Page 12 of Paradox
“Rise and shine. Your master is here.”
The door to the glorified shack flies open, drowning me in even more unwanted cold than I’ve been suffering through since I doubled up my sweatpants, put on Tek’s jacket, and climbed into my extremely inadequate sleeping bag.
Inviting himself in, Eden pushes the hair off my face, and laughs. “You look like shit, little man.”
“That’s because I didn’t sleep.”
“Then you should have lit the stove… Don’t look at me like that. There was plenty of wood. You made sure of it.” Ignoring him further, I bring my legs up to my chest, but my knees hang off the edge on the crappy old cot. “Ah, cheer up, would ya? I’ve come bearing gifts.” Like he’s Santa Claus, Eden triumphantly holds up a bowl, a fork, and a small pot. “Unless you chowed down on dry ramen, I’m assuming you haven't eaten.
“And what do you expect me to do now? Soak the noodles in cold water?”
“Thank you, would have sufficed.” Eden puts his ‘gifts’ on the stove. It’s one of those small pot belly ones with a black smoke pipe that empties out through the roof, and has a flat top you can cook on. “Bleh." He screws up his face and closes the cast iron door back up. “You’re gonna need to clean that out before you use it. I don’t think this thing’s seen life in fifty years.”
Shutting my eyes so I don’t have to look at him, I clench my jaw to stop from crying.
“I told you to get up.” Eden's voice raises, and when I don’t move, he grabs my sleeping bag, and throws me against the wall beside the cot.
“What the hell was that for?” I ask, rubbing the back of my head.
“I don’t like being ignored.”
“Then why don’t you try being nicer?”
“Cause I’m not the desperate one.” With a swipe of his hand he sends the pot, bowl and fork crashing against the opposite wall. “Now get the fuck up!”
The noise makes me jump, and I tense every muscle—holding myself as still as I can—as he laughs at me.
I feel so small.
Even from a distance, I can feel the weight of him on my legs and his hands back around my throat.
I hate myself for doing it, but I just don't have the strength to put up a fight. So I slide out of my sleeping bag and stand in front of him.
“See now? It’s not so hard to do as you’re told.”
I nod, and hope it’s enough.
“Does Tek know you have his jacket?”
“He gave it to me.”
Pinching the shoulders, Eden pulls at the jacket. “Are you sure you’re related? You could fit three of you in this thing.”
“I guess I take after my mom.”
Gripping my chin, he forces my head up. “Maybe… I guess you are kinda pretty. And that’s not something anyone’s ever said about your brother.”
“Is that your way of saying he’s ugly?” The second the words leave my mouth I wince.
“God you’re jumpy. But no. Very far from it.”
Stepping back, Eden looks me up and down. He focuses on how my sweats are tucked into my socks, then laughs at me again as he leaves. “I expect you inside in five minutes. Brush your teeth, and bring your phone if you want some charge.”
I listen to him whistle until I know he’s back inside his cabin, but remain standing in the middle of this damn shack for the whole five minutes—maybe more—just blank. Void of all thought. I know I should be moving, but my brain and body have both shut down.
I flinch when Eden calls out my name, and I frantically peel off my top pair of pants. Grabbing my phone I ignore the hundred missed calls and texts, then slide my feet into my sneakers without bothering to do them up.
On the porch, I gently open and close the screen door, then pause, unsure about whether or not to knock.
