They scared me.
He seemed disappointed—I had no clue why—and turned toward the door. “Alright, I’ll be back soon.”
When he left, I listened for locks clicking into place but again heard none.
Then I turned my attention to the plate of…apples.
He’d only eaten half of a slice, had set the other half back on the plate. I wasn’t sure if he did that on purpose or didn’t like apples or what, but that’s the one I would try first. He’d talked about poison, but I really didn’t know anything about poison. I’dheard of it, but wasn’t sure what it was or what it did, I just knew it was bad.
I reached out and grabbed the edge of the plate, dragging it toward me. I picked up the half slice he’d put back and brought it to my nose.
It didn’t really smell like much. Maybe a little sweet.
I slid the thin slice through a gap in the muzzle and bit into it, chewing tentatively. It was crunchy. Crunchy and crisp and sweet and juicy and it was the best thing I’d ever tasted.
The deepest kind of pleasure and an overwhelming excitement filled me, and I devoured what was on that plate as fast as I could. I choked on a piece at one point, coughing until my face was burning, but I got it dislodged. Then I kept eating, though a little slower than before.
I wanted more.
My stomach gurgled as the food settled.
I wanted him to come back so I could tell him to bring me more. Bring me all the apples he had. What if that was the only one?
I glanced over at the cup on the little table. I was so thirsty. Was it water? I pushed the plate away and scooted over to the edge of the bed, reaching for the cup. I brought it closer, looked at the clear liquid inside. Smelled it.
It seemed like water. I was so thirsty and had no other options, so I just tipped my head back and poured it into my mouth through the muzzle, then set it back on the table when I was done.
I wanted more.
More water, more apples.
No, no, I needed to leave. I needed to focus on that.
Two knocks sounded at the door. I wished I could see the sun, that there was a window in here, because I had no clue how much time had passed. Back at the prison, there had been a fewsmall windows near the ceiling that let in the sunlight, and I would tell how much time had passed by the positioning of the shadows of the bars on the ground.
I didn’t have that here.
I stayed quiet, my eyes glued to the door.
“I’m coming in,” a muffled voice said. Then the door slowly creaked open, and the giant stepped inside. He shut it behind him, but didn’t lock it.
Good.
His eyes dropped to the empty plate, and his smile was wide and bright. “You liked them? They’re good, right? Want some more? You should have some broth, too. It’ll help you get your strength back.”
I didn’t respond.
“Oh, what’s your name, by the way? Mine’s Cain, in case you forgot.Cee ay eye en, notkay ay en ee. I’m twenty-three.” He rubbed his jaw, his brows scrunching together. “Actually, I’m not really sure what my exact age is since my dad just kind of guessed, but it’s something around that.”
I didn’t know what he was saying in that first part at all. It sounded like nonsense to me. And why did I care how old he was?
But he was like me, in a way. I didn’t know exactly how old I was either. I only knew what I’d heard from Hunter and Hayes—that I was ten or eleven when they’d taken me from the lab. I’d been with them for thirteen years, I knew that.
He pointed at his chest and said, “Cain.” Then he pointed at me, raising his brows expectantly. “You?”
Now he was going to treat me like I was stupid?
Everyone thought I was an imbecile. The hounds, Hunter and Hayes, and now this guy.
