Page 23 of Blood Spilled
“Please. Just leave me alone. If you won't help me, then leave me alone. I've already told you the only truth I know.”
He stands up and without another word he exits the room, slamming the door shut behind him. I close my eyes and press my head against the cage until all my thoughts escape my mindand I am back trapped in my own dreams. Anything was a dream compared to my current reality.
When I wake up, I’m shivering and covered in my own filth after having nowhere else to use the restroom at. He’d left me in the cage all night and day, but it feels like it's been longer. I was on my way to freedom, at least I’d thought I was, and then it all got ripped away. I curl into a ball, replaying the same song in my head Lupita used to sing to me when I was small. It's only comforting for a little while and I squeeze my eyes shut to rock back and forth.
The room temperature only drops, and the thin scratchy blanket isn't enough to keep me warm. He left the thicker one outside the cage. I tremble enough to make the metal bars shake and rattle. My teeth clatter together, and the song plays louder in my head until the words are pouring from my lips. I keep singing until my throat is raw and my voice is raspy. I don't remember getting past the first verse the last time before my world grows dark and quiet.
I wake up numb all over. I wrap my fingers around the wire cage, tugging at it, trying to sit up. It doesn't work the first time. My limbs feel useless after falling asleep from me lying in a ball and freezing my ass off. The door opening has me quickly looking toward it. The small light coming from the hallway is too bright for my eyes. There's a figure in the doorway and my vision doesn't have to be clear for me to know who it is.
The cage rattles as he unlocks it with the key around his neck. “Come on little pet, come to me.”
I shake my head, tired of playing his games. They never got me anywhere no matter how well I played them. Angel sighs, and he bends down, sticking his head into the cage. “I asked you to come here. We need to get you cleaned up. How does a nice warm shower sound?”
I shake my head again and my words come out like a whisper. “Fuck you.”
“What was that? I'd watch my mouth if I were you, pet. You do want to eat today, don't you?”
I don't say anything and push my back further against the cage. He grunts loudly and slams the door shut. “Fine, stay covered in your own shit and piss then. What do I care? You aren't punishing me.”
He stomps away, slamming the room’s door shut behind him. Once more, I'm in the dark surrounded by my thoughts. I stare up at the wind chime again, spinning it around with my trembling fingers, waiting for the sense of calmness to take over.
Eighteen
Angel
I turn on the video in my office, not prepared to see what comes into view. He isn't destroying things or acting in anger the way I expect him to. Instead, he is spinning around the random items he’d strung together. My little mouse made quite the mess and I think I've made him suffer in it long enough. It wasn't only the smell getting to me, it was also the thought of him sitting in his own filth that gnawed at my stomach.
Picturing him sitting in the corner of that cage with the risk of skin break down labored my breathing and a sharp pain shoots across my chest. I told myself I didn't want to deal with having to tend to his wounds, that I didn't want to risk infection, because it would be too much trouble. Deep down, I knew those weren't the only reasons. My eyes want so much to believe the letters and what I saw on those disk drives, but something in my heart is telling me not to.
I saw him in the video before he fell asleep that last time. I watched him making that thing hanging in the cage. He did it with such care and focus. Something about the way he spun it around in his hands several times, gently touching each item told me this was something he needed, and watching his body become less tense against the cage relaxed something inside me.
I was seeing this person I viewed as a monster show me his human side more and more each day. He was like a man hiding underneath a hard shell and as it slowly cracked open, more of his vulnerable side showed, causing me to be more drawn to him. When he began to sing himself to sleep, the last bit of hate I held for him resided.
Though his voice was low and raspy, the words were beautiful. I shut the video off, knowing I couldn't walk in there again.
Because the moment I walk back in there, I won’t be able to stop myself from acting on my instincts. Right now, they tell me to break down the door and take him in my arms.
Instead I move quickly past it with clenched fists. I have business to take care of and can't have my emotions getting in the way. I walk outside onto my porch and see a few of my men standing in my front yard, waiting for orders.
“Go get him cleaned up in the basement,” I say to one of my newer guys, Jason.
Jason nods. “Yes, right away, boss.”
Before he can fully reach Santiago's room, I call from behind him. “Oh, and Jason, be sure to keep your hands to yourself the whole time.”
He nods, wordlessly conveying yes of course boss.
“I'll go with him, Boss, and make sure everything goes smoothly,” Tony says.
“Good. Gracias, Tony.”
I head out the front door to handle a few clients. I don't get many visitors out here and the very few I do get know I neverdo business inside my home. Two guys step out of the black convertible, straightening out their suits. These weren't any small-time guys. They weren't the type you could piss off without paying huge consequences.
“You have everything ready to be delivered?” A short, lithe man I've never met before asks, walking closer to me.
I nod. “Everything on the list is set to go out like we discussed. Abe here, will be more than happy to show you your product to make sure it's to your satisfaction.” I point to Abe and he waves their way.
“Make sure these guys are taken care of. They are very important customers.”
