On the Mountain

by Riley Hart

He was raised to believe life outside of The Enlightened was wrong and dangerous, that people would attack him for his beliefs. Then his dad kills his mom and tries to do the same to him, and he’s thrust into a world he doesn’t understand. If anyone is scared, it’s him. He’s a child.”

People on the outside never helped because it was the right thing to do. They were hateful and selfish.

Most people didn’t take the time to look, not really, because if they did, they would see most of us were barely hanging on.

was always so damn easy for people to judge others if they didn’t live the exact same way they did, to judge people for addiction or mental illness or, hell, the color of their skin or who they loved.

I had never truly mattered to anyone except my mom, and I never would.

“It’s lonelier down there…than it could ever be up here.”

You don’t get to throw me away and then try to take care of me. You can’t pretend you care if I eat, then want to send me away.”

I was getting more obsessed with him, wanted him to belong to me, though what I would do with him, I had no idea.

I can take care of myself, though. I’ve been doing it most of my life.” “Yes, but now you’re mine,”

“I’m not helpless,” he told me again. Clearly, it was important to him. I frowned. “I would never think that. You’ve been taking care of yourself your whole life.” And now it was my turn. “I need control. These things make me feel like I have it.” “These things make me feel important and nurtured.”

“Now you’re mine.” I pressed my finger into the mark on his neck, hoping he knew that meant I didn’t know how to walk away even if I wanted to.

“I love you,” I whispered, then held my breath. Crow released my fingers, confusion clear on his face. “Why?” “Because I was meant to love you. I exist to love you, to belong to you.”

“Take off your clothes. Show yourself to me. Let me see what’s mine.”

“You are my sun too. My life was darkness until you gave me your light.”

“Look at me, little lamb. Look me in the eyes while you come on my cock and take what’s yours.”