Page 9 of Catch My Fall

3

My stomach tightens at the sound of approaching footsteps outside my door, my heart lurching when the heavy handle turns, but that fear diminishes slightly when I see the person who enters the room.

Ollie.

He can’t be much older than I am. He looks a lot like Gage when he was younger; dark hair, handsome face, he’s the only person here who’s even remotes nice to me, but I don’t let that lead me into a false sense of security. At the end of the day, he’s still one of Austin’s guys, and I have to remind myself of who he works for and to not trust him completely. But it’s nice to see a friendly face, to have someone to talk to and who actually treat me like a person.

Ollie’s carrying a tray as he kicks the door shut behind him. “I brought you some food. I made sure it’s not mouldy this time, I swear.” He says it with a regretful smile on his lips.

Yesterday my very tiny evening meal consisted of a piece of bread that was growing more fungi than you find on a forest floor, suffice it to say my already shrunken stomach went empty yesterday.

“Thank you.” My voice is croaky. There’s nothing here that requires me to talk, but on the rare occasion that I do, it sounds like I’ve been smoking sixty cigarettes.

I shift to sit up as he places the tray on the floor in front of me before shrugging off his jacket and draping it around my shoulders as he does every time he brings me food. I’ve never asked him why he does it, but I suppose he doesn’t like the thought of me eating naked and being exposed more than I have to.

He backs away and takes a seat on the chair up against the wall, his elbows resting on his knees as he stares down at his hands while I eat.

I always eat well when Ollie is on watch. I’m guessing the food he gives me isn’t technically for me, and he’s risking a lot by giving it to me, but I’m grateful all the same, even if it is just a sandwich. Compared to the usual shit they feed me, a sandwich is like a Michelin star meal to me right now.

“Why are you always so nice to me?” I ask.

His gaze lift to mine, his eyes remaining there unlike the rest of them who use any opportunity to leer at my body. “Because I don’t like what they’re doing to you.”

“Then why do you work for Austin?” I press.

He shakes his head, blowing out a breath. “It’s complicated.”

It always is…

“Can I ask you something?” he asks.

I nod, chewing on my food.

“Why have you never asked me to help you get out of here?”

“Because I knew you wouldn’t. Whatever Austin is holding over you, I’m guessing it’s a lot more important than some poor rich girl you’ve only just met.”

His brows pull tight. “What makes you think he has something on me?”

“Because I don’t believe for one second you’re here by choice. You’re not like them and you don’t fit in here, blackmail is the only viable reason. That’s how guys like Austin operate, they use your weaknesses to their advantage. Just so happens I’m my brothers’ weakness, that’s why I’m here.” I’m my family’s Achilles heel.

“Love can never be a weakness, it’s what gives us strength.”

I smile. “I have a friend back home, Alec. That sounds like something he would say.”

“Judging by that smile, I have a feeling he’s not just a friend?”

My smile fades. “I’m gonna die down here, I know it.”

“Austin won’t kill you.”

“Not directly, no. But I don’t know how long I can hold on. It’s too hard.”

“I don’t want to hear that from you. You need to fight for your life, fight to see your family again. Fight for Alec. He’d fight for you, right? To see you again?”

I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand. “Yeah.”

“Then don’t give up.”

---