Quinn:
The loud footsteps of whoever was coming echoed through the walls of the basement as though they were announcing their arrival. Ignoring the disturbance, I continued with my push-ups, counting along.
"51...". I lifted my body upwards before lowering it back down as close as I could to the ground, my fists holding my body weight. "52…". With each count, I repeated the process over again. "53…". The footsteps were now closer than they'd been.
I was aware, whoever it was, wasn't more than a few steps from me.
"54…". I continued counting, awaiting the arrival of my guest but I heard no sounds. The basement was deathly quiet like It always was except for my ragged breathing. Yet, I still felt the presence of a person very close to my cell.
Stopping my workout to see who it was should be the right thing to do but I never interrupted my exercise for anyone. Hence, I continued with my count, never for once stopping to ponder on who it might be. Once I'd gotten to my scheduled count, I collapsed on the floor, breathing heavily. At the same time, trying to calm my breath and racing heart. After a moment of regaining my breath, I looked in the direction where I'd heard the footsteps.
"What. Do. You. Want?" I asked, hoping whoever it was would step out into the open.
"F-f-food". A silky feminine voice stammered. "I-I b-brought your f-food".
"I can't eat it when you're yet to deliver it". I growled, irritated.
She was scared. But she wasn't to be blamed. With the way I was looking with overgrown hair and beards that could pass for a forest, in addition to my discolored face and body from several months of not showering, I could easily pass for a beast with human qualities. Thus, I got the same reaction from whoever was blessed with the chore of delivering my meal.
Slowly, she stepped out of the shadows, standing by the cell. Deciding to help her get out as fast as she wanted to, I stood up to take the food container from her. But as soon as I was on my feet, she abruptly jumped back, almost pouring the food. Her reaction would have been hilarious if it hadn't been directed at me.
"For fuck sake woman, hand the damn food over already". I gritted out, my irritation at its peak. "If I'd wanted to devour you, this damn sigil I'm standing on wouldn't let me. I'm utterly powerless. Now, drop it".
I stared at her hazel orbs sternly. In return, she stared back at me with wide eyes that portrayed shock but her lips said a different thing. They were set in a thin line as if she was fighting back a smirk but her dimpled cheeks gave it away. That was not the reaction I expected. For a nun, I expected gasps at my dirty words, and then she'd drop the food and scurry away but the woman standing before me, looked equal parts shocked and intrigued which was confusing.
"Move to the wall. I'll drop it where you can reach for it". Her words came out stronger than they'd done when she first spoke.
Snorting in annoyance, I did as she'd said, moving to the wall.
The sooner she was gone, the better for both of us.
Slowly, she stepped towards the cell and dropped the container beside the bars. Her eyes traveled back to my face, lingering on my eyes. I returned her gaze, never backing down. The eyes that held shock some minutes ago were now gleaming with an emotion I couldn't fathom.
Rising to her feet, she stepped away from the bars. Her eyes were still holding mine. After a while, she exhaled, breaking away from the staring contest. She stared from me to the large sigil I was seated on. I took that moment to admire her. Though she was wearing a headgear that covered her head to her forehead and some part of her jaw, the woman looked undeniably beautiful with almond-shaped eyes, a cute button nose, and full pale pink lips. For a nun, her looks should be sinful and the mere fact that a man could notice them even with her full nun regalia meant trouble in its hardest form.
How the hell does a church let one like her become a nun? I pondered internally. But then, it was her choice to be one.
Bringing her eyes back to mine, her lips that were paused as if she was swallowing words softened to their original shape.
"I should say; May the good Lord be with you but I doubt you'll need it". The words flowed naturally from her lips, furthermore increasing my doubt of how she became a nun.
Giving me a simple smile that didn't quite get to her eyes, she turned on her heels and left, leaving me to ponder on her real identity, if she was truly a nun or another guise sent by Gonzalez to see if I was dead.
It would be easier to believe the latter than the former due to what I'd just witnessed. As thoughts of the strange woman consumed me, my eyes drifted to the food container. I moved from the wall to get it but stopped in my tracks.
If she was sent by Gonzalez, then the food might be poisoned. I reasoned.
Being kept in a cell covered in a sigil was one thing but getting poisoned by Gonzalez was far worse. I'd told him he couldn't destroy me and I was yet to make him believe.
Hence, I retreated to the wall, ignoring the food.
Skipping a meal for a day wasn't going to harm me as much as allowing my enemies to get the upper hand would.
With the belief that the strange woman was from Gonzalez, I didn't ponder on her ingenuity again.