Page 5 of Until You Break

He just stands there for a moment, watching me, that awful smile on his mask as still as ever. Then, without a word, he turns and leaves, the sound of the lock sliding back into place echoing through the room.

As soon as he’s gone, I feel the tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. But I grit my teeth and grab at the cross around my neck, refusing to let them fall. I won’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me break.

“Hey…” Dominic’s voice is soft and cautious, and I glance over to see him sitting close to the bars on his side, his expression twisted with concern. “You okay there, Little Sinner?”

I nod, even though I’m anything but. My cheek throbs, and every muscle in my body feels tight, like I’m wound up, ready to snap. “I’m fine,” I manage, my voice barely a whisper.

He scoots closer, pressing himself as close to the bars as he can. “You’re not fine. And that’s okay. You don’t have to be tough every second, not in here and not with me.”

I shake my head, swallowing back the sob lodged in my throat. “I… I just wanted answers.” My voice wobbles, betraying me, and I close my eyes, hating how vulnerable I feel.

“Look at me,” he says gently, and I force myself to meet his gaze. His green eyes are steady and soft; a kind of calm that makes the chaos in my head quiet down, just a little. “You did nothing wrong, Aria. These people… they’re monsters. They want you to feel scared and helpless. Don’t let them break you. Don’t give them that win.”

I take a shaky breath, trying to hold onto his words, to the quiet strength in his voice. But the fear is still there, gnawing atthe edges of my mind, refusing to let go. I wrap my hand around the cross pendant again, trying to steady my heart.

“Here,” he says, his tone shifting, warmer. “Let’s talk about something else. Something that doesn’t involve… this place.” He gestures around, his mouth twisting slightly in distaste. “Tell me something about you. Something that has nothing to do with all this.”

I blink, thrown off by the question. “Like what?”

“Anything. What’s… what’s your favorite movie?”

I let out a small, surprised laugh, the question so out of place it almost feels absurd. But I find myself answering before I can second-guess it.

“The Princess Bride. I used to watch it all the time with my mom when I was a kid. It’s cheesy, but… I don’t know. It’s comforting.”

A faint smile touches his lips. “Good choice. A classic.” He pauses, his eyes flicking over me, studying me in a way that feels almost… kind. “What about your favorite food?”

“Pizza. Extra cheese, no toppings,” I reply, the words coming a little easier now. I can feel some of the tension draining away as we talk, the heaviness in my chest loosening. “I know it’s boring, but there’s something about it that just… I don’t know, it feels right.”

He chuckles softly. “Hey, simple doesn’t mean boring. I’m a pizza guy myself. Though I’m more of a pepperoni-and-jalapeno kind of guy. Adds a little kick.”

I smile, the conversation somehow bringing a warmth that cuts through the coldness of the cell. It’s strange, but talking about these small, trivial things makes me feel… human again, like there’s still a world beyond these concrete walls.

“What about music?” he asks, leaning a little closer, his fingers curling around the bars. “Got a favorite song?”

“Hmm…” I think for a moment, searching for something that feels like me. “Probably something by Fleetwood Mac. My dad used to play their records all the time.Landslide, maybe. There’s just… something about it.”

He nods, a flicker of understanding in his gaze. “Good taste. Classic rock has a way of sticking with you, doesn’t it? Reminds you of… simpler times.”

I nod, biting my lip as a wave of nostalgia hits me. “Yeah. Before all of this,” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper.

We fall silent for a moment, the reality of our situation settling back over us like a cold fog. But Dominic doesn’t let it linger.

“Alright, last one,” he says, his tone lighter, almost playful. “If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?”

I don’t even have to think about it. “The beach. Somewhere warm, with sand and waves and a million miles of sky. I’d just lie there and listen to the ocean until all of this… everything just faded away.”

He nods, his gaze drifting as if he can see it too. “Sounds perfect. I’d take a cabin in the mountains, somewhere quiet, with just the trees and the stars.”

I smile, the image of it calming me, grounding me. “Maybe one day,” I say softly, almost to myself. “Maybe we’ll get to see those places.”

He meets my gaze, a spark of determination in his eyes. “We will, Aria. We’re getting out of here. This place… it doesn’t own us.”

The quiet conviction in his voice is enough to make me believe it, if only for a second. I clutch that hope, holding onto it like a lifeline, refusing to let go.

“Thank you,” I murmur, the words slipping out without thought.

He smiles, a small, tired smile that makes me feel like I’m not as alone as I thought. “Anytime. Just… hold on, okay? We’ll find a way out of this.”

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