swine | ☆

○ chapter 27. ●

CWs: mentions of kidnapping/rape/drugging, more home-invasion, sexual assault, violence, Chris

this trend of monthly updates from me better stop

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Thirteen years ago

It was times like these where Taeko was allowed some level of peace. He was outside, sitting on the porch step and combing Jonah's hair while Jamie played with a few of the toys she'd received for Christmas. It was only him and his children, Ituko somewhere inside. Taeko tried not to think about how he would've felt when he was first taken here, had he known that, years later, he would be allowed outside, completely unsupervised, and wouldn't take the chance to run.

There was no point. Too much at risk; Taeko knew that now. He looked down at Jonah, happily rambling about something he'd seen on TV. Too much at risk.

He had been terrified the first time he ran. He knew only little of what Ituko was capable of at that time. Taeko had smashed a window and jumped out of it, glass slicing at his flesh and clothes. It was late-autumn then, so the cold air bit his uncovered skin. The clothes Ituko provided him never offered much cover, and he didn't have time to steal a coat.

When he was able to get through the window, he was met with rows and rows of what looked like never-ending forest. Taeko remembered exactly what it felt like to hear Ituko call for him in that moment, just returning home. His stomach dropped and he fled, cutting himself on thorns and branches and rocks. He wasn't sure at what point he had started to hear Ituko's heavy footsteps behind him. The fear he felt then was a blur.

He remembered the exact moment he saw the sunlight cracking through the branches, and the explosion of it when he finally made it out of the dense forest. He also remembered the pit in his stomach as he took in the view. Too beautiful, too vast. That was the problem. He could see too much. The realization hit him hard enough, he gave up on the spot. Sunk to his knees, let Ituko pick him up with rough hands.

They were on a cliff. A mountain. They were close enough to civilization that Taeko could see it below him. But the distance between them was beyond his physical capabilities. His only exercise, couped up in that room every day for months, was the occasional pacing around his room. He would never make it that far. Ituko wouldn't let him.

Taeko, the present, older Taeko, pushed those thoughts away. He let himself exist in the moment, combing Jonah's hair and listening to the wind through the trees. He closed his eyes, tilting his head up and letting himself feel it as well.

When his eyes found his son's hair once more, he felt at-peace. Everything was going to be okay now. He just had to keep himself from angering Ituko, and nobody would get hurt. Not himself, not Jonah, not Ja-

Taeko looked up. Where's Jamie? It had been suspiciously quiet for a minute or two, but Taeko had mistakenly thought nothing of it. He stood up, Jonah's big eyes following his movement, and looked around, trying to locate the girl.

"Jamie?" Taeko called, worry flooding his tone. Did she run off? She'd get lost, for sure. She had never been past the forest, nor had she ever gone into it. Then, Taeko remembered the cliff. A new sense of panic washed over him. If she fell... Taeko shouted her name again. No response.

He turned towards Jonah. The small boy looked worried, recognizing his father's tone.

"Everything's alright, baby. Don't follow Daddy, okay? Stay right here." Taeko cupped his face, pressing a swift kiss to his forehead before backing away. He wasn't thinking straight. Maybe if he was, he wouldn't have caused the spiral.