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Ben caught him. "Easy, we'll take it slow. Out the gate and to the doors to the left," Ben told him. "What's your name?" He bit his lip. He'd never asked anyone here their name before.
"Does it matter? I get the feeling you'll call me whatever you want."
"Not me. I'm not part of that. I work here but I don't take advantage of anyone. I know it makes no sense, but I'm the nicest one here. Any of the others will take what they want." Ben kept his voice soft as they walked. He paused to open the gate, then led the man through it. Once he'd relocked it, he gave Wade a nod of acknowledgment to let him know he was okay and didn't need any assistance.
"Trenton, Trenton Bowers." The man's voice was stronger as they walked, but his steps were still slow, showing how weak he really was. "Are we still in California?"
"I can't tell you that," Ben told him honestly.
"How long before they move us? Sell us?"
Ben was surprised at the question. Most people at this point were confused and had no clue what the future had in store for them. He'd either talked to the other men in the cage or somehow guessed what was going on. "That varies. You could go upstairs as soon as tonight. It depends on if anyone picks your photo. As for moving you to another location, it varies on a lot of factors. I'm guessing you have a few weeks, maybe even a couple of months."
"Is this the whole operation or are there other cells?" Trenton asked.
"Curious, aren't you?" Ben was surprised.
"I know how these operations work."
"And you think by me giving you the information you can find a way out of here?"
Trenton shrugged.
"There isn't a way out. I can give you a map of the place and you still wouldn't get past the guards outside. It might look like a half-assed operation from down here, but it's not. Don't get your hopes up of escaping." He opened the door and led him into the exam room. There was a small table for the patient to sit on, two chairs against a wall, and a locked cage with medical supplies. One wall was painted dark blue. Ben pointed to a small door toward the back of the room. "There's a shower in there. I can spray you down or you can do it yourself, but I can't give you privacy. The choice is yours."
"I'm not fighting you. I can shower myself. I'm already naked. It's not like I have anything to be shy about now."
Ben looked down at Trenton's toned body. "You had nothing to be ashamed of. You're very well built."
"Not what I want to hear at a time like this." Trenton jerked his arm free from Ben's grip, then leaned on the exam table. "Give me just a minute. I don't know what the fuck you gave me but it's fucked me up."
"I didn't give you anything. I hope never to have to do that to you, but yeah, the shit they give is a mix of heroin and some other stuff to help keep you knocked out and weak. Some handle it better than others. You'll end up craving the shit before too long. They all do."
"They'll drug me if I don't fight them?"
"Depends on who is working and what their mood is. Some want quiet so they drug everyone at the start of their shift if they know no one else is going to be called upstairs. I can promise you, if you don't fight me or cause problems, I'll never drug you."
Trenton looked up at him, holding his gaze for a moment. "Thanks for that."
Ben didn't like the feeling in his gut as he stared into the man's eyes. This guy was different than the rest. He wasn't some college kid. There was more to see in those eyes than just fear and regret for getting drunk at a club. He forced himself to look away. "Shower, then pictures. The doctor will come in after and give you an exam."
Trenton narrowed his eyes.
Ben held up a hand. "I've never known him to be into men. That doesn't mean he isn't, but I've never seen it. He likes girls." He watched Trenton visibly relax. "Listen, I do what I can to treat you decent. I know it's not enough, but I have to be careful or I could easily end up in there beside you. I wish I could say all of us were as easy on you as I am, but that's not true. I'll do what I can when I can, but you need to be ready for—"
"I know what I need to be ready for. I hunt assholes like you for a living." Trenton glared. "Let me shower."
Ben stepped back as Trenton made his way on wobbly legs to the bathroom. He followed just close enough he could catch him if he started to fall. He was stunned by the outburst. What did he mean he hunted people like him? "Are you a cop?"
Trenton twisted the handles, letting the water flow over his body, and didn't glance up. "If I said I was, you'd kill me for sure."
"No. The others might, but I wouldn't."
Trenton held one hand against the wall his head bent under the water but turned so he looked directly at Ben. "Because you are a cop?"
Ben didn't respond.
"That's why you're nicer than the others, isn't it? It makes sense. You do just enough to keep your cover, but do everything you can to make it easy on me. Is it just me or do you treat everyone nicer than the others?"
