I supposed my captor thought I was more like a hamster than a human. Something he could just feed once a day and it would be okay. Part of me wanted to correct this misdirection when I saw him, but I told myself that I couldn’t engage with himat all. He was a man who used his charisma to his benefit and if I opened up a line of communication, it could become a weapon for him to use against me. I was cordial, basically doing whatever I had to do to keep him from killing me, and that was it.
That said, it was already late morning, and I hadn’t yet gotten a visit from Gio. I had no frame of reference for what time it was, but I’d pretty much memorized the guards’ shift changes outside. I did the best I could to keep a loose track of minutes in my head from the time I heard them switch out, and Gio normally came to visit me about an hour after the morning guard arrived, but it had already been closer to three hours since then. My stomach grumbled and I laid down in my bed, not even having had my morning water to rely on for sustenance, and I was just about to drift off when there was a knock on my door. I didn’t respond, because it was just Gio and he would come in regardless of if I offered permission or not, but the door didn’t open.
I looked up at it, wondering what the sudden hesitation was about when there was a second set of knocks. They continued, a few raps and then a thirty-second break before a few more until I finally called out, “What?”
The sound of the door’s locks being undone broke through the silence and the door finally opened, but it was Milli, not Gio, who entered the room. He shut the door behind him, and I slid backward on my bed, not knowing what this guy’s true motive was ever, but not wanting to invite any warmth.
“Hello, Mrs. Narzand. Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Zariq, but you may call me Milli. I am Gio’s right-hand-man and closest confidant. Our first meeting wasn’t under the best of terms, so I figured I’d come and offer another introduction.”
I looked around at my closet and then back at Milli. “Do you consider these better terms to meet under?”
He let out a laugh. “No, I suppose they aren’t. You’ve got me there.” He pointed back towards the door and said, “I just wanted to let you know that I’ll be on watch for a while.”
I scoffed at that. “No one else has done me the kindness.”
He threw me a smile then, but it was all malice. “I prefer for you to know who’s outside so that you know better than to try anything.”
The way he said it with a smile like it wasn’t the threat that it was brought goosebumps to my skin. “I assure you; I wouldn’t try anything because I’m not that stupid.” Milli laughed again and it pissed me off. I considered myself a shy person most of the time, but his laughs felt condescending, and it was irritating. I didn’taskto be kidnapped and held captive. “Can you at least not laugh at me? I’m already a prisoner living in squalor in this big, beautiful mansion.”
The request immediately removed the smile from Milli’s face. “I’m a little surprised you haven’t demanded more, honestly. Not that I would expect him to listen to a little brat such as yourself.”
“Oh, you’re nasty,” I responded. “Is this what you do? You pretend to be a nice, charming guy and then turn malicious the first chance you get?”
“I take a snake’s approach to life,” he responded. “You know people keep them as pets, and they play the role so that they can size them up and figure out the best time to eat them. I find this is the best way to get ahead in life.”
“It sounds like a farce to me,” I said. “This isn’tyourmansion.”
The corner of Milli’s eye twitched ever so slightly, but a slick smile curled across his face. “I’m not the only one who’s secretly nasty.”
“A snake’s mentality,” I replied.
He chuckled at me. “Well, continue to live in squalor then.”
He turned around and prepared to walk out when I clamored up off of my bed. “Wait.”
He looked back over his shoulder at me and lifted an eyebrow. “Yes?”
“Take me to speak with Gio,” I said.
He rolled his eyes. “He tends not to appreciate when I waste his time, so I’ll leave you right here, thank you.”
“You don’t seem to share Gio’s interest in me,” I said. “I wonder why…”
His eyes narrowed. “Don’t step into a territory you can’t back out of. I could easily make your death look like an accident.”
The words shot through me as if he’d shot me at point-blank range. I was posturing as if I had clout, but Milli had probably killed multiple men. What was I doing puffing out my chest with him like I could do anything if he decided he wanted me dead? I was just a small, weak person compared to these dangerous men. I needed to not let myself forget that.
“I don’t want to try anything,” I said meekly. “I just want to take your advice. Maybe I’ll try asking for better conditions.”
This request made Milli turn back around. “You’re going to ask?” His earlier malevolence had almost completely disappeared, and now he seemed curious if not a bit amused, like a man at a zoo. “If that’s all, then I’ll take you.”
The sudden shift was confusing to me. Was it about the fact that I said I’d ask rather than demand? He was the one who brought up being demanding in the first place. “Okay. Thank you.”
He crossed his arms. “Do I have to bind you, or will you behave yourself?”
“What could I do against someone like you?” I asked. “I couldn’t find my way out of this place if I wanted. I won’t run.”
Milli seemed to accept this and walked over to the door and opened it up. It was almost like he was trying to bait me, to see if I’d run, but I was careful to move slowly and in no way that could be misconstrued as being insubordinate or threatening. He entered the hallway and passed me, bringing me through another confusing maze of hallways until we got to the elevator.
