There was a long pause, and for a moment I thought he’d abandoned me. Then he spoke again, more hesitantly than before.“I can’t help you. Not yet, anyway. There are complications.”
“Complications?” I scoffed. “You’re just a fucking voice in my head. How complicated can it get?”
“More than you can imagine,” he said cryptically.“Believe me when I say that I’m doing everything I can to keep you safe.”
“You owe me an explanation. Why was I taken? Who are you people?”
“Everything will be explained in due time,”he said, his tone annoyingly serene.“For now, I need you to trust me.”
“Trustyou?” Disbelief dripped from my every word. “That’s rich coming from the person holding me hostage.”
“Much is at stake,”he said with a hint of urgency.“I cannot reveal more until I’m certain it’s safe to do so. Please, try to understand.”
He went silent after that.
Good. I didn’t want to talk to him, anyway.
Hours passed as I prowled around the room. My stomach growled like an angry beast, reminding me of the hunger gnawing at my insides.
My body ached from the scuffle with the guard, and my thoughts ran wild as I tried to piece together how I’d ended up in this bizarre situation.
Without warning, the door swung open, revealing the terrifying guard from earlier. His massive frame filled the doorway, and he stared at me with a stern expression. I froze mid-step and glared back at him. What was he going to do?
“Your dinner.” He stepped into the room to place a tray of food on the table, then picked up the other one.
The mouthwatering aroma wafted through the air, causing my stomach to protest even louder. I eyed him warily, not daring to make a move toward the tray.
“Go ahead, eat.” He nodded toward the food. “Clean clothes are in the closet. You can use anything you find in the room.”
“Thanks, I guess,” I said, taken aback by his slightly more hospitable demeanor. Still, I didn’t trust him or anyone else in this place, and I certainly wasn’t about to try and escape again—not with him standing right there, anyway.
“Can you tell me why I’m here?” I asked cautiously.
His gaze locked onto mine, a hint of sympathy flickering in his otherwise cold eyes. “Can’t do that,” he said gruffly. “Not my place.”
“Whose place is it, then?” My anger flared. “I deserve to know why I’ve been taken from my home—from my family.”
“All your questions will be answered in due time. For now, take care of yourself. You’ll need your strength.”
I rubbed my arms and looked around.
“Tomorrow.” The guard’s deep voice resonated within the room, making me jump. “If you behave and do well tomorrow, you can leave this room.”
“Behave?” I gritted my teeth, trying to stay calm even though anger heated my blood. “What does that even mean?”
“Follow instructions,” he said matter-of-factly. “Eat. You’ll need your strength. It’s not poisoned.”
He turned and left, shutting the door with a heavy thud. I stared at the closed door, with fury and confusion raging inside me. What kind of game was this? Why had they brought me here?
“Answers in due time,” I muttered under my breath. “Not good enough.”
Despite my reservations, my stomach growled loudly, reminding me how hungry I was. Cautiously, I approached the tray. My nose caught the scent of perfectly seasoned chicken, roasted vegetables, and buttery mashed potatoes. The aroma was heavenly.
“Is it poisoned?” I asked, staring at the plate. The food looked amazing, but I couldn’t trust anything or anyone in this place.
I hesitated for a moment, weighing the risks, but I couldn’t bring myself to touch the food, no matter how good it looked and smelled.
Instead, I pushed the tray aside and scanned the room for something, anything, that could make me even the tiniest bit safer. My gaze landed on a pile of blankets in the corner.
