And Silas Tate never fails at anything.
He still believes that I’m the persontheysay I am, whatever his guilty conscience says.
A piece of paper is pressed into my palm, and my eyes open. “What’s this?”
“A new list.” Blue eyes pierce mine. “Hopefully a fairer one, you’ll agree.”
The chair creaks as he stands.
“Take today to rest,” he says firmly. “Tomorrow, if you need it. Get well. And then… we’ll try things this way.”
Silas stops as he reaches the door, glancing back over his shoulder. “Can I… get you anything?”
He sounds awkward. Uncomfortable.
And as I stare down at my new list, I shake my head.
I can’t look at him. Because if I do, then I might end up begging.
See me. See who I am, Silas. Please.
He used to know me better than anyone else.
Silas, Rafe, Kit. They were my everything, until I lost them.
But now… now the whole damn world is in our way. And maybe it’s too late to find our way back to who we used to be.
The thought makes the ache in my chest deepen, so I focus on the list instead.
Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. All outlined, with painstaking detail.
A new start and finish time, later in the morning and earlier in the day.
And… aday offon Sundays.
I thought he was gone, but his voice makes me jump. “You can go outside during your free time, if you wish. I trust you won’t be running off anywhere. You know how isolated this estate is.”
Where would I go?
I open my mouth. Lift my head, not sure whether to thank him or berate him for the patronizing tone of his voice.
But the click of the door softly closing is all that’s left.
20 – Stasi
Anew list.
A new beginning.
And this time, I don’t have to sleep on the floor.
Ellen opens up the door to the small guest bedroom as I hover awkwardly behind her. Not my old room. That room is locked, and this one has little space for anything except the small bed and drawers, but it’s more than enough.
And it’s a hundred thousand times better than the stone kitchen floor.
“You’re feeling better?” she asks, turning to me. Her pale eyes scan my face. “I was worried about you.”
I click my tongue. “Ellen. You’re not supposed tolikeyour prisoners.”
