chapter 8

As they walk to the town, Jim accessed his system. he had accumulated quite a few points. he picked a few new perks, such as sense, a nifty tool that would tell him the location and important data of anyone he met, and displayed tactical data of items and locations. he also chose to activate mind meld. this would allow him to sense thoughts of others, and alter the minds of others to a point. he entered a saloon with Amy, and whispered to her to order food for both of them. she also arranged for a room. jim passed her the money, and they went to the room to eat. jim reappeared to have dinner with her, then decided they needed to make a plan or action.

"where do you plan to go when we get back?" jim asked. "is there a place where you will be safe?"

"I don't have anything left to go back to. I don't know what I'm going to do." amy said, and she quietly broke down in tears. "I don't know what to do. I'm so scared right now. I can't protect myself. I want to, but the first time they come after me and no one else is around, I know I'm going to die, just like my mom. he made her overdose, just because it made her more obedient when he wanted her to do him and his friends."

jim thought quietly, and reached a conclusion. his life was clearly dangerous, but her life wouldn't be very long if he did take her back now. and he was lonely. he could used her company, and keep her safe. at least he could teach her how to protect herself, at least for now.

"I've been thinking... why don't you stick with me, and I'll teach you. now, I do have a few rules, but it can't be as bad as what's waiting for you back home. when you feel like you can live on your own, you can go out on your way, however you please." jim said

immediately, Amy thought of the way the other men in her life had tried to force her to submit to them and use her body. she immediately turned real defensive. "If you think just because you got me out of a tight spot I'm going to be your little sex toy you've..." she started, and was drowned out by Jim's laughter

"nothing like that, you silly girl. are you even 18? you're too young for me to even have that on my mind. might turn you over my knee if you get too much attitude, but that's it." jim laughed. it made amy smile and blush in embarrassment. she kept forgetting jim wasn't like other guys. he was genuinely a nice guy, who wanted to help her

"sorry" she mumbled.

jim turned serious now. "what I mean is if I tell you to do something, I expect you to do it, because it might save somebody's life. the situation might not give me enough time to explain. I do expect you to pull your own weight, and to try to learn how to be self reliant. I will do my best to teach you what I can. anything of a sexual nature, I will leave up to you. dont want you to get any ideas about me." jim chuckled at the last part. "do you agree?"

amy slowly looked in his eyes, and jim saw that this child had been through far too much in her short life. her eyes told a story of pain, sorrow and distrust. "can I really trust you, jim?" she asked softly, eyes staring seemingly into his soul.

"yes. I have no desire to see you harmed, and I know what it's like to not have anything left. I've been there myself. your eyes have seen too much pain already, and I want to help you. from the bottom of my heart."