach above them was a long switchboard. A stationary microphone and a large speaker was on the desk too. I also noticed the screens switched to different bedrooms, an elevator, and a few screens showed a few large conference rooms.

All of it, all of this... was intrusive and powerful. Everything that goes on... is seen right here. And at the same time, I just wanted to laugh. "This would be the most boring job ever. I don't care what you freaks say, none of you have lives," I sighed. I've seen dead bugs with more dignity than these workers. Imagine this as your life. Watching screens obsessively.

"They do what they have to do to serve," Reid said, brushing a hand over my back. I've trained myself not to flinch anymore, which was a punch to my own dignity.

Looking over the screens, I pursed my lips and ran my fingers over the fabric of my dress aimlessly. "So what makes you decide where to place cameras? Entertainment value or security reasons?" I mumbled in annoyance at the moaning audio.

"Purely security reasons. Occasional entertainment is a bonus."

"Okay, so for security. But it's not like you're on red alert often."

"That's why sometimes, there is only one person per surveillance room. Occasionally, an area goes without. It depends how uneventful the rooms are. Regardless though, there is always someone watching live at that moment," he said with a tone that highlighted those last words.

"Not listening though right? Unless people are fucking," I scoffed.

"That also depends," he said lightly. God, I hoped he wasn't hinting at anything he might have heard. However, my gut was screaming at me that he was informed I learned about Hailey. It made me want to say fuck it and ask him about everything, her, and if it was all true.

It was an itch that wouldn't go away. It wasn't important to my objective, it was a distraction, but it was eating at me. Wrapping up the little tour of the security sect, we headed back to the steel door to the hall. "I imagine I'm a priority and am watched at all times – being listened to at all times?" I asked nonchalantly

Reaching the steel door, he paused. "Yes. They are watching you and listening at all times." His eyes found mine, brown pools invading mine with an amused glint. A knowing glint too. "I'm updated immediately if anything... substantial is captured or heard regarding you."

I nodded, tried playing it off, but his eyes didn't budge from mine. His guard might be down with me, but he wasn't stupid. "Because my life in here is just so fascinating. What, they update you when I sneeze? When I—"

"I think you're aware your life is incredibly fascinating in here," he interrupted.

Yup. He fucking knew. It pushed me so close to asking... but my god, what if it's true? I shouldn't ask. I felt Reid wanted me to ask about her and her files, which was even more scary. But it was so conflicting because how in the world could it be true? How is it possible that she was here now, alive, and sold by her family! It couldn't be true, and it wasn't. But still... what if?

Hailey had nothing to do with keeping my deal with the FBI, killing Reid, or getting out. I shouldn't be getting distracted, I needed to focus on getting out of here – alive. Not bothering to play anything off, or be nonchalant, I just stood there and searched his eyes back. Contemplating. I shouldn't ask. But... it's not like I haven't had to juggle life changing information in a life or death situation before.

"Is it really her?" I asked quietly under my breath.

The edge of his lips tilted in a satisfying fashion. "It is," he answered softly.

"And I'm assuming everything she told me were lies fed by you?"

"You may assume anything you'd like, Albany," he said, bending towards me with a smile. "Assumptions can be a form of denial and a strong defense mechanism."

"Well one thing I don't have to assume are your motives. I know you wanted entertainment and to fuck with my head."

"You're absolutely right. That is why I brought her back here. That does not mean what Hailey has told you isn't true." He looked down, thinking for a small second. "In fact, why don't you come with me?"

"Where? A park to pick up little kids?"

"No," he smiled. Taking the card out from his back pocket, he swiped it and the steel door unlocked. Holding it open, his eyes returned to mine. "I have something to show you."

***

We were on the subject of Hailey before he 'had something to show me.' It probably had to do with her, right? Was it her file? God, I don't know. With how confident his stride was, I really hope not at this point. Even though I know she has been brainwashed into thinking the Prenta family sold her, I was still scared of asking about it.

I had no idea where he was taking me, why, or what he wanted to show me. Entering the business center, the wide open lobby I was familiar with, he guided me to the elevator. The elevator that went up to his office. I knew it also went up to his personal home. So I had to assume it wasn't her files. They would have been in the file room.

However, like a few minutes ago, he proved me wrong about assumptions.

"So... we going up to your office or your house?" I asked after the elevator doors closed.

"Office," he said, swiping the card into a slot above the elevator buttons. A key pad appeared above the slot. Though my heart was racing, thinking about Hailey, I couldn't ignore the mistake Reid made.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, nonchalantly turning his attention to the keypad. My own eyes darted to the keypad in sight. He didn't block it, didn't bother making me look away.... Right in front of me, he typed in 4739. Like it was no big deal! Though I was internally freaking out over not knowing what he was going to show me, I could at least take pleasure in his guard being completely dropped.

"How am I feeling?" I scoffed. "Like sunshine and puppies."

When the elevator doors opened to his office, we entered the area I've only seen once before. As I followed behind him, I just kept wondering why he wanted me up here, for what.... My insides swirled with each step. I noticed he was approaching his desk. The area was mostly dark besides his desk, which was illuminated by a lamp.

"Take a seat behind my desk, Albany," he said, stopping in front of the desk and gesturing for me to continue behind it.

"Maybe I don't want to sit in your stupid chair," I mumbled before walking behind his desk, spinning the chair around, and plopping down.

"Well I think you'd be interested..." he started from where he stood across the desk. "To see what I retrieved earlier from our records." He reached down and opened a folder that faced me. There were several files stacked under the one he opened for me. And before I could realize what this was, my eyes spoiled it. I stared at the top sheet he revealed to me.

My stomached immediately sank. She was right, he had files on her. Several it looked like! Though I just sat down, I was back on my feet. Tight and tense, staring down at the paper. The first sheet in the open folder chilled me.

The first thing I saw was her picture next to a list of information. It was dated this year. The name Hailey Prenta was in bold as well at the top. It looked like a fucking profile – that's what it was. "Fuck," I breathed, picking up that sheet. Staring at it. Reading her basic information. Including her owner of the current year: Reid Taylor. He had his signature at the bottom.

"This folder is just Hailey's profile. Updated throughout the years whenever there was a change." I heard him say. From the corner of my wide eyes, I watched him sit down in one of the couple chairs across from the desk. Enjoying the show of me soaking it in.

I tried calming my breath. It's fine, obviously she would have a file. Maybe this is all he wanted to show me. Maybe there was nothing about her family. Fuck that, there couldn't be nothing. I don't know why I am worried and worked up. There couldn't be. Reid was just showing me that this was indeed Hailey Prenta.

"So, yes, it is her. Now... I want you to look at the next file once you are finished with that one. It has all the contracts."

Oh god no. My heart immediately wanted to drop out of me. I just froze for a second, staring at Hailey's picture. Reid doesn't bluff. He wouldn't be bluffing now.

Quickly, I slid the sheet back in the file and moved it aside. I opened the next folder in the stack. Documents. Real fucking documents too. I could tell they were original contracts. I looked for only what I dreaded though. And I found it.

Right at the bottom of that first document, there was a statement about passing ownership and rights over to Reid Taylor for the agreed amount of money. Then, under that statement, was a signature.

Michael Prenta

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What do you guys think? Is it true? Or just more games? Its getting intense for a Miss Albany Higgins in here!