Chapter 45 Captured

(Iris)

The routine of my new life in captivity settled into a rhythm, and it was almost comforting, in a twisted way. Food arrived three times a day, every day, and the room was equipped with a bathroom. It was truly an upgrade from my old cell, a fact that made me chuckle when I caught myself thinking about it.

This grim sense of optimism seemed absurd given the circumstances, and the laugh that escaped my lips sounded slightly deranged, even to my own ears.

From his bed, Jasper stared at me like I was a madwoman. He was silent most of the time, lost in his brooding thoughts. His face, usually so expressive, had turned into a mask of detachment, only the occasional flicker in his eyes revealing the storm brewing inside him.

He was still mulling over the events of the past few days, replaying them in his mind, each scene more tortuous than the last.

I tried to talk to him, to pull him out of his internal exile, but it was like trying to reach someone across a vast chasm. He