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Mercy. Silver hair floating in the water. Her dad’s voice: “You know what I hate more than liars…fucking vampyrs.”
Barbara kept her voice steady. “No. I’m not going to tell you that.”
“Then help us. When the Colony fled after Todd’s murder, it was like a shadow lifted. Things were good. Now they’re back, another kid is dead and it’s here again—the darkness. The fear. Why should we have to live like that? Why should they be protected?”
“It’s the law, ma’am,” Barbara said, but her words sounded hollow.
Jess’s face tightened. “Yeah, well, look around. You are the law now. So, if I was you, I’d ask myself where my loyalties lie. Before it’s too late.”
“I’ve warned you about doing this to yourself.”
The girl blinked blearily.
“What?”
Her Captor knelt beside her on the floor.
“You passed out. Blood loss.”
She realized her Captor was winding a white bandage around her wrist. They looked disappointed. “You were lucky I came back down to check on you when I did.”
The girl swallowed. “I’m sorry.”
Her Captor smiled sadly and raised a hand to stroke her face. “It’s okay. I know you’re hungry and, I promise, I will sort something out. You just have to be patient.”
The girl smiled in return even as she felt like saying: I’ve been patient for years. I’m not sure how much longer I can hold on.
It would never be safe enough out there. She would never leave this place.
“I need the toilet,” she said, and stood up.
Something heavy clanked around her foot. She looked down. A thick manacle had been secured around her ankle. It was attached to a short chain that ran across the floor to a bolt drilled into the wall. No. Her Captor hadn’t used the bolt and chain for decades.
She looked up in horror. “Please.”
“I’m sorry,” her Captor said, rising. “I’ve put a bucket here for you to use and you’ll have to forego showers for a few days.”
“But why? I’ve been good.”
“Does this look good?”
Her Captor strode over to the window and yanked the blind up. They pulled at one of the bars and it came loose, damp plaster crumbling to the floor.
“Did you think I wouldn’t find out?”
The girl bowed her head. “I’m sorry. I just…it’s been so long here.”
“Don’t I look after you, provide for you, give you everything you need?”
“I need my freedom.”
Her Captor’s lips pursed. “The chain won’t be for long. Just till I can get this window fixed.” Her Captor smiled, and the girl wondered—not for the first time—if everything her Captor did really was for her own good. She strained against the chain, but it was bolted in securely.
“I’ll be back to empty your bucket later,” her Captor said, and disappeared up the stairs.
The girl sat down on the bed and put her head in her hands. She was angry, but she also felt lost, hopeless. The years seemed to be closing in and crushing her, burying her under the weight of time, of a life unlived.
And then she heard it.
