I nodded in agreement to the woman’s statement. It was true, and I saw no reason to deny it. Then I heard her say something about handcuffs, and nodded. I decided to speak up.
“She’s right, you know. I had a friend who got on the bus before me, in handcuffs. He… When he came back, he was wearing an ankle monitor and there were cops parked outside his house every night until he.. He went suicidal.”
I didn’t want to talk about it anymore. I tried to tug my hands out of the ropes, tried to get up, but the woman was good at tying knots.
“C’mon, at least let me up.” I asked, not even in question form. My gaze caught on the girl, and the voices began to ring again in my ears… I couldn’t cover my ears with my hands tied behind me, and it wouldn’t have made a difference anyway.
But then the woman stepped forward and slapped me! Lightly, not enough to hurt, but enough, just enough to stop the voices for now. I winced, and glared up at her.
“Now will you untie me?” I snapped. My eyes slid back and forth…