Asahomicidecaptain,Luhadgiventlesssafetylectures,yetitneveroccurredtohimtogiveooReya.

Blindfolded,Reyaspeirerideligthegag,itspstickytastestrangeandfn.Bythetimehertonumb,thecarfinallystopped.

Reyamentallyscoffed.Thebedsheetsfeltwrong.Theairsmelledwrong.

Shedidn''''''''tknowwhatawaitedher,butshewasn''''''''tafraid.

Shedidn''''''''tknowthatsometimes,uglinessfesteredinside—andthatitcouldhidebehiifulmask.

uryearsago

Someoedherinabridalcarry.ShewonderedifitwasSilverRingorCo.

Sowhewomenpulledoverandcalledouttoher,askingfordires,Reyafeltnoarm.

Shewasjusttoowell-behaved.Unshakableinthefaceoftrouble,alwaysfindingherownsolutions.Itmadehimpt.

LuandMoxihadbeensofocusedonprovidingforReya''''''''smaterialhattheyhadfottentowarnheraboutthedangersoftheworld.

ThoseeleganthandstiedahandkerchiefoverReya''''''''seyes,thenstuffedaballgagintohermouth,segittightlyatthebackofherhead.Herlipswereforcedwideopen,leavingonlymuffledwhimpers.Herarmswereyankedbehindherbadbound,pressedunfortablyagainsttheseat.

"Littlegirl,we''''''''rehome,"Co''''''''svoicechimed.

Theywerehandsome,dressedinexpehes,polishedinmannersandfriendlysmiles.Booksalwayssaidvilinswereugly,whileprinceswerevishandcharming.

Themanwhoyankedherintothecarhadartist''''''''shands.Slenderfingersadorhastrangesilverring.Theycmpedaroundherdelicatewrists,dragginghereffortlesslyintothebackseatbeforeshecouldevenscream.

Blinking,shetookinthemessybedroom:clothess

"Takingyousomewherefun."

"Whatareyoudoing?"sheasked.

Adoorcreakedopen.Thepersoncarryiurnedafewersbeforetossioasoft,bouncybed.

Thesilverringgleamedasthemansmirked.

Reyacouldn''''''''tdie.Atleast,notfromphysicalharher,thiswasjustahrillingadventure.

Herwristswerefreed,andtheblindfoldremoved,butthegagstayed.

Themaninthedriver''''''''sseatstartedthedorderedSilverRing,"Don''''''''tlethertalk.Blindfoldher."

Hedidn''''''''tturnaround,butReyacaughtaglimpseofhisstrikingbckeyesintherearviewmirror.Shifty,restless.Asmallhodangledfromoneear,givinghimacool,celebrity-likeaura.