Curly made me feel all hot in the night. He put his lips on my neck. It didn't feel too bad. Picture Man and Dark Eyes seemed to like watching. I'm not sure if that's normal. It probably is.

  "Breakfast, little psycho," Curly says. He has a nice voice. I get out of the bunk, and my new friends take me to breakfast.

  I'm not allowed a knife or fork. At least it's porridge. I wonder if I'll need them for lunch.

  I think Curly likes making my legs feel hot. I'm still not sure if that's normal.

  The Orange Man who helped me get clean comes over. "Hello, bunny."

  That's not my name, so I don't answer until he slaps me. They seem to like doing that."Are you deaf?"

  I look up. "My name's Eli," I say. He smiles and says, "You can call me Daddy."

  Some of Momma's friends also had that name. Maybe they're related. They don't look the same. Dark Eyes says his name is Derek.

  Derek sits down next to me. "What are you in for, bunny?"

  Picture Man rolls his eyes. "Don't bother. The little psycho's a stupid little shit."I wonder who he's talking about.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  "Who are you talking about?" I ask. I wonder if the person will be upset to hear.

  Picture Man makes a funny face. Momma used to do that... a sneer, maybe? He grabs my chin, harsh like Sir but meaner. He looks angry. I don't know why.

  "Listen, you shithead. You can play the innocent little bitch, but my little psycho"—I don't like when he strokes my chin like that—"you will break. And I'll be there, laughing."

  He lets go. I look up at him."Why are you mad at me?"Ow. I wish people would stop slapping me.

  Derek strokes my thigh. Why do I feel unclean again?

  "It's okay, baby boy," Derek says. "Daddy will look after you."I wonder if he still needs his fork.

  While Derek makes me feel hot, I take his fork. Momma wouldn't have liked that.

  "How old are you, baby boy?"

  "19," I say. It feels like everyone's listening.

  Derek puts his face by my ear. It's hot, like Sir's."Don't worry, baby boy," he says. "Daddy will protect you from the big bad wolves."

  It feels like the Shock Stick men are back on my spine.

  Dark Eyes smiles, but it doesn't look like a nice one."They're gonna love your cute little butt here, psycho."

  I don't think that's a nice thing.

  My new friends are back. They take me to my Bar Room. Curly says it's time for a nap. I don't want to, but I don't want him to be sad.

  We lie down. He makes my legs hot again. Maybe he wants a hug.

  His fingers are like spiders, creeping from my thighs, to my tummy, my throat, my arms — to everywhere.

  I know these spiders. They always come back.

  His screams are nice.