Page 18 of Brutal Captivity

His departure earlier was marked with the unmistakable roar of a motorcycle peeling out of the driveway. For a while, all I could picture was Leo’s tall, broad frame on top of a bike as his strong arms expertly maneuver it around curves. I never found motorcycles at all attractive. They always seemed unnecessarily loud and showy to me, but something about the idea of Leo on a bike does something to me. It makes me want to swing my leg over to ride behind him, my chest pressed to his back.

“Wish I could say the same.” My response is bitter. I intended the words to have a bite to them, but they came out sounding sad more than anything. Leo's eyes soften for a split second. I wouldn’t have caught it if I hadn’t been staring into them. He reaches up, grabbing his necklace and moving it back and forth on the chain for a beat. Leo shoves the keys into his pocket.

A few seconds later, the hand that is in his pocket reaches out in a flash, so fast, my eyes can’t follow it. His large hand wraps around my wrist, and it feels as though it is burning me. I look down in alarm. “What are you doing?” I ask, my eyes darting between Leo's eyes and the hand wrapped around my wrist. Leo doesn’t answer right away. He smirks, then places what looks to be a plastic bracelet around my wrist, the click audible throughout the kitchen.

“You said you wanted to get out of the house, so we’re going on a field trip.”

nine

“I’m sorry I invaded your privacy.”- Callisto

Thursday Evening…

“DoesPeadarknowyou’redoing this?” I ask, looking at myself in the mirror skeptically.

“No.” Leo’s answer is short, like always, and I should be used to that. He isn’t very forthcoming with information unless we are arguing. He hasn’t mentioned the kiss at all, and I can’t decide if I am thankful or annoyed. If he wants to pretend it didn’t happen, that’s fine with me. I can act like it was a fever dream. I can add acting to my resume at this point, so yeah, it didn’t happen. No kiss. I was hallucinating.

“Won’t he be mad?” I glance at Leo out of the corner of my eye. In the guest bedroom, he opens different drawers, clearly looking for something.

“Yes.” Leo's answer is short again, and I could scream. I want to know more. Like why is he doing this? Where are we going? What will we be doing? Why would he risk Peadar’s wrath for something as trivial as getting me out of the house? Why does he even care if I go stir crazy? Isn’t that how they break prisoners down anyway?

I bite my lip at the endless questions threatening to spill from my mouth because I know Leo won’t be willing to answer a single one which will annoy me more. I will probably end up saying something I regret, and he will change his mind about the whole thing.

It seems dangerous to me that Leo would leave the house with his prisoner. I could tell someone what’s happening and ask for help or try to run. At that thought, I look down at the bracelet Leo had snapped around my wrist. I still feel the warmth of his hand from when he placed it on me, leaving even more of an imprint than the bracelet currently residing there.

Leo explained that it was a tracking device. If I tried to run, Leo would be able to find me quickly using an app on his phone. It won't stop me from trying to communicate with someone though, so that iswhat I plan to do.

“This looks ridiculous.” I scrunch my nose up at my reflection. I’m wearing black jeans that are much tighter than anything I’ve worn in recent years and an oversized camouflage long sleeve shirt. I have never worn camouflage in my life. It is so out of fashion, I am slightly disgusted that it’s even touching my skin.

“Well, it ain’t supposed to look like a runway show.” Leo laughs, holding another item of clothing.

He shows me an ugly black vest, and I hold up an arm. Leo slides it on one shoulder then the other. The fake, worn leather feels cheap on my fingertips. That’s one thing I love about expensive clothes, the feeling of them. The texture is always so soft and smooth. I love the way silk feels against my skin.

“Where did this stuff even come from?” I look at my reflection again. I just look… odd.

I don't look like myself at all, and it is a strange feeling. It’s almost as if I am watching from the outside, and I am no longer wearing my own skin. An imposter has taken over my body and dressed it like a common criminal. I’m torn, but Leo insisted I wear the ensemble for our ‘field trip,’ twisting the anxiety in my gut even tighter. What on earth are we going to do? Is Leo going to force me to participate in criminal activities?

“Sit.” Leo points to the bed, and I obey the command, looking up at him waiting for an answer to my question.

Leo sighs, as if he doesn’t want to answer yet another question from me, but he opens his mouth anyways. “The shirt and vest are Fletcher's, and the pants are mine. I think there is a pair of Fletcher’s boots in the closet downstairs that should fit your big ass feet.” Leo looks down, smirking, and I can't seem to stop my toes from wiggling within the confines of my socks.

“There is,” I respond before I even think about it. I clap my jaw shut, realizing my slip.

“Why Callisto, have you been snooping through my house?” The question isn’t accusatory. No. I think I may even hear a hint of teasing, but that can’t be right. Leo should be livid that I looked through his things. I glance up, and Leo is smirking down at me. Maybe he isn’t mad.

“No! I wasn’t. I was just… umm…” The lie trails off. I have never been a good liar, but then a tinkle of laughter fills the room. That laugh is identical to the one outside the door during our time in the warehouse. It’s the laugh I imagine an angel might have, lighter than the air, and so bright, it hurts my eyes.

“It’s okay if you did.” Leo shrugs then bends over to rummage through the drawer of the night stand. He must not find what he is looking for because heshuts the drawer with a thud, then looks around the room in puzzlement. He holds up a finger to me, and I nod in response. He exits the room. While he's gone, I rack my brain for some kind of excuse to give him, to explain why I was looking through his stuff.

“I’m sorry I invaded your privacy,” I blurt out as soon as Leo comes back into the room, carrying something small in his right hand. He looks surprised by the apology, his steps halting for a split second before resuming. I wouldn’t have noticed it if I hadn’t been watching his every move so closely.

“You don’t have to apologize. It’s okay.” Leo shrugs and steps closer to me. He places his feet on the floor between mine, effectively standing between my knees. I have no idea why. Leo isn't my type, but his thighs look so curvy, the perfect size for my hands.

I clench my hands into fists to stop myself, shaking my head to dislodge the thoughts from my mind. I’m definitely going crazy being deprived of any human contact. The voice in the back of my head reminds me that this isn’t usual for me, and that I’ve only been kidnapped a few days.

Even if he were in my own home, I still would have no human contact. In fact, I have probably had more with Leo in the past day than I would have had for an entire week in my normal life. I push that unpleasant thought away, focusing instead on whatever Leo has in his hand.

I fidget, unsure of how to say what I want to say. I take a deep breath, fully intending to say it, but instead I let out the breath. I try again, this time pushing the sentence out. “It was wrong of me.” My voice is small as I avert my gaze.