My eyes flutter closed, pure exhaustion weighing the lids down, but a sound makes them snap back open.
I must be more tired than I’m allowing myself to admit because it isn’t the door opening that wakes me. By the time I look up, a shadowy figure is blocking out the already minimal light from the room.
I whimper when I see the man crouched down in front of my cage. It isn’t Angel. That man doesn’t waste a second glance on any of us. It became apparent when we were showering that he has a job to do and so long as we don’t cause trouble, he won’t mess with us.
It’s Javier.
The rapist.
The leader of this entire fucked-up organization.
I have to look away, even though I know that closing my eyes and blocking out the monster won’t make him disappear like those shadows that were under my bed as a child. There’s no wishing this man away.
“You need to eat.”
His voice is like needles on my skin, a million tiny pinpricks that make my stomach turn.
“Cara.”
I huddle further into the corner even though I have nowhere to go, nowhere to hide.
I filled out that paperwork, so it’s no wonder that he knows my name, but hearing it roll off his tongue threatens the bile swimming with the water in my gut to make an appearance.
“The food isn’t poisoned,” he says softly as if he’s able to read my thoughts. “You should eat.”
“She hasn’t eaten a bite,” another man says. I look up to see it’s Angel. He doesn’t talk much, and his voice is still unfamiliar to me.
“Nothing?” Javier asks, his eyes staying trained on me.
“Not a thing. She drinks the water though.”
“That’s something at least,” he says as he stands.
All I can see now are his legs. Anticipation ramps up my heartbeat, but he doesn’t reach for the lock on the front of my cage. He doesn’t open his mouth again to threaten pain if I don’t eat the food provided.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m starving. Saliva pools in my mouth each time they bring a tray of food, but I just can’t bring myself to eat it. My stomach knots from uncertainty as much as it does from fear. The other women have eaten what’s been provided, and nothing bad has happened to them. Lola, the brunette, told us all it was fine to eat, but I can’t get it out of my head that I’ll be the one to get sick and die.
Their footsteps fade away, the door closing behind them and the lock slapping back into place.
“You need to eat.” Those words come from the end of the line. Lola.
How can she be so calm after what she’s been through? Is ignoring it a trauma response or something?
I should’ve opened my mouth to ask to go to the restroom, but the last thing I want is to paint an even bigger bullseye on my back.
The lock slides open again, but only one set of footsteps are coming this direction.
“Angel, I really need to use—”
Javier’s wicked eyes find mine as he crouches low again.
“I’m Javier, Cara. Tell me what you need.”
His words sound more like a plea than a command, and it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I’m certain now that I’m losing my mind. There’s not tenderness or kindness to be had from this man. Does he think I’m a complete fool? I’ve witnessed twice what he’s capable of.
“Tell me, Cara.”
Why does he keep saying my name? I’d feel better if he spit vulgarities my way. At least it wouldn’t confuse my head so much.
I shake when he pulls a key from his pocket and reaches for the lock on my cage.
“Please, no,” I whisper, but the words are more for whatever god may be listening, not him.
“We need a bathroom break, asshole,” Lola snaps from the other end of the room.
I keep my eyes open, wanting to have forewarning if he’s going to grab me and try to drag me out of here. His jaw flexes at Lola’s words, but he never pulls his eyes from me.
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
I wouldn’t believe a word from his mouth even if he hadn’t purchased me. If I’d run into this man, just his dark demeanor and the soulless eyes he’s looking at me with would be warning enough to keep my distance.
“All of us!” Lola hisses, and I want to open my mouth to tell her to be quiet, not to make him mad, but I just don’t have the strength. Maybe this is her way to get him to end her suffering after what she’s been through. Maybe she wants to make him angry enough to kill her because she can’t live with what he’s already done to her.
Javier sighs as he stands, then he works down the line to unlock all the cages. We’re six women against one man, but as we exit the cages, none of us look in his direction.