Or maybe I’d just lost anything I once held for humanity.
“We’ll have to change that,” he said, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. “Can you tell me anything you like to do, or would at least like to try?”
I had no answer for that, either.
“There has to be something.”
There really wasn’t.
“Fine. I will find something that you’ll enjoy.” Peyton seemed so determined. Was he tired of seeing me wasting away my days?
“Maybe it’d help if she got to know all of us,” Caesar said as he stepped into the room. “We need to learn about you, so why don’t you learn about us?”
I turned my head away, looking at the dresser. Caesar sighed.
“How was the food?” he asked.
“She ate almost half,” Peyton answered. “No issues.”
“Good. I’d expect that to hopefully settle out in the next few weeks,” Caesar said. “And I heard that Collin told you to pick someone. So who is it?”
Closing my eyes for a moment before reopening them, I pushed the notebook with my foot towards the two men. My hands shook with nerves, and my heart beat too fast, my breaths feeling more forced.
“Really? Dominic?” Peyton said, his voice a fake calmness. I clenched my eyes shut, waiting for whatever he had to say.
“I’ll see if he’s agreeable,” Caesar said, surprised. “But he’s not the one I’d have picked. And he may not want to. He’s….”
“Not going to do it,” Peyton said, not stepping around the issue. “He can hardly even keep guard. There is no way he’d be able to handle talking to Scarlett.”
“I believe we made a promise that we’d work with her,” Caesar said. “Do I ever break my promise?”
“No,” Peyton sighed, not happy. “You’ll be one to blame if this backfires.”
“Calm down, son. It won’t hurt either of them. And this little spat between the two of you really needs to be fixed. Fast.”
“But—“
“Shut it. Now.”
Peyton clamped his mouth shut, sending a look at me. When he saw amusement dance in my eyes, along with questions, he gave me a small smile. I was just pleased to have the attention off of me for a few short seconds.
“Now, Scarlett, do you have a backup idea if Dominic won’t let you talk to him?”
With a deep breath in, I whispered the one word I hoped wouldn’t come back to bite me in the ass. “Collin.”
“Okay,” Caesar said. “You know that will require you talking, or writing, right?”
I nodded.
“Okay then,” he said. “I’ll get right on it. Anything else?”
I shook my head and looked away from them both. I heard their feet lead them out of the room. When I was sure it was safe, I lay down, covering my head with the blanket and hoping I could become invisible.
Once again, sleep didn’t come to me. It could have been because it was in the middle of the day, but still, my mind couldn’t rest. So many thoughts and worries bounced around me.
I flung the covers off before swinging my legs around the edge of the bed. I’d long since given up on caring what I looked like—no one here seemed to care, anyway. I let out a little yelp as Esbrana came out of the bathroom. I hadn’t been expecting her, nor did I even hear her come in.
“Clean you in bath.”
