"My father decided to lock me up when one of the surgeons started suggesting explaining this idea to other scientists, that it would be revolutionary. So he killed the doctor and hid me from the rest of the world."
"I'm sorry."I say, and it's true.
"What is your name, sir?"
"Tyler. Tyler Morgan, and you?"
"Lucy White. Is it hurting a lot?"
"What?"I look at her to understand what she's talking about and she stares intently at my injured shoulder. "Oh, this?"I point to the wound. "It was just a graze, I'm used to it, it's my job."
"Killing people? Or just my father?"
"People, but only those who deserve it."
She nods her head and silence settles inside the car until we reach the gated community where I live. My house is the last of all, the most secluded and also the largest in the community, with a dark stone facade and many trees around. I park the car in the garage and get out, open the door, and offer my hand to help Lucy get out.
"Where are we?"Lucy looks at me fearfully.
"At my house."
"Why are we here?"
"Because I couldn't go to a hotel in this state."I point to my bloodied body, I know that's not the answer she wants.
We proceed in silence into the house, I'm completely confused and lost with the presence of another person. No one ever comes here. We walk through the entrance hall and I take the girl to one of the never-used guest rooms.
"You can sleep here. In the bathroom, there are some bathrobes, they should be warmer than that blouse."I involuntarily look at the white, bare legs in front of me.
"Sir, can you give me something to eat?"She stares at her intertwined fingers and her voice sounds low and desperate.
"Of course, get dressed and meet me in the kitchen. Down the stairs, you'll go in the opposite direction from where we came."
I go down the stairs and walk towards the ground floor bathroom. I need to wash the wound, the pain is excruciating and too much blood has already flowed. Sitting on the toilet lid, I clean the wound with gauze and saline solution, then apply alcohol to sterilize it and give myself a few stitches my own way, cover it with some band-aids, and that's it.
When I get to the kitchen, Lucy is already waiting for me, standing next to the dark mahogany island, staring at her own bare feet.
"You can sit down, if you want."I walk towards the refrigerator and take out everything inside: cheeses, salamis, olives, fruits, frozen foods, anything she might eat. "There's everything there, feel free, eat as much as you want."
"Can I make hot chocolate?"She picks up a strawberry and puts it in her mouth, closing her eyes as she savors the taste. Why did that seem so sensual?
"You can."
"Do you want some too, sir?"
"You don't need to call me sir, Lucy. My name is Tyler, I already told you."
"Sorry. Do you want hot chocolate, Tyler?"
"No, I'm fine. Thank you."
She grabs some ingredients from the counter and starts preparing the drink, fumbling a bit with the modern kitchen. I watch everything attentively, her small, tension-filled movements. She hasn't asked many questions about her fate yet, maybe she's afraid of the answer... But something about her fascinates me; she spent years locked in a cage and now she's here in front of me, trying to look strong and brave and failing miserably...
"Can I ask a question?"She doesn't turn to me, she continues stirring the chocolate on the stove.
"You can."
"What are you going to do with me?"She remains focused on her drink on the stove and doesn't look at me.
"I'm going to take you to the Capo. He will decide what happens to you."
"So my father's money, it was stolen from this Capo guy?"
"Yes."
"I didn't want to die, Tyler. Before the cage, I had a life, friends, plans..."She finally turns to me. "Please, don't let them kill me, I swear no one will ever know anything."
"It's not up to me, girl. I'm sorry."
She walks towards the glass cabinet, takes out two mugs, and serves the hot chocolate, tossing some marshmallows in.
"Here, I made too much, sorry."She hands me one of the mugs.
"Lucy..."I look at the drink in front of me and try to organize my words. "I'm truly sorry you're going through this. But I'm just the guy who follows orders."
"And I'm just the key to the safe."She smiles ironically. "Your chocolate is going to get cold."Sitting on one of the stools in front of the island, Lucy drinks her hot chocolate and eats some bread and cakes, with the saddest look I've ever seen.
I feel guilty. That's the truth, I always try to be as sincere and honest with myself as possible, especially when it comes to feelings. After all, with the work I do, I can't afford to have feelings, worries, or unresolved relationships; everything needs to be in order in my mind, otherwise, I'll go crazy. But the question is: Why do I feel guilty? It's not my fault, I'm just following orders, none of us would have ever imagined this situation. The only one to blame is that damned White! And what can I do to help this girl? Charles would never allow her to stay alive, maybe he would, if someone wanted to buy her as a wife... But she's not that young anymore, she must be around 26, 27 years old. Usually, buyers or auctioneers opt for much younger women. There's nothing to be done.
"Is it good?"She asks, looking at me.
"What?"I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even realize I had already drunk almost all the chocolate. Lucy looks at me, intrigued. "Yes, it is."I finally answer.
"Tyler, can I ask you another question?"
"Go ahead, girl."I roll my eyes impatiently, this will be over tomorrow.
"Can you take me outside?"
"Why do you want to go outside?"
"I like nature, I like to see cars, people, houses, anything that doesn't look like that cage and that basement."
"You'll be cold out there."Once again, I look at her bare legs that the bathrobe couldn't cover and her small, bare feet.
"I don't care!"
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