Chapter 8 - First Night

Ty

“Please I thought you said you wouldn't do anything to me tonight,” she pleaded, her eyes looking down at my arm that was holding her before I let go.

I smiled at her before I cup her cheeks “I kind of changed my mind,” she had flinched a little when I reached for her before she conceded with a panicked nod. Her eyes never left mine, which made me a little nervous.

Maya was not like her sister and when I saw her this close. I could see the difference she had natural beauty. She was feisty and she had managed to knee me hard and I flinched at that thought making her shiver because my hands had trailed off to her neck.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

I let go of her and she looked at me puzzled, I could see she wanted to escape. She never moved her lips, but her body was tense and the way her eyes looked it was either tiredness from the crying earlier or she had no hope left.

“How about you freshen up,” she nodded, taking a turn to go to the bathroom.

I was confused because she didn’t put up a fight or spat back any words at me she looked defeated. I was getting nervous waiting for her to finish her shower and wanted her to hurry back out. I got up so I could yank her out of the shower, but slumped back down on the bed. Deciding to let her have some space for a while.

I had done this a dozen times, but she isn’t fighting or screaming made the thrill in me to quiet down and relax. She was taking too long and that’s when I realized I had a knife in the bathroom. I jolted up to go knock and when I raised my hand the knob turned, and she walked out. I must have startled her as she took a step back and I looked over her shoulder and the knife still where I left it.

“I’m sorry I took longer,” she said, holding her clothes in her arms as she sniffed. Her eyes were red which showed that she had been crying again. This time she decided to do it in the shower without me hearing it.

I reached for her clothes and she tensed again. “Hey, it’s fine. I wanted to take this.”

She handed me the clothes and she moved past me as she stared at the bed before walking to sit.

“Can I eat something before you- ” she stopped her head trailing off to the bed as she adjusted her robe before continuing, “If that’s alright with you?”

“Right, let’s go downstairs,” I said, walking to the door.

As we got to the kitchen, I gestured for her to take a seat on the stool and I opened the fridge to see if there was anything good to eat.

“I don’t have much. Can I make you a sandwich? Is that okay?” I looked over my shoulder and all she did was nod.

I made her and myself and cheese and ham sandwich and I placed a plate in front of her and she tensed again as I was closer to her. I moved a few feet back and she reached for the sandwich and she took a huge bite.

“Someone was hungry” I chuckled, “I have water, milk, and orange juice unless you want something stronger,” I asked, grabbing two glasses from the shelf before placing them on the counter.

“Water,” she said before taking another bite.

I poured water in her glass and placed the jug with more force than I intended, and this made her head tilt-up in terror. She was quiet and reserved but her body reaction was telling me all I need to know. She was afraid.

I handed her the glass of water and she was hesitant for a second before reaching for the glass and taking a sip.

She finished eating her sandwich and drank half a glass of water and she got out of the stool. She walked to the sink in silence and started washing her plate and glass. I was watching her every movement as she was scrubbing the plate and the glass before rinsing them and placing them on the drying rack. She turned slowly and walked to her stool with her head hanging down as she fiddled with her fingers in silently waiting for me to finish eating.

I finished eating and I did something I never do which is washing my plate and glass because there is a maid who comes daily to take care of the mess I leave. My mind kept running as I finished up before getting a drying cloth in my hand. She was too quiet for some time. I heard her speak in a low voice finally.

“When can I leave?” She asked, not looking up, “I’m all my mother has” this time she lifted her head and could see those brown pleading eyes looking at me.

“I can’t let you leave, not yet,” I said as I walked to her.

She never fought back at my response or curse or cry, she sat there in silence again. I reached for her shoulders hooking her chin up with my finger, so her eyes were the same level as mine.

“It’s not your fault but there is a debt to be paid,” she moved her face away.

“How much?” She looked at me.

“Your house mortgage, your high school and now college tuition, bills for your mother, plus the ring she stole,” I paused. “You do the math.”

“But I never stole the ring, ” she whispered.

“Take that away and there is still a huge debt,” I squared my eyes with her.

She nodded for a while lost in thought. I wanted to say more, but I closed my mouth looking at her. She bit her lip chewing it before she nodded again looking at me. She was battling with something as she looked at me for a while before she opened her mouth again.

“Let’s get this over with so I can leave, then, ” she pushed the stool walking to my room.