The last two days in the basement have been very bland. Mostly I've spent it all by myself. Sitting in my room and absorbed in my own thoughts. "Do you think we can actually escape?" I ask Peter, who came into my room a few minutes ago.
I look at myself in the cracked oval mirror sitting against the wall as I pull my hair into a loose ponytail.
I hear Peter take a deep breath, affirming my thoughts that he's unsure about all of this, too. He doesn't really know if we can do this.
"I'm sorry, Alex," Peter says softly. I look over at him. He's sitting slumped on the edge of my bed, he looks at his feet. Almost like he's been defeated. "But isn't it better to at least try?" He asks softly, his eyes slowly moving up to meet mine. "Or would you rather stay here and be his puppet?"
The thought makes my heart fall into my stomach. Be Vincent's puppet? I hadn't even really thought about it. I was more focused in coping with the information that I was handed. And the thought of escaping. What would happen if I stayed here? What would I end up having to be? What did Vincent require of me? He made me because he loved me and I didn't return the feelings, or at least that's what he told me. If he's willing to change me into a cyborg and take control over my emotions for something as simple as getting me to fall in love with him; then I wonder what other things he would try and force on me.
I shake my head softly, trying to get the thoughts to fall out of my head. "I don't want to stay here. But I also don't want anyone to get hurt. I'm not sure how skilled Vincent really is, and you told me he went after us last time. What if he killed one of you?"
Peter nods, frowning, "I understand your concern, Alex. He has killed a few before, and he's used us to keep you here when he's told you of your past before. But your safety is my number one concern. I'm not as worried about getting out here myself."
I give Peter a concerned look, my heart racing a little more than I thought it would. Why would he not be worried about himself? I can't believe he's not worried about leaving. "Why?"
Peter's eyes advert from mine, "Because I'm not Vincent's target, Alex." He says softly. I can feel the sorrow in his voice. He's worried about me. "I'm here as a pawn. I don't mean anything to him, and he wouldn't give any attention to me if I decided to leave. He knows as long as you're here I wouldn't turn him into the authorities."
"Why not?" I ask, "If Vincent went to jail, we would all be free from his grasp."
Peter shakes his head, "It's not that simple." He says, "What if they found out that you weren't human anymore. You could get hurt."
"Then why try and get me to leave? Would it be any more different if I left than if I was found. I'm still a missing person." I say, "Or, more than that. I'm a dead person."
"Which is why it would be safer for you to just leave than for me to bring it to the authorities." He says, looking back up at me. "But it's up to you. I won't force you to leave if you want to stay. I know you might want to stay with your brother. But I guarantee he couldn't care less whether you lived or died."
I take a deep breath. I feel like our conversation has been running in circles. I don't know what is the right choice. "We'll try." I say softly.
Peter smiles. I can tell he's happy with my decision. "Alright. So, since you're on board. We're planning on doing it one of the nights Vincent is gone. My buddy Michael is going to go to where your room is, assuming there will still be a window above your bed when our rooms are remodeled, and he will get you out through the window. He'll lead you to the cliffs out over the hill. There's a goat trail that goes down the cliff side, you'll be able to walk down. By the time you're let out we'll be waiting at the bottom for you."
"Why break out the window?" I ask, confused with parts of his plan, "If Vincent is gone, then why can't I just leave through the door?"
Peter's smile disappears. I can tell for a moment that he's trying to figure out how to tell me whatever is going through his mind. "I was speaking to Ben earlier. Ben informed me that during our room's renovation, your room is going to be locked down at night. Ben even said something about Vincent's plan to shackle you at night so that you won't think of escaping."
I feel my face become cold, the blood leaving as fear hurricanes into my gut. "H-He's going to chain me up?" The sound of the words leaving my mouth is enough to give me goosebumps. "It's that a little much?"
Peter shrugs, "He's not into the idea of letting you go. If you'd have been smart you would have not told him you wanted to leave. I think he's worried you'll up and disappear in the night."
"Isn't that what we're planning on doing?" I ask.
Peter nods, "So he's not misplaced his worry. Just make sure he doesn't find out about the plan. If I remember right, he could manipulate you into telling him. But I'm unsure if he has coaxed you before or if it has something to do with his power over your emotions."
I tilt my head slightly at Peter, an idea popping into my head, "How does he control my emotions? I know you said you don't know exactly, but is it just a programming? How can he control it though without having access to the programming directly?"
Peter smiles, "You're smart, you know that?"
I frown, "Peter.."
"You're not the only one that's a cyborg, Alex." He says. "Early on Vincent had planned to just be able to put in the programming and leave you under his control at all times. But he realized he wanted you to be your own person. And that having your emotions affected towards him wasn't enough control over you. So he chopped off his own arm and replaced it with the same material you're made out of. Again, I don't know if he uses his arm to affect your programming by using it wirelessly like a remote, or if the arm just gives him more access to your programming where he only has to touch you to cause the programming to set itself. I know he's learned how to use his voice to control it."
I shudder a breath. This was a lot to think about. "I wonder why he's so pressed on this. Couldn't he find another girl to target? Why did it have to be me?"
Peter shrugs, "Vincent seems to have a personality where he obsesses over things. I've seen him do it to other things too, so you're not the only thing he's been overly attached to. It's as if he catches onto an idea, something he wants to happen, and he will do absolutely anything to get what he wants."
"Like..?" I ask hesitantly.
"Like the restaurant. He decided when he started working here that he wanted to be the owner. Did you know he killed his uncle for it? He knew he would get the inheritance, he made sure of it before ending the previous owner. He's also fixated on the idea of your brother and Andrew being on his side all the time. So he lashes out whenever they show any kind of defiance." Peter says.
"He really is a psychopath, isn't he?" I ask softly. I can't believe this is the situation I'm in. I honestly wonder what I might be right now if I hadn't been taken by Vincent. I wonder if my mother would still be alive. But I can't let my mind wonder about that right now. I feel like theres still too much to do.
There's a knock on my door. "Alex?"
My eyes widen, It's Vincent. I look hurriedly at Peter, who's already gotten up off the bed. Vincent can't find him in here or he'll kill him for sure. "The closet," I whisper.
Vincent knocks again, "Alex?" He asks, more persistent sounding this time. "Answer the door before I break it down."
"Give me a second." I say calmly, helping Peter into the closet and making sure he's well out of sight before I go to the door. I pull out my hair tie, putting it on my wrist. I open the door to see Vincent smile when he sees me.
"I was beginning to wonder if you were hiding someone in here with you." He says, his eyes darkening at the thought. I try my best not to react. He can't find out Peter was in here talking to me after he said we weren't allowed to talk to each other.