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“Also,” he says, his smile returning. For a moment I doubt whether it faltering was just my imagination, “don’t bother calling me mister. I’m flattered, really. But it isn’t necessary.”
I’d said it as a sarcastic joke, but he’d must have taken it seriously. Either that or he’s messing with me. “Now, do you want to get out of here?” He asks, his eyes drifting again to the spot above my head.
I finally look behind me, that’s when I see it. A camera. You wouldn’t be able to notice it, unless you knew where to look. Something tells me I’ve had to watch my back my entire life. They probably have people monitoring the camera all day in case I try to do something irrational. For a short moment I wonder how Jasper even knew that it was there, but I don’t really care because at that moment I realise that Jasper was trying to warn me. He’s trying to help me.
That’s impossible. But maybe if I play my cards right, the impossible situation might be able to tell me how to get out of here. I just need to play along. Only for a little bit.
I stand up, and he laughs, placing a hand on my shoulder. “What?” I hiss.
“I pictured you being taller,” he laughs, but I lose my focus because at that moment, a sharp pain stabs my head and I fall on the ground with a thud.
* * *
‘The girl of my nightmares is tired. Her face is blurred, so I can’t tell by her features, but I know this from the way she’s slumped on the couch with her head buried in her hands.
‘“We want to help you help us,” a man with kind blue eyes and weathered features says to her. “It’ll be a win-win situation. You give us information; we give you comfort.”
“There’s more to life than being comfortable,” she looks up, her voice edged with a controlled rage, “there’s things like morals and standing up for what’s right. And this,” she waves her arms around the room she’s in, a small lounge room with a few couches and a coffee table. “isn’t right.” She gets up. I almost wonder if she is about to walk out and escape, but the man doesn’t seem at all worried. He almost looks comfortable around her. Then again, so does she. I remember having these nightmares before, and the girl would stay completely silent. This, however, is different. This girl isn’t afraid to speak her mind.
“Do what you want to me, but I’m not doing anything that benefits HIM.” She snarls.
The man looks down regretfully, “I know that he’s hurt you, but please. If you help him, he will make life easier for you. I can promise that.” He doesn’t look evil, in fact, he looks the opposite of evil. His eyes are full of sorrow and regret, like he just wishes he could be anywhere but where his own two feet had placed him.
“I am NOT-”
Suddenly a lady walks in the room and the girl falls silent, her eyes wide. She hurries back onto the couch and puts her knees in front of her face, cowering into a ball.
The lady has stunning orange hair, a few freckles on her cheek and enchanting eyes. I recognise her immediately. She is the same woman who I saw in the corridor last night. It was dark, but her slim figure is unmissable. Rebecca, the man called her. Her eyes are a blue fire, but as they land on the girl, they flash a dangerous red. “Come child,” she says, “Mr. Cunningham would like a word.”
The girl stays silent for so long that it’s almost as if she’s fallen asleep. And she might have, with her face buried so deep into her knees that no one would even know any different.
After a while, the man stands and walks over to the girl. “Please get up,” he phrases it as a suggestion, but the girl must know it’s not. He’s pleading with her to do it. His voice urging her to think of the consequences. If she doesn’t do this, they will force her. The girl has no choice.
She slowly moves off of the couch, not meeting the woman’s eyes. “Mr. Cunningham?” she asks gently.
“Yes, now come on.” The girl doesn’t move.
“I thought you told me that he doesn’t have time for Ransacked like me?” she says, slowly gaining confidence. “I’m not going.” She says, slumping back into her chair. The man sighs and rubs his forehead.
Rebecca’s eyes are a furnace of rage. Unlike the girl, who seems to know how to keep her temper at least slightly under control, this woman has no filter. “HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME LIKE THIS.” Rebecca walks over to the girl and strikes her across the face. The girl cries out and holds her face in her hands.
“I am Rebecca Hunter. And I will not tolerate such disrespect in my building.” Rebecca Hunter. The name sounds familiar. It suddenly clicks; she’s the co-director of the CSO. She has the whole building under her control. That is someone you don’t want to mess with.
“Now you WILL get up and walk with me otherwise I swear on my life that I will throw you in and lock you inside the Cuffs until you learn some decency.” Rebecca laughs a sinister laugh, as the girl buries her face in her hands.
“Rebecca, what is taking you so long?” A tall man wearing a blue business suit enters the room. It’s Albert. “Honestly, do I have to do everything around here-” the man stops talking to take in the situation around him. Rebecca stands tall and proud over the whimpering girl while the other man shakes his head in sorrow. “Ah, I see. Here she is.” He walks up to her, and crouches beside her, but she shies away even more. “Hello, little one.” He tries, she doesn’t move.
Rebecca laughs, “don’t bother with your sweet talk, my love.” She turns to walk out the door, “the girl is not moved by our acts of kindness.”
“Any luck, Travis?” Albert asks when Rebecca leaves. He is still crouching beside the girl.
“No, sir.” The man named Travis replies. He has lost his look of sorrow and taken on a guarded expression. “I think our best solution at this stage is to just let her go and try-”
“I am not giving up, Travis. So don’t convince me just because you like the girl.”
“She’s a child, sir. I have children myself and I just can’t-” Travis’ eyes meet the other man’s, and he stops. “Sorry, sir.” He walks swiftly out of the room.
“So you’re not moved by kindness, hey?” Albert’s voice hardens. He grabs the girl by the collar of her shirt so that her face is looking straight into his own. “Well, you better start appreciating it real soon or I’m not going to be so kind next time you ignore me.”
