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Chapter 21
The next day was possibly the calmest I’d ever experienced in my time in the house. Truly the only thing that was interesting was seeing how awkward Bri, Liam, and Elise were with each other at breakfast. Apparently, a drunken threeway was less exciting and fun after you sobered up and realized what you’d done to each other.
Drake kept glancing at me throughout the meal, but I had a hard time meeting his gaze, as I was still trying to process what had happened the night before. What he’d done to me, and what I’d done to myself. It was a relief when breakfast was over and I got to leave.
My day was spent making lunch and dinner for everyone else. The lunch was a solo activity, but for dinner, I had a buddy. Liam. Thankfully, he wasn’t in the mood for talking; we worked in silence until everything was ready and then headed back to our rooms.
The next day we’d barely had time to get to the dining room for breakfast when a new arrival came shuffling in. Skinny, on the short side, looking completely confused and panicked. He was in his mid to late twenties and had curly black hair and dark olive skin. I couldn’t tell if he was Arabic or Indian.
When he spoke, his accent was American, though. “What is this? Where am I?” he asked as he walked into the dining room.
“Oh for fuck’s sake. Another new guy?” Elise hissed under her breath.
Liam walked toward the guy and put a hand on his shoulder. “Come on, man. Sit down, eat, and we’ll give you a bit of a run down.”
The new guy took a few steps toward the table as though he was going to do as asked, but before getting to his chair, he seemed to snap out of whatever stupor he was in and shook Liam’s hand off.
“No. I asked what the hell this place is?” he shouted, his eyes going wide.
Liam stood up straight and held his palms forward in a calming gesture. “Bro, I know this is weird as shit, but you’ve got to calm down. As I said, have some food, and we’ll tell you.”
“I don’t…” He closed his eyes as though trying to calm himself. “I don’t want food. I want answers. The last thing I remember was going to bed in my apartment. When I woke up, I was here. Someone tell me what the hell is going on. Please.”
Bri stood up and rested her weight on the table with her hands. Her pale hair fell forward, framing her face unevenly. “My dude, sit the fuck down, or I’ll have to electrocute you. Is that what you want?”
The new guy stared at her, first in shock, then fear. “Electrocute me? Are you serious? You can’t be serious.”
Bri sighed and walked over to the cabinet. A moment later she turned around and showed him the stun gun I’d used on Kaden. She pressed the button and it emitted the familiar clicking sound and the blue-white arc of electricity was visible at the tip.
The arrival stared at the weapon for a few short seconds before scooting into his seat. Bri grinned with satisfaction and shoved the stun gun back in the cabinet before returning to join us. Elise lifted the domes and we ate. It was more basic fare today. Oatmeal with toppings and brown sugar, a bowl of boiled and peeled eggs, and some sliced melons.
I filled my own bowl with oatmeal and added a bunch of raisins and brown sugar, but I noticed the new guy staring at us all in horror and confusion.
Remembering my own near starvation, I gestured to him to get his attention.
“You need to eat. You don’t want to go hungry. Things here get a lot worse,” I said.
I received a shock to my wrist for my little bit of info. Hissing, I clutched my arm to my chest. The new guy stared at the blocky watch-like device on my arm.
“What is that?” He glanced around at each of us. “You’ve all got them. What’s it for?”
“Cuff,” Liam said through a mouth of melon. “You’ll find out soon.”
“Is this like a cult or something?” the new guy asked.
Ignoring him, Drake leaned forward. “What’s your name, friend?”
“My name?” he echoed.
Drake nodded patiently. “Your name, yeah. What should we call you? That way we can talk like normal people. Okay?”
From the look on his face, the new guy went through about a dozen different emotions and internal arguments when he finally shrugged in agreement.
“Payton. Payton Jafroodi.”
Drake gave him a grim smile. “Good. Nice to meet you, Payton. My name is Drake. This is Dahlia. The guy over there is Liam, and these two ladies are Bri and Elise. One big happy family. Cool?”
To my surprise, Payton scooped food onto his plate and ate. He’d be grateful for that later in the day. Even while he chewed, though, he kept glancing around like a caged beast. On contemplation, I realized that was what we all were. Animals in a cage.
