Someone is waking me up again. “It is time to rise and shine, Princess! We officially start our first week of training this morning.” I recognize the familiar voice. Ian is standing over me, shaking me again.
I try to wake up, but I remain groggy. “How are you so cheerful this morning?”
Ian smacks me hard with my pillow. “If you only knew, kid. Come on, already! Don’t make me bring out the water hose on your ass.”
I notice that he has a thick country accent. His accent is equally southern as mine. I completely forget about the rules. “Where are you from?”
Ian cocks his head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“I know you’re from the south, so where are you from?”
Ian grimaces at my question, and he shrugs his shoulders. “Only southerners recognize each other. I’m from the exceptional state of Georgia.”
“I’m right, and I knew you were from Georgia!”
Ian glances at his watch, “Time is ticking kid, so you better hurry up!” Ian deliberately changes the subject.
By a sheer force of will, I’m able to jump out of bed. Ian holds my bedroom door for me. He walks ahead of me to the elevator, and he presses his numbers into the touchscreen. We make it to the third floor, and walk through a few corridors. I’m still trailing right behind him. On the beige walls there are ancient images hanging there. These images are historic in nature. All the pictures appear vaguely familiar to me. They must be of some relation to the men in some way. The painting on the wall resembles Sam and Peter, but his hair is dark brown. His ancestor wears strange clothes from the sixteenth century. I guess that these paintings have to be from that time period. To my surprise, there’s a small date etched at the bottom right hand corner of each painting.
Another painting features Louie's family member. He must have an ancestor, who also had short brown hair. The man appears, to be a merchant. My guess is that this is from the seventeenth century. My breath ceases from gawking at all these historic paintings. I love history as much as the next person does. Okay, so maybe I’m in the minority, when it comes to history. I have trouble tearing my eyes away from their ancestors hanging on the walls. Thomas's ancestor rests on the wall too. The outfit resembles an old Reverend's outfit. He must be a Puritan from that outfit. I will have to study these paintings more in depth later. Ian remains ahead of me and I struggle, to keep up with him.
We open two oak doors, to reveal a grand dining hall. The walls have china cabinets next to them. The china cabinets hold different types of primitive weapons. They have nameplates underneath each weapon, but I no longer have an opportunity, to study them closer. Ian parks me at the edge of this roomy table. He sounds a faint whistle from his lips. Sophia enters the room with a gold covered dish, and she sets it down in front of me. I remove the gold lid, to reveal two slices of bacon with a meager portion of scrambled eggs. I’m disappointed with my portion size. They give me another glass of water with my meager meal. There is juice also, but it isn’t appetizing to drink. I toy with my food only, to scarf it down in ten minutes. I relish every tiny morsel of food.
Ian on the other hand, only has a charcoal mug. He is unceremoniously swigging whatever is in it.
“Would you like anything to eat? You make me feel guilty for eating.”
Ian takes a few extra swigs from his mug, smirking, “I would love to say what I’m thinking, but I’m unable, to answer any personal questions at this time. Don’t worry about what I’m drinking, and I have all the necessary proteins right here. I’m all set, kid.”
“I’m so sorry, and I honestly forgot.”
Ian taps my nose, “You’re okay to ask me whatever you want within reason, but you might want to check yourself, before you ask personal questions to the others.”
From the smell, there has to be something delicious coming from his mug. My stomach craves his protein shake that he casually sips.
Ian and I conclude our breakfast, and we briskly left the dining hall. We stroll over to the opposite end of the castle. We approach the room filled with a plethora of torture devices. This has to be their gymnasium. There is tons of equipment resting here. He holds the door open for me again without tripping me one time. He takes my workout paper from me, to write the first workout log. He motions for me, to step up on the scale. I hold my head high, without looking at the scale. The scale doesn’t need, to remind me how fat I am.
Ian shakes his head in disbelief. “We have our work cut out for us, kid. We will start with stretches first, then we will work with light cardio next. For the rest of the day, we will work on strength exercises.”
Ian stretches out my flaccid body. He pulls no punches, and places me on my first torture device—the treadmill. He bumps it up a notch every ten minutes, to make it move faster. My body feels incredibly terrible with the additional weight. It is difficult, to keep up with the speed. He holds it at a fast pace for an hour. He spends another hour slowing it back down. After throwing up a few times, he puts me on the next torture device, and it’s called an elliptical machine. My pudgy legs are throbbing horribly from it. For the last eight hours, we work on sit-ups, crunches, push-ups, chin-ups, jumping jacks, squats, and other cardio workouts.
Ian escorts me to lunch, dinner, and snacks. My place always appears, to remain at the edge of the table.
The numb feeling in my body begins to rear its ugly head. My dinner is equally disappointing, but they won’t allow any complaining, from the rules I signed. The dinner rests in my stomach.
At the end of fitness hell, he returns me to my bedroom. I thank my lucky stars that I have a scalding hot shower, to ease the tension. Once my shower ends, that’s when the stiffness sets in. I miraculously survive long enough, to fall asleep after my shower. After deliberating for an hour, Icy Hot hops on my list along with Advil. I add the big guns to my list for this shit.
A piece of me wishes I never fallen asleep. The wake up call is unmerciful this morning. Ian follows through with his threats, and I’m freezing from the blast of Arctic water. He stands at my bedroom door with a water hose in his hand, and he grins at me. He warned me to wake up, but I never heard him.
“I told you that if you were not up, I would take the water hose to you. Now, you realize I mean business.”
From this day forth, I will remain extra vigilant. Now, there’s an additional request, to have an alarm clock. Erik decides that it’s a rational request, since it’s not a communicative device. I’m sure MacGyver can turn an alarm clock into a communicative device, but I can’t remember to wake up on time. The hunger pangs start to fade away.
I speedily devour my breakfast, only to return to my torture chamber. Ian remains relentless with his deplorable exercises.
“It will only become much harder, and I’m actually going pretty easy on you.”
“I’m honestly trying Ian, but this really hurts!” I’m ready; to throw in the towel, but Ian stops me.
“You can’t complain, Jeannie. All of us did this exact training at some point. You need to challenge yourself. You can’t go through life always expecting, to constantly take the easy way out.”
I’m trying to fight back the tears. “I know I’m fat, but I don’t need someone making jokes about it! I know I brought this on myself.”
Ian lifts my chin up, to face him. “I’m not making fun of your weight, kid. I’m simply trying, to figure out how you became this way. Why do you have such a low self-worth of yourself? It is almost like you hate yourself or something to that effect.”
The tears are streaming down. “I honestly don’t even know! My mom couldn’t stand me. I always caused her more problems! My sister should be here and not me!”
Ian stops me, and he looks me square in the eyes. “Why would you even think that? Why do you believe your sister should be here, instead of you?”
I weep in his arms. “My sister is the pretty one, and she’s the one, who all the men want.”
“You have lost your self-worth, and that’s such a shame, kid. Who told you this bullshit? You’re a princess. Stop believing that you’re not good enough. I’m sure your sister has flaws too, but she probably does a better job at concealing them than you do. Everyone has issues with something or someone.”
I angrily shake my head no at him. “Ava manages to attract all the dates. She never has to work for anything! I have always wanted to become just like her! She’s incredibly perfect, and I’m the one, who hides from everyone!”
Ian holds my cheek in the palm of his hand. “Now, the spotlight is on you, kid. You need to realize that there’s more to life, than becoming a shadow to someone. You have, to find your confidence kid, or you will wind up in a world of shit.”
Ian directs me to do sit-ups and squats. For the remainder of the week, I pray that Reno will finish me off.
A few sobs escape my chest. The pain is at the point of making it intolerable to sleep. There’s no way to sleep comfortably. The hot shower in the morning helps ease the knots in my body. Erik eventually caves in, by handing me Advil and Icy Hot. Advil will help me out soon, and the Icy Hot soothes my aching thighs.
My weight starts out at two hundred and sixty five pounds. During the first week, my weight plummets ten pounds. I finish week one, at two hundred and fifty five pounds. The pain wanes after realizing that losing weight is increasingly pleasurable, than agonizing over the pain. Ian smiles at me in response to my joy, and he signs off on week one. He never praises me about my weight loss either.
During week two, the pain declines, and I put more effort into my workouts. The sweat soaks my body every time I leave the gym.
“Come on, kid! You’re too fucking tough to quit now! Go hard for ten additional minutes!” Ian screams at me to move faster.
I run on the treadmill, and I can feel the burn. I give it all that I have left. Ian continues his bantering, “That’s it, Jeannie! You’re too fucking tough, to give up now! I know you’re a fighter!”
The treadmill stops, and I kneel on the floor sobbing violently for a minute.
Ian squats in front of me, and then he taps me on the shoulder. “You’re strong, kid. You will find yourself again, and when you do, we will be waiting.”
June the seventeenth breezes by too fast. Zane orders me on the scale, and amazingly enough my body shrinks another ten pounds. The new weight loss puts a smile on my face for a change. I weigh in at two hundred and forty-five pounds. He adds in the ski machine to my workout from hell. He also adds in a cobalt beach ball. He throws the ball against the wall, and he expects me to squat to pick it up. Everything from Ian’s training is the same, except for two additional workouts. I found my motivation, and work vigorously the following week.
“Slow down, Princess. You will make the others believe I’m such a great trainer.”
“Well, aren’t you?”
“I would rather remain in my science lab tracing the next genetic code.”
“I thought you were an alchemist. That sounds like a geneticist.”
“I have various science degrees in almost everything.”
He covers his face with his hands, and he shakes his head.
“You look awfully young, to have various science degrees. You can’t be much older than me.”
“I have a high intellect, and graduated from school at a young age.”
“I’m breaking a rule, by asking personal questions, right?”
Zane stands up, and points to the floor. He motions for me to begin my push-ups. “You will wind up in big trouble with the others, but I will answer any question you have.”
“Are you from Boston, New York, or New Jersey? I’m trying to pin your accent down,” I had to ask this one question. I’m ready to burst from excitement over this question.
“I’m from New York City. New York is my home away from this place.”
“Are you and Ian best friends? How old are you?”
He shakes his head at me. “I’m adding ten more push-ups to your routine. I told you that I would answer your questions. Ian is younger than I am, but he’s a rebel, and I’m a Yankee. I’m twenty-six years old.”
I complete his extra push-ups. “I hate to break it to you, but the Civil War ended a long time ago. The politically correct terms, would be that he is a southerner, and you’re a northerner. And you haven’t answered my question.”
He points at the treadmill. “I know that the Civil War is over. It is an inside joke between us. One of these days, you will understand. Of course, Ian and I are friends. We have maintained our friendship for a long time.”
~~~***~~~
By the end of the first week, through the end of week three, my weight slims down for a total loss of thirty pounds. I’m surprised, when the scale reveals my new weight sits at two hundred and thirty-five pounds. My clothes are starting to feel loose. My face even slims down. They allow me extra time with my workout sessions.
“You keep this up, and you will wear me out.”
“When will you eat? I feel so guilty for eating in front of you.”
Zane taps on his mug, “I have all the proteins in my cup. Trust me, when I say that I ingest all my vitamins.”
I even try to tempt him with food, but it doesn’t bother him at all. Ian is a specialist in weapons. Zane is a chemist by trade, and he’s a doctor like Alexander. Zane prefers to be a scientist over a doctor any day of the week.
~~~***~~~
The last week with Zane finishes on a high note. My body maintains the intense workout sessions. Zane picks on me for our last day, “Okay, you damn rebel! Now you’re moving on with the Hayes brothers. All I can say is good luck, Princess.”
I take him completely off guard, by hugging him tightly. “Thank you for helping me, you damn Yankee. I really appreciate you taking a break from your chemistry lab, to teach me new things.”
Zane laughs for the very first time, and he hugs me right back. “You’re okay for a princess. You’re not so bad, for a damn southerner. Be good and keep up with your training.”
I left him at my bedroom door, to take a shower in my room. I smile for the first time in years, and I try to remember the last time I felt so comfortable. I lay in my bed, finally drifting off into a deep slumber.
Brennan and Brannon chose to train me together. I met them, after they knock on my bedroom door. They smile at me, and I have no clue who is who.
“Are you ready, love?”
“Who is who? How can I tell you both apart?” I don’t beat around the bush, and just ask them.
One ginger hair sticks his hand out. “Aye love, my name is Brennan, sweetheart. The next two weeks are with me, love.”
I have never heard the men talk until now. “Are you both from England?”
“Oh, shucks no, love! We are from Ireland.”
“So, is Charlie from Ireland too?”
“No love, he’s from England.”
I massage my temples. “This is so confusing, and I’m sorry for being way off.”
I follow behind the men. Brennan punches in his code. “Don’t worry, darling. Try not to sweat it, love. We can see the confusion on your face, but we receive that all the time.”
Brennan tugs on his ear, “I have more piercings than Brannon does. Brannon has a tattoo on the inside of his left wrist.”
Brannon raises his left wrist to me, “This is Celtic, love.”
We file inside the dining hall. Sophia returns with the covered dish and tray. I glance over, and watch them occasionally sip from their matching gold chalices. I try to focus on my breakfast. After the scent lingers in the air, I had enough.
“Let me guess… are you drinking protein shakes too?”
Brennan chuckles, and he reminds me, “You signed a contract with Erik. Sorry love, but the less you know the better.”
“The others say they’re drinking protein shakes. Those must be some really good protein shakes.”
Brannon tries, to hide his snicker. “We are drinking the finest quality of protein shakes around the world. You had better finish your breakfast, love. We have a long day planned for you.”
“Who watches your businesses, while you take time out to train me?”
Brennan taps on the tip of my nose. “We have assistants, love. Now you have to eat your breakfast, love. You really have a hectic day to look forward to today. Please don’t ask us anymore personal questions, love.”
I finish off my awful juice, and trail behind them to the gym.
Brennan signs his name to my document and plugs in the time. “Okay, love! Hop aboard this scale. We need to check your progress, darling.”
I do what they ask from me. I shrunk to two hundred and twenty-five pounds. My clothes are noticeably loose. My body, for the first time reveals curves. We work inside the gym hardcore during the first week.
~~~***~~~
During the second week, Brennan takes me to the basement. He hands me a set of earmuffs. “You need to put these on, love. These will protect your ears.”
Brennan is able to talk to me through a microphone.
Brennan hands me a slate gun. “This is obviously a gun. This is not just any gun, love. You have a nine millimeter in your hand. You will realize never, to point your gun at yourself or others. Your gun has bullets in it, but we will load your gun for you.”
Brennan instructs me, to take the safety off the gun, and he stands right behind me. Brannon hits a button, and a target shifts in my vision. Brennan stays right behind me.
“I want you, to shoot that target, Jeannie. Try to aim for the head first.”
I try to close my eyes, but he shakes me.
“You need to keep your eyes open, love. You could wind up shooting one of us,” Brennan instructs me, to pull the hammer back.
“I have never fired a gun before, and this really scares me.”
“Once you fire your first shot, it will become second nature. Now, shoot the bloody target, and keep both eyes open.”
My eyes focus on the head. I take my time, and it seems like an hour flew by. I shot my first, gun and hit the target directly in the forehead. Brennan pats my back.
“That’s a bloody good aim! That’s not so bad for a newbie! Now, see if you can do it again!”
I repeat the same shot, and nail it for the second time.
“Aye… you’re holding out on us, love. You have a great aim, darling. It is time we explain your gun to you.”
I put the safety back on. Brennan shows me how, to load and unload the clip. The men explain the parts of my gun in detail. They explain the importance of each part of the gun. After they educated me about gun safety, I feel even more confident around guns.
The men move me to another location, to shoot a set of aluminum cans. I eye the cans carefully, and shoot at them with accuracy. Brennan stops me, after an hour of practice. “How is your vision? Are you able, to see long distances?”
“I’m afraid you will make fun of me, if I answer your question.”
“We promise not to make fun of you. How is your vision, love? We are exceptionally curious about it.”
“I have perfect vision, and I can see a common housefly from across the room.”
“Are you able, to see from the sides of your eyes? If my hand is over here, are you able to see it?”
“I can’t see from the sides, but I can see long distances. Please don’t make fun of me for it.”
Brannon walks over to me. “No, love. We would never make fun of people for their abilities. You’re not a freak either. There’s no need to worry,” they reassure me.
The following day, they start me with pool exercises. You would think working out in water would be easy, but in truth, the pain escalates with water exercises over dry exercises. Try doing a hundred jumping jacks in the water for once. These men aren’t playing around. In fact, they are dead serious.
While working out, I can feel a pair of eyes watching me. Christian works from his laptop right in front of me. He takes occasional glances towards my direction.
“I’m adding additional weights to your body, while you are swimming.” I already love Brennan’s idea for more torture, and the weights are a huge adjustment.
Brennan and Brannon set new goals for me with these weights every day. They make weight loss fun for a change, and I smash their goals.
~~~***~~~
During the second week with Brennan, my weight takes a tumble. My body for the first time in years knocks on the door to the one hundredths. Ava would be so proud of me, because my weight is at two hundred and one pounds. This gives me a sense of pride, and my renewed confidence initiates. The men smile, when they see me smile from time to time.
The men entrust me with additional freedoms. I can sit in the library with them, and this is a huge privilege. My conversations are often with Ian and Zane. These two provide me with new tips about guns.
Brennan continues with his atrocious pool workouts. Brannon gives me excruciating exercises to continue. My lungs are holding air better. Squats in the water are extremely difficult, and these squats hurt worse than dry land squats. They arrange for me to run in the water with my hands behind my head.
Brannon directs me, “Okay love, it is time to do your jumping jacks.”
Brannon commands me, to cease after I reach one hundred. My body throbs with agony. I’m shedding tears in my bedroom even after my daily dose of Advil and Icy Hot.
The reduction of food no longer irritates me. They integrate the proteins that I’m terribly missing back into my diet. The twins drink their protein shakes, but from open chalices. The sweet and salty ambrosia causes me to desire it. My hand immediately cradles my upper lip, since it throbs. They notice and cock their heads to the side at me.
“Are you feeling okay, Jeannie? What’s wrong with your mouth, love?” Brannon asks me inquisitively. Their Irish accents still fascinate me. I’m trying, to brave through the pain, but I’m unable to hide it.
The twinge of discomfort hurts. “My mouth hurts for no apparent reason. I’m sorry, but my mouth hurts badly.”
Brannon kneels down. “Where is the discomfort, love?”
I open my mouth and point at my fangs. They let out a loud whistle.
Alexander joins us in less than two minutes. He wears a pair of tight blue jeans with a pale blue shirt. Brennen and Brannon point to me.
Alexander squats down at my other side. “Are you feeling okay, Jeannie?”
“She has discomfort in her teeth. Is there anything that can ease the pain for her?” Brennan answers for me and adds.
Alexander nods his head yes. He leaves in a hurry, to return a few minutes later. Alexander shakes a packet in his hand, and then he takes out a pair of rubber gloves from his pocket.
“Are you able to open your mouth, Jeannie?” Alexander asks, and he continues to talk, “I will administer this topic to your gums, to knock out your discomfort for now.”
My eyes are swelling up in tears. The pain in my gums feels like someone is yanking my teeth out. “Is there anything that can stop this pain?”
I open my mouth as he answers, “There is; however; it may gross you out at this time. I am certain that your grandfather will not approve of the other method.”
The pain eases up long enough for him, to work on my gums. The pain subsides after Alexander rubs the wipes directly on the teeth that are effecting me. I’m able, to stop crying from the enormous pain.
“Of all people, are you sure you want to trust him around your teeth?” Brannon snickers and teases.
Brennan slaps his younger sibling on the back of his head. “Bro, that’s not cool!”
“I know it isn’t cool, bro! Look at how many teeth he’s ripped out over the years,” Brannon still jokes, and he points at Alexander.
“Bro just shut up!” Brennan covers Brannon’s mouth trying, to keep him from talking.
Alexander shakes his head at them. “Are you feeling any better, Jeannie?”
I answer him by nodding my head yes. I close my eyes, to relish the instant relief.
Alexander wrinkles his nose, and he points at the two brothers. “You two should be more mindful with your drinks especially around Jeannie! Her senses are progressing, if you catch my drift.”
Alexander completely puzzles me. The two brothers leave the room with their open drinks in their hands.
Christian enters the room, only wearing a pair of gray sweatpants. He wears a navy baseball cap on backwards. “Do you have that file from the project? I want to go ahead, and start working on our project.”
“The file should be on my desk, and if it is not there then check my car.”
I tense up, knowing that Christian is standing directly behind me. “Is everything okay?”
Alexander smirks at me. I quickly avert my attention to the floor, looking away from Alexander. “Jeannie has pain in her teeth. I went ahead, and applied a numbing agent to her gums. This is only a temporary solution to her bigger problem. I had to once again, remind Brennan and Brannon about their open drinks around her.”
Christian huffs, “I will remind the rest of the men, and make sure they understand their drinks.”
“Even I neglect using my mug,” Alexander confesses, and I can hear him stand up.
Christian and Alexander left the room together. Brennan and Brannon return with new mugs hiding their drinks from me.
The remainder of my day is dull and boring. My aching muscles are the only things bothering me now. I have to add another order of Icy Hot and Advil to my list. I promptly give the order to Leo, who in turn hands it directly to Christian. I stand in the library, trying to find a book that I’ve always wanted to read. History is a fascinating subject to me, and anything from the past captures my complete attention. I’m knowledgeable, when it comes to American Wars. History around the world fascinates me.
Christian sneaks directly behind me, and he scares the shit out of me. I jump from the husky tone of his voice. “You were accepted by Harvard, correct?”
My body tenses up, listening to his sultry voice. There are electrical impulses exploding throughout my body. The only thing I could do is nod my head yes.
“College is completely overrated.” His voice is too steamy, to argue back. In a deep fog, I’m able to check out my new book from Tommy, so I can return to my bedroom.
My reading zeroes in on Henry VIII and his multiple wives. My brief evaluation of him is that he was a jerk. He had to be completely delusional, or maybe even grandiose with his thinking. I often wonder what the past was like. What would it be like? What would they think about our generation today? Those endless questions linger in my mind, wishing there were answers. Would they be proud of us, or would they be disappointed with us? We have plumbing; electricity; heat; and we can order anything with a click of a button. I fall asleep with my head in the book.
~~~***~~~
My dream immediately teleports me to the emerald meadow full of wildflowers. The same little girl laughs and twirls in circles with the sun shining brightly on her. I quickly take my seat in the emerald meadow, to observe her. She’s so carefree and friendly, unlike the last time I dreamt of her.
She skips over to me. “My daddy will fall in love with you soon enough.”
I peer into her perfect ultramarine eyes. She reveals a set of pearl fangs from her gums. The shocked expression from my face makes her giggle.
“Don’t worry mommy, and my fangs don’t hurt. They won’t hurt you either.”
My head cocks to the side. “Who won’t hurt me, and who are they?”
“You already know them, and they will keep you safe. They care too much about you now. We will be together soon,” she says as she hugs me tightly.
~~~***~~~
I wake up to the sound of the alarm clock. Once again, I’m soaking wet from my perspiration. The haze from the dream sets in. After my scalding shower, I pay close attention to my own personal hygiene. I flip up the light switch, to recognize a new batch of Icy Hot and Advil rests on my desk. The book I fell asleep lies on my desk at the correct spot. The speedy response time of producing my order really impresses me.
The Hayes brothers approach me in the dining hall. Leo joins them with a touchpad in his hand, and he jerks off his tank. He only wears a pair of tight charcoal leather pants. He takes off his leather gloves. “I have to take an image of your thumbprint, to grant you access codes,” Leo informs me, and I glance over at Brannon.
Brannon nods his head once at me. “Christian wants you in the system. Only Christian, Alexander, and Willow will have access to your codes. Make sure you remember them.”
“You must pick out four numbers that you will remember. Once you have your numbers in your head, you will type them in twice on this touchpad. Make sure you press the pound button twice after typing your numbers,” Leo instructs what he wants me to do, and then he hands me the touchpad.
I pick out four numbers, and they are one-three-one-one. I press the numbers in once, following with a pound sign. I make sure to repeat my numbers and the pound sign for a second time. The screen flashes and it accepts my code. Leo takes my thumb, and he slowly rolls it in an obsidian substance. He slowly rolls my thumb on the touchscreen, and he makes sure I leave it there for a minute.
“Why do we have to do this?” I ask as I look at Leo’s face.
“This will keep everyone in the castle safe, including you, Princess,” Leo answers my question without a second thought.
My thumbprint shows up on the screen.
“Keep me safe from what?” I ask, gawking at the men.
Leo glances at the Hayes brothers. “This will keep you safe from all the rogues, Princess. Thanks, and that’s all I need from you.”
Leo left in a hurry, and I stare strangely at Brennan and Brannon.
“This isn’t making any sense to me. I understand why, but I think it is a little absurd to have intense security. It is almost as if you’re protecting me from each other.” I’m not oblivious to certain things.
Brannon nervously laughs. “You can never have enough security, love. At least Christian wants to grant you more independence now,” Brannon pats my head, and continues, “we will no longer escort you to and from your room anymore. You will have to meet the rest of the trainers and us here each morning.”
“Are you ready to workout, love?” Brannon asks me, after I finish my last bite.
I rapidly nod my head yes, and the brothers escort me back to the pool. I’m so appreciative that they allow me to keep a shirt over my bathing suit. The brothers continue with their torture session.
~~~***~~~
On the subsequent day, it feels uncanny to operate the elevator on my own. The hallway remains quiet and empty. I trudge my way through the hallway, to end my journey inside the dining hall without losing my way once. My first meal of the day hits my stomach in record time. The Hayes brothers meet me there on time. They replace their chalices with coordinating cobalt and charcoal mugs. I work out in the gym for the first part of the day. For the second half of the day, they escort me back to the pool.
I notice that Christian and Charlie are already sitting there by the pool. They hunker at a table with their laptops in front of them. I still think it is extremely unusual, to have your laptops that close to the water. Observing Christian only creates a harder workout for the entire day. He peeks over in my direction a few times. I believe my imagination is taunting with me, but I swear he’s smiling in my direction.
The opening week of July ends suddenly. Brannon and Brennan keep tag teaming together, to train me, and they instruct me collectively. A very loud screech agitates the windows. My weight plummets to a hundred and ninety pounds. I drop more weight than what I could ever imagine.
“You will hit a bloody wall sooner or later,” Brannan continues to warn me, “don’t get discouraged, if you don’t have any of these dramatic weight losses.”
Brannon smiles and he pats my head. “I believe you will be fine for a while, love. It is when you lose additional weight, before that occurs. All of us are constantly shifting your routine to maintain your weight loss, love.”
~~~***~~~
I observe that the date, now states July the fifteenth. My nerves are building, knowing that my birthday will be here in less than a month. They grant me permission to step outside for the first time. Brannon escorts me outside. The sun will come out at any time—or so I thought. My back automatically hunches over from the sky. I appear as a hideous hunchbacked beast. Brannon covers his face with his hand, and he’s still trying to persuade me.
“I swear there’s no sun here, Jeannie! I have been here for quite a while. The sun occasionally peeks through the clouds, but we never have full sun out here. You will remain okay, love.” Brannon tries to grab my elbow, but I refuse to budge.
The fear of burning remains fresh in my memory. That’s why my back arches to the sky with my arms shielding my head. At any minute, that angry sun will burn me.
Christian struts outside without a shirt on. He pauses and eyes us strangely. The other men stroll outside without their shirts on too.
Brannon tries to tug on my elbow gently. “I promise you that you won’t burn.”
Christian continues to walk again, but after he hears Brannon speak, he immediately stops dead in his tracks. I remember what James did to me a couple of months ago. I’m still under the impression that these men will make fun of me. To my surprise, Christian walks over and squats to my level. He places his hands underneath my elbows to make me face him. “If you burn then the rest of us are in danger. Do you trust me?”
I peer at him, and nod my head yes.
He reassures me with his thick and steamy accent, “There is no sun here to shine upon your skin. You are perfectly safe here. This is one thing, I can promise you with certainty.”
My body stops crouching over, and I slowly stand up. I nervously gawk at all the men. None of them laughs, or even snickers at me. They surprise me with their lack of jeers. They give me instant looks of sympathy. I have never shown this much skin in the daylight before. I cautiously take his hands, and slowly descend the steps with him. My body remains tense, but Christian makes the world safe.
“I am also extremely allergic to the sun. You are not the only one here, who is allergic, Jeannie.” Christian discloses his full confession to me. This is a confession that I’m not anticipating.
I’m still doubtful, but he nods his head yes to me. He even flashes that perfect smile of his at me, and his smile forges me to melt even more.
Ian remains calm and strides over to us. “Just like Chris said, if the sun ever comes out then all of us would be in deep shit. You will learn over time, when to protect your skin.”
There’s no other choice, but to believe these men. They haven’t lied to me thus far. I wait an additional ten minutes, eyeing the unique sky above me. The lingering men make it to their volleyball court on the sandy shore. Brannon manages to ease my concerns, and proceeds to continue my heavy-duty workout session. The torture grips me. I have to do dry exercises in the sand and they hurt. The salty sweat pours off me in fat beads, and it touches my tongue, tasting nasty. Brannon makes sure that all my exercises maintain in the sand. Their workout is killing my body. The other men are laughing at Ian goofing off, while playing volleyball.
I can’t help it, but to gawk at all the men. All of them are physically fit, but it is hard not to stare at his flawless body. The ball mistakenly bounces in my direction. He strolls over to me this time, and I nervously hand his volleyball back to him. I can’t help but tense up every single time he walks over to me. I have never seen a man with so many muscles in my life. Not even in my wildest dreams, have I dreamt of such a gorgeous man. Today his hair remains in a low ponytail. He’s the most muscular and physically fit from all the men. He’s wearing a pair of charcoal basketball shorts. I’m extremely thankful that he doesn’t utter a single syllable to me, when I hand his volleyball back. He has a well-defined six-pack abs with more muscles than what I can count. My face instantly flushes from gawking at him.
The men seem to play forever at the volleyball court. Brannon pushes me to swim in the ocean for the first time.
My water exercises finish as he instructs, “Come on Jeannie, you got this, love!” After he says that, all the men are staring at me. I don’t like to be the center of attention. I really feel uncomfortable, but they look at me with smiles on their faces.
At the end of the day, I want to go to sleep. My body demands a shower, to remove all the salt from my body, but there’s a brisk knock on my bedroom door.