Caged

Chapter 5

Caleb didn't call, two weeks and she hadn't heard a word from him. On her last visit with Zak she asked him how Caleb was doing, they just finished having sex and were laying entwined in each other's arms. "He's fine, keeping to himself."

"Have you spoken to him about what happened?"

"Mariyah this is prison not school. No I haven't spoken to him about what happened, what do you want me to say?"

"Is he okay, I mean just tell me if he is okay, I feel so bad for lying to him. You know I'm the reason that he’s in here?"

"Why what trouble could you possibly get yourself in? It's not like you go looking for trouble..." He was teasing her… She hated how badly she had fallen for the criminal.

"Funny. No we were at the beach and this guy was feeling me up, Caleb went into a rage and broke a glass over his head.

Apparently a piece of glass actually cut through, causing him brain damage.

Guy was in a coma for weeks. I couldn't believe my ears when they sentenced him.

I will never forgive myself. He was only trying to protect me.

" Zak didn't say anything, he just listened.

It felt good to be able to get it off her chest. She found herself opening up to Zak more and more.

"My dad left us when we were really young.

Apparently he wasn't cut up to be a dad, wasn't what he signed up for.

Mum was a drug addict, she continued to invite over drug dealers and what not, Caleb who is five years older than me took me and ran away.

He was fifteen at the time. Now looking back I cannot believe he took all that responsibility on, he was just a kid himself.

He's always been super protective of me.

" Mariyah buried her head into his chest, she just needed comfort.

"Where did he take you?"

"We were picked up by the police, they put us in foster care but we were to be separated, so Caleb took me again and we lived on the streets for a while.

Any shelter we could find. An old lady who was always feeding the ducks at the park watched us for a few days before she spoke to Caleb.

She took us in, she needed help around her house and we needed shelter.

So it worked out. She was really nice, she would cook for us and in return Caleb would mow her lawn and do her errands, little things like that.

Before she passed away, it would have been at least five years on she left us some money to move into a place so we did not need to live off the streets anymore.

Caleb by then was old enough to be my guardian. "

"You would have been only ten, what about school?"

"When we moved in with Betty, she re-enrolled me in school and I stayed there studying really hard, I wanted to make Betty proud.

She was one in a million." Zak was stroking her back softly.

Mariyah wiped away her tears. "Anyway that's my pathetic story.

" Zak lifted her chin up and kissed her gently.

She held back a sob. She had fallen in love with him so hard that her chest hurt.

"I'll look after Caleb, I'll talk to him." Mariyah couldn't believe her ears. She kissed him this time. She kissed him deeply trying to show him how grateful she was.

"I know you don't like to hear this but I do love you Zak Michaels, more than anything in this world." She kissed him again and that resulted in their second round of sex for the day.

***

As the months passed by Mariyah still hadn't heard from Caleb, she missed him terribly and especially missed their late night chats but as long as he was safe it was okay.

He only had a month left anyway, it was strange thinking that when the month would be up she would probably never see Zak again.

This didn't sit too well with Mariyah, she was a nervous wreck when she thought he might not want her anymore.

It was ironic how she was forced to be there at the beginning yet now she didn't want to leave.

Her heart belonged purely to Zak Michaels, he knew it and she knew it.

Work was as hectic as ever, she tried to focus on her work as much as possible, it was good to be able to keep busy, she needed a distraction from Zak.

Gareth tried to ask her out again and she cut him short.

"Hey that night was a mistake, please stop, I'm in a relationship so please stop asking me out.

" Mariyah wasn't a complete dud, she assumed she was being watched, somebody was reporting back to Zak so she behaved as best as she could.

Another week and another visit. Mariyah, wore sexy undergarments, and wore nice neat non attention seeking clothes... If that was even a thing. She tied her hair into a high ponytail and sprayed the same perfume she always wore. Zak seemed to like it.

Her heart always did funny things when Mariyah would visit.

She entered the prison and was frisked like every other time, only this time it was a guard she had never seen before.

Not thinking much of it Mariyah went into the room and he proceeded to frisk her, his time he was touching her breast, kneading them, he even pinched her nipples.

"What the fuck..." She turned to look at the guard and he slammed her back onto the wall.

"Watch your mouth little girl... I'm almost done…

" The bastard touched her ass squeezing it roughly, he ran a finger in the crease of her cheeks to stroke her pussy.

Mariyah pushed back as hard as she could.

"You'll pay for that you little bitch." Just as he was coming back towards her Randall opened the room.

"Everything alright in here Gus?" Relief swept over Mariyah, she didn't say anything she just moved to Randall.

"Yes, we were just finishing up here, weren't we?" Mariyah held her tongue as she followed Randall.

As soon as she was in the room, Zak was waiting inside, without thinking she ran into his arms crying, he grabbed her shoulders pushing her back.

"What the fuck? What happened?" She shook her head, unable to talk, she nestled her head on his chest. Mariyah could feel his heart pounding.

"Mariyah you need to talk, tell me what happened.

" His voice was calm, a little too calm and comforting.

She hiccupped trying to find her voice. "Just breathe, tell me what happened.

" Zak led her to the bed where he sat her down and he sat beside her.

"The guard... The new one he ...."

"Did he fucking hurt you, did he touch you?" She nodded her head. She told him everything, how he felt her up how he said she would pay for it, she also told him the moment Randall came and took her out of there. Zak was dead silent. He moved to the door and banged on it. Randall entered.

"Boss?"

"Go get him, go get me that fucker now." Randall nodded and left.

"No please Zak, please don't do anything, you'll get into trouble, please Zak I'm begging you.”

"Mariyah, this is one of those times that you need to shut up. Okay, do not speak, it's for you own fucking good. Just nod your agreement."

Randall opened the door before Mariyah could do or say anything and Zak flew out, Mariyah hurried to the door to see what the hell was going on, Zak was beating the shit out of that Gus guy.

Gus took out his Taser and Zak kicked it out of his hand.

Zak copped it hard with a baton across his legs and on his arms. Mariyah put her hand over her mouth shocked at what she was witnessing.

Zak went wild, he punched the living day lights out of Gus who was now on the floor trying to protect his head from the continuous punches he was receiving. "Zak stop you'll kill him." Mariyah grabbed his arm in an attempt to stop him, and was shoved onto the ground hard.

"You ever touch what's mine again you won't live to see another day, you fucking hear me?" Zak was a man gone mad. Cheers were all around them, Mariyah looked up and all the inmates were looking out the window and some looking through the fences cheering Zak on. "Answer me you fucker!"

Gus who was almost unconscious faintly nodded his head. Zak spat at him and grabbed Mariyah’s arm roughly pulled her up and into the room, earning an enormous amount of cheers and applause, it was deafening, they whistled and praised Zak.

Once inside the room Zak grabbed her and held her tight, she was almost suffocating in his embrace. "Zak..."

"Shut the fuck up Mariyah please, don't talk just give me a minute.

" She let him hug her. Mariah’s heart hurt her from the love she had for him.

Took a while before he pulled away from her.

Mariyah noticed how bad his leg was. She hurried over to him, he was sitting on the chair looking murderous.

She dropped to her knees and undid his boots.

If he was shocked or surprised he didn't say anything.

Taking off his socks she assessed the damage.

The baton had broken skin, Mariyah reached up and took the tissues off the table and wiped the blood that was oozing out of his wound.

She cleaned it up the best she could not really knowing what else to do.

"Let it dry out before you put your shoes back on.

" Standing up she looked at him, she cupped his face in her hands and kissed him on the lips.

Just a gentle closed mouth kiss. "Thank you.

" Zak looked up at her and grabbed her around her waist, he put his head on her chest and held her. Mariah’s heart hurt when he showed that he cared.

***

To Mariyah’s absolute delight, Caleb called her that night. "Hey kid..." She cried she couldn't help it, hearing his voice made her sad.

"Caleb, I am so sorry..."

"Ssshhh its okay, I get it, you were trying to protect me. I'm sorry I didn't let you explain. Are you okay? Is he... Does he... Does he hurt you?"

"No, Caleb, he doesn't hurt me, I um I love him. I know it's stupid, but I can't help the way I feel."

"Have you told him this?"

"Yes, it’s okay, I get he doesn't love me, it's alright, anyway you have only a few more weeks. Are you excited?"

"I cannot wait to get home. We have a lot to sort out." She smiled, Mariyah was just so elated to be talking to him.

"Can you answer me something? What is he in for?" She asked after a while.

"Mari, I've explained to you already, he is bad news, he is incapable of feelings, please do not delude yourself into thinking he will love you or even care for you. He is in for murder, that’s all I know.

He has people everywhere Mari, everywhere.

I'm telling you now, if he has any feelings for you then as soon as I get out we need to go on the run.

" Caleb was scaring her, why would he say that to her?

"He is okay Caleb, he's not as bad as everybody thinks. He's actually quite sweet."

"Yes Mari, Zak Michaels is sweet... What fucking planet are you from? Anyway tell me what happened the other day?"

Mariyah explained what had happened, Caleb was pissed, he was glad that Zak dealt with the fucker. "Lucky he didn't kill the prick." Was Caleb’s take on this.

"He almost did, I tried to stop him."

"Mari, promise me you'll be careful, please, it's only three more weeks, please no more trouble okay?"

"I promise, I love you Caleb, I'm so sorry I lied to you."

"It was a lie to protect me, I do wish you had told me though, I feel so stupid telling you how great life on the inside had become."

"It would have complicated everything, you would forever be stressing, it was better you didn't know."

"Gotta go, love you Mari."

"Love you too."

Hanging up the phone Mariah’s thoughts drifted to Zak, she was torn, it would be over soon, would he ask her to keep visiting him?

What if she listened to Caleb and not kept in touch with Zak?

Mariyah knew in her heart she wouldn't leave Zak, she had no doubt, she did love him and when they weren't together she missed him way too much.

The issue was what if he didn't want her anymore, what if he was just having his fun?

Her heart couldn't handle his rejection.

Next visit she would need to sort it out with him.

***

Mariyah was a little apprehensive about meeting up with Gus the following Saturday, she hoped he hadn't hurt Caleb or Zak because of her.

Thanking her lucky stars when she saw Randall was the one to accompany her.

He led her once again to the free standing portable building.

Walking towards it Mariyah stopped dead in her tracks, She saw a female officer come out of the room adjusting her clothes and buttoning up her shirt.

She tucked herself in when she noticed them and gave Mariyah a look of pure smugness as she walked away. Randall turned and waited for Mariyah.

She wasn't thinking as soon as Randall led her in and closed the door Mariyah looked at a shirtless Zak who was standing looking out the small window, he heard her come in and turned to face her.

He looked at her and smiled as though happy to see her.

Mariyah lost all sanity, she ran up to him and slapped him hard across his face.

He didn't even budge, she slapped him again only this time he grabbed her wrist in a painful grip.

"Don't you fucking touch me!" She scratched his face breaking skin, Zak grabbed her other wrist capturing them both in one hand.

"Calm the fuck down." He snapped through clenched teeth.

"Don't tell me what to do! Don't touch me!"

"Mariyah, I swear to god, if you don't calm down I'm going to fucking hurt you."

"Hurt me? Do your worst you piece of shit! I fucking hate you!" Zak shoved her away from him hard when she continued to struggle. She landed on the bed.

"Calm the fuck down." He stood there looking at her like she was insane. Mariyah sat up and moved her hair off her face. She was so angry… So was hurt and broken.

"Fuck you, do not tell me what to do. You are nothing to me... Nothing, you are a fucking criminal and nothing else, a low life scum who deserves to be here."

"You’re not going to stop? Mariyah, last chance take a breath and stop." Mariyah stood up and in response she spit in his face not caring of the repercussions. Zak reacted and backhanded her across her face so hard she hit the floor… Darkness… She lost consciousness…