Page 57 of Caged
"Do you want to leave?" Marshall looked concerned.
"No, I'm okay. This is good. I need to get over my fears. I'm not going to be going off with some stranger to play with his puppy. I just look around and see all the kids without their parents, and wonder how long until it happens again."
"Luckily, not as often as you'd think, but sadly, still too often. Parents just don't think it can happen to their kids. If you look around, parents are looking at their cell phones and not watching their children. People seem to ignore the news of bad things that happen. They focus on the good. The news comes out like your story and people are stunned, wondering why they didn't know kids were missing, but it's simply because they don't pay attention. Evil is everywhere."
Danny watched two kids around five play on the small playground, and looking around, he had no clue who the kid's parents were. It was easy to remember back to the day he'd been just a little older, doing the same things as these kids. All it took was a puppy and a nice man to lure him into the shadow of the trees before he grabbed him and covered his mouth to keep him from screaming. From there, he'd ended up in the guy's trunk, then in his home. The whole thing had taken minutes. He sighed. "I wish I could do more."
"You might try talking to Jessica," Marshall suggested. "She works with a lot of groups who advocate for tougher laws and punishments when it comes to rape and sexual assault, but I bet she'd have some ideas how you could get involved in educating parents and children on the dangers out there. In fact, you'd be the perfect person to speak about it since you've lived it."
Danny sat up straighter. "Do you think so?"
"I do. I think you'd be really good at it. Maybe even go into schools and talk to the kids. You'd have to decide what to share, work out how much you can talk about in a school setting, but I think it might be a great idea for you. If you're willing to put yourself out there. I know you didn't want people knowing who you are."
Danny thought about it as he watched the kids. Would it make a difference? Would they listen? Could he put himself out there and admit how stupid he's been to go with a strange man? He sighed. "It's something I'll have to think about, but I like the idea of trying to keep other kids from making the same mistake I did."
"I'll support you no matter what you do." Marshall brushed a kiss over his cheek. "You ready to go home?"
"Yeah, it's been a long day. I think this is the most walking I've done in a long time."
"Me too." Marshall laughed. "I should probably get a gym membership, but I just can't talk myself into it."
"We can go for walks at night when you're home."
"I'd like that."
Danny linked his hand with Marshall's as they walked several blocks to where they'd left the car. He'd thought about a lot of things over the day, trying to decide if he wanted to talk to Marshall about his nervousness about sex. It had been on his mind a lot since talking to Jessica.
He'd finally been brave enough several days ago to sneak into Marshall's room and sleep beside him. Since then, he hadn't been back to his own bed. He liked Marshall's warm body against his, and other than a few kisses, Marshall hadn't tried for anything more.
It wasn't that Danny didn't want more. He'd loved the one time they'd gotten off together, but he was so scared that things might go farther and he'd have to tell Marshall no. He just couldn't be brave enough to let another man take him the way Larry had. Just the thought was enough to nearly throw him into a panic attack.
"You okay? You tensed up for a second?" Marshall asked as they got to the car.
"Sorry, was remembering. I'm okay. It happens sometimes, but it's gone as fast as it came."
"You sure?" Marshall drew him close for a hug.
"Yeah." Danny wrapped his arms around him. "Today's been perfect. Thank you."
"It's not over. We still have hot chocolate and a movie to watch." Marshall smiled as he opened the passenger door. "Then you get to let me slide my cold feet against your legs as we cuddle."
"I don't know how your feet can get so cold all of the time. It's not like it's winter."
"Just wait until then and see what they are like."
"I might have to go back to my own bed," Danny teased. He wondered if he would still share a bed with Marshall by winter. Would he still live with him or would Marshall tire of him by then? He hoped not. He liked living with him. He just didn't like living off him. He needed to find work, make his own money, and figure out his future.
"You wouldn't dare." Marshall got in the car and started it. "I like having you beside me."
Danny glanced over as Marshall pulled onto the road. "I haven't had a single nightmare since I've been in your room."
"I hope it stays that way, but you know you can always wake me if you do have one. I expect they'll happen from time to time."
He hoped not, but Marshall was probably right. It wasn't going to end that easily. Still, he liked that it happened less with Marshall there. "I don't lay in bed and think about him when I'm with you. I think about you."
"Oh, and what do you think about?"
"A lot of things." Danny grinned. "Things I shouldn't. Some things that scare me."
