Page 73 of Keeping Penny

“I didn’t have a mom or dad growing up. I was a foster kid. No one wanted to keep me. It made me feel like I was unworthy. Worthless. So I struggle with the fact that you love me. And your mom too. It’s hard for me to believe sometimes because of the way I was raised.”

“I do love you, Kylo-Pyro! You’re nice to me and you make me feel safe,” Bowie said fiercely.

“And I love you too. You go through life concentrating on the things your blindness doesn’t prevent you from doing well. You don’t dwell on the stuff it might interfere with. That’s what you need to do now. Count steps, so you know how far it is from one place to another whenever we get to where we’re going. So when we escape, you can easily get away. Listen to what the people who took us are saying. Knowledge is power, Bowie-Bear. And you have better hearing than anyone I’ve ever met.”

“I can hear good,” Bowie said, her voice a little stronger.

“Yes, you can. And you were right. They did hurt me. My leg. I’m not sure I can walk that well. So I’m going to need you to be brave and not get upset if you feel me limping or hopping. Okay?”

She sounded a little less sure when she said, “Okay.”

“I’m probably going to act in a way you’ve never heard me. Say things that don’t make sense. You don’t have to talk, just use your ears to listen, that’s what I need you to do.”

“Act how?”

“Weak. They think they took a weak man. Someone who can’t stand up for himself. Someone easy to control. I need them to continue to think that way about me, so I’m going to whine. A lot. You know, like your mom hates?”

Bowie nodded against him. “Yeah.”

“So don’t worry, okay?”

“Kylo-Pyro?” Bowie whispered.

“Yeah?”

“I’m scared.”

“Me too.”

He felt her head lift from his shoulder. “You are?” she asked, sounding surprised.

“Uh-huh. Grown-ups get scared too. Not being scared right now would be strange after what happened to us. But being scared doesn’t mean I can’t be brave. That I can’t do what needs to be done. That I can’t protect you. Understand?”

“I think so.”

“Good. I think when you’re scared, if you pretend you aren’t, if you act like you aren’t, then sometimes it lessens the fear you’re feeling, and in the end can make you stronger than you ever thought you could be.”

Pyro didn’t really know if that was true, but he’d say anything to reassure Bowie. To make her see her own strength. To give her the confidence to get through whatever might happen when the trunk was opened.

“Okay, Kylo-Pyro. I’m not scared.”

“Good girl.” He could tell she was, in fact, terrified, but he loved her even more for taking his words to heart.

How could anyone try to hurt this little girl? She had a pure soul. Was the epitome of goodness and kindness. Pyro would do absolutely anything to preserve that.

He felt the car slowing, and he took a deep breath. This was it. He had no idea what he’d be faced with when they opened the trunk. “Remember what I said, Bowie. I’m going to sound very different from the man you’ve gotten to know. It’s all an act, okay?”

She put her head back on his chest and nodded. She’d begun to shake again, and it fueled Pyro’s determination to protect her any way he could.

It sounded as if there was gravel under the car’s tires, and when the engine cut off, time seemed to slow. Pyro’s heart beat hard and fast as he waited. He heard voices outside but couldn’t make out the words. He wanted to ask Bowie if she could understand them but didn’t get the chance.

There was a click, and the trunk popped open. The light hurt his eyes, but Pyro did his best to keep them open if only a slit, so he could assess the situation.

The two men stood there, his assailant holding the bat that he’d used to break his leg. The desire to wrench it away and show him how it felt to have the weapon used on him was strong, but Pyro pushed the feelings down. His only goal right now was to stay with Bowie.

“Get out,” the other man ordered, stepping away from the trunk.

Relieved he wasn’t already trying to wrench Bowie away from him, Pyro took a deep breath. “Don’t hurt us,” he begged in the most pathetic voice he could manage. “Not again! We’ll do whatever you tell us, just don’t hit me.”