She doesn’t move or answer.
I look around nervously, making sure my father or the other brothers aren’t down here. My dad will be furious if he catches me. And the others will definitely tell on me.
I tap my free hand on the cold concrete floor, trying to get her attention, and she groans, shifting. “Kashton?” she whispers.
I smile. “Yeah. It’s me. Are you hungry?”
She rolls over before she sits up. Her hands go to her face, and she pushes her matted hair back. I notice that she has a new bruise on her cheek. It wasn’t there when I visited her two nights ago.
“What happened?” I ask, frowning.
She gives me a small smile, scooting closer to the door. The metal bars are close together so I have to bring her things that can fit between them. “What did you bring me?” she asks, ignoring my question. She never answers.
“Chocolate chip cookie,” I say, holding it out to her.
She takes it in her frail hands and brings it to her cracked lips. Taking a small bite, she nods. “Mmm. It’s good.”
I drop my head and whisper, “It’s all I could get.”
“It’s perfect, Kashton,” she assures me.
Looking up, I give her a smile, and she takes another nibble. “I tried to get you some milk, but there wasn’t any.” I’m not sure how I’d be able to get her a glass through the bars, but I’d try for her.
“Why aren’t you at school?” she asks me.
I shrug, not wanting to tell her the truth. I got sent home yesterday for starting a fight. My father was irritated about spending two days with me rather than the fact that I hit a kid. “It’s closed today,” I lie, and she frowns.How does she even know what day it is? She has no windows. No clock. No sense of time.
“You should get going.” She begins to pull away.
I wrap my fingers around the cool metal bars, not wanting her to go. “But?—”
“Leave, Kashton,” she interrupts me. “Before you get in trouble for being down here.”
Not wanting to upset her, I let go and get to my knees. “I’ll come visit you tomorrow,” I promise her.
“I don’t think?—”
“What in the fuck are you doing?” a voice yells.
I jump to my feet and turn to see my father standing in the hallway, hands on his hips, glaring at me. I take a step back. “Dad?—”
“Leave him alone,” she says from the cell.
“Shut the fuck up,” he snaps at her and then stomps toward me. He grabs my upper arm and begins to drag me away.
“Please…no.” I reach out for the bars, but he’s too fast, and I get nothing but air. “She’s hungry,” I tell him. “I brought her a cookie.”
“She’ll eat when I say she can,” he growls.
“Don’t you fucking touch him,” she shouts. “I mean it, don’t you?—”
“I’ll be back for you.” He cuts her off, shoving me into the elevator.
I wrap my arms around myself and press my back into the wall as the door closes on us. My father huffs before turning to face me. “I told you to quit coming down here unless I tell you to.”
Looking away from him, I stare at the floor. I just want to help her. She’s all alone. I know what that feels like, and I hate it. I want her to know that she has me.
“Kashton?” he barks. “Do you fucking hear me, son? I’m tired of you disobeying me.” Giving me his back, he checks his watch and huffs.
