Chapter 54

"Want some bread? Jack asked, pointing to the brown bag beside his seat. Mary could perceive the scent of the pastries throughout the car, and it was making her salivate. But she tried her best to hold herself together.

"No, thank you." It pained her to say the words, but she politely declined. Mary couldn’t trust it; it could be poisoned, for all she knows.

"Alright." Jack left it be, and they continued their drive in silence. But every now and then, her stomach would growl in protest as it was totally empty, and Mary clutched it in pain. "Are you sure you don’t want to eat? I promise it is not poisoned."

"Thank you." She declined politely as she faced the dashboard. She tried to take her mind off the scent of bagels she could perceive, and Jack chuckled at her antics.

"I understand your fears." Jack said as he opened the bag and took a bagel. He bit into it, chewing slowly. "See?" He opened his mouth to show Mary. "Not poisoned. Here, have some."

Mary looked at the loaf he was offer