I take a raspberry, a blueberry, another strawberry, and put them in my mouth together. I love the combination. I closemy eyes and chew slowly, savouring the sour and sweet tastes of berries fusing inside my mouth.
Footsteps make me open my eyes.
He’s back. My mouth stops moving. He doesn’t stop in front of me; he keeps walking and sits on the couch facing the kitchen, watching me.
I resume chewing, stealing glances at him.
Is he going to sit there and watch me eat?
I pick up the box and step around the counter. I’ll go back to my lovely room instead of standing here under his gaze.
“Leave the box,” he commands from the couch.
I step back to the same spot. Without glancing at him again, I continue eating, closing my eyes and sending myself into a warm memory.
I’m at Pa’s house, sitting in the garden with Grandpa, Grandma, and Avi. Avi and I are eating berries grown on our farm. Ma is telling us a story about my mom and Uncle Alex.
I keep eating, eyes closed, my mind buried in the memory that was my reality just two days ago, and will be again once my family finds me. And they will. Very soon.
A loud bark yanks me out of my happy headspace. A silver-gray Siberian husky stares at me with pale blue eyes. He pads closer, sniffing, circling. I let him do his job.
“Bruno.” The man’s voice comes from the couch—no softness in it, even for the dog.
Bruno starts walking toward him, glancing back at me.
I drop to my knees and pat my thighs.
“Hey, Bruno,” I call out softly.
He changes direction instantly and bounds toward me. He licks my hands, sniffs at my neck. I run my fingers through the soft fur, massaging gently. He licks my cheek. I giggle.
“Bruno.”
The cold command comes again, harsher this time, and Bruno walks away fromme.
Such a tyrant.
Chapter 4
Elowen
A knock on my door wakes me. I sit up with a groan.Every muscle in my body aches from sleeping on the floor.
I get up and force myself to move to the door. When I open it, a maid stands there, clothes in hand. It’s the same maid’s uniform—not new, but neatly folded. I take them from her.
“Change and come down,” she says, then leaves.
Did she just treat me like a person, or am I imagining kindnessbecause I just woke up?
I close the door, set the clothes down, and stretch my aching stiff body. At least my mind feels better after a full night’s sleep.
I pick up one dress and inspect it. No cuts. I can wear this. Since last night, I’ve been wearing the stolen bathrobe. I guess my kidnapper doesn’t mind me stealing clothes, or he’d have had me on my knees begging for these too.
I check my bra and panties. They’ve dried. I gather them along with the towel I’d laid them on. The other two towels I used as bedding, and I plan to keep using them that way.
Clothes draped over my arm, I step out and cross to the room opposite mine. I hope it’s empty like it was yesterday.
I try the knob. It turns easily, and with a gentle push, the door opens. I peek inside and find the room empty.
