I decided not to use my whole hour of using the bathroom. It seemed excessive and unnecessary. So, I pushed the blue button thirty minutes after Milura had left. I was wearing a black athletic shirt, leggings, and socks. I had brushed my teeth and hair, used the bathroom and showered, and got bored.
Five minutes passed before the door opened and I didn't move from my spot on the side of the tub, except for a slight stiffening. Milura nodded. "I am surprised you didn't take the whole hour."
"I'm bored." I crossed my arms and legs, uncomfortable. "Can I please have some under things? I feel weird."
Milura frowned. "I don't have any."
I sighed. "Can't you get some?"
"We will see." He held out a hand. I stood and walked out of the bathroom and stopped just outside the door. Milura seemed surprised by my actions, but closed the door and grabbed my arm. We went back down the hall and to the large metal door that hid the cage and darkness. Milura opened it and I walked forward, heart pounding in my chest. I was led back to the cage and closed my eyes.
Stay calm. Don't panic. Maybe I could find a way out...?
"Step inside."
I did as I was told and watched as he shut and locked me in. I expected him to reach in and chain me up, but he only walked away to the table. "What about the shackles?" I asked without thinking.
"Give me a minute and I will explain," Milura said softly.
I sat down and waited as he seemed to be writing something down. Then, he moved away and into the darkness, making me wonder what was about to happen now.
He returned with a tray of food. I blinked. He had said he'd have food ready, but I hadn't believed I'd actually get any. Milura stopped beside the cage and held out a bowl. "Eat."
I got up and went over to take it. Inside was rice and what looked like salmon. It smelled good, and my stomach growled. Milura held out a spoon and I took it, sat down, and ate. Milura set the tray on the table, then grabbed the metal chair and carried it over and sat down right outside the bars. I slowed my eating and glanced at him. "I don't like to be stared at."
"I don't plan on staring at you. I want to talk with you."
I hesitated. "About what?"
Milura smiled. "You are a curious person, Caroon. I thought I would lay everything out in the open so we both know what's to come. Is that good to you?"
I nod, setting the bowl down. I wasn't hungry anymore.
"I have a few rules. Most of these will apply for seven days only. At the end of those seven days, I will have a set of new rules for you to follow."
"Why?"
"Because I will change things up with our arrangement." He shrugged. "But I will explain that later. For now, you are allowed to ask anything you want to know. I will not answer everything, but will let you know if the answer will come in the future. You are allowed to request anything you want. But I will not give you everything you want. If you are outside your cage, you may walk around, but you may not touch anything unless I say so. You are allowed one hour in the bathroom every six hours. I will let you go after you wake, once during the day, and before you go to sleep."
"What if I have to go any other time?"
"You may ask, as I said, but I will decide to allow it."
I frown. "Will you get me under things? Please?"
"Here's another rule. If I am to leave this room or my home, I will ask you to be in this cage and to shackle yourself."
"What if I unshackle myself while you're gone?"
He smiled again. "Go ahead and shackle one of your wrists or ankles, Caroon."
I slowly do, clamping the metal around my left wrist. Immediately, I hear a few clicks. I glance up at Milura. "What happened?"
"Try to undo it."
Dread rose. I pressed the square to release myself and nothing happened. "How?"
"I have a remote."
There was a few more clicks and I tentatively pressed the square again. The shackle fell to the floor.
"I will only do that if I am not able to see you."
I shivered.
"As for your under things, I will find some for you, but you must earn that comfort. Just like you must earn the comfort of a bed or the ability to walk around the room."
"Why?"
Milura didn't answer for a moment, but wrote something down in a small notebook. "I won't give you anything if you are not cooperative. Like anything in the world, you earn everything."
I looked down at my feet and wanted to cry. No! Don't be weak! Don't show him any weakness!
"Give me your sizes."
I glance up and see Milura poised with a pencil over his notebook. I give him the info and wait as he writes it down. "What if you are gone for days? How will I eat? How will I use the bathroom?"
"Usually, I only run short errands. Some may take an hour, others could take a few hours. Rarely do I need to be gone for days."
"But what if you are?"
"I will be prepared." He closed the notebook and stood. Going to the table, he grabbed a cup and brought it back, holding it out to me. "Here."
I go and take it, but don't drink. "Why am I here? When can I go home?"
"Soon, Caroon." He walked away and disappeared into the darkness. I felt myself sit and go numb. I wanted out of here. I wanted to go home. I wanted to live a normal life without whatever was happening now. Why wouldn't he tell me how? Or why? Or when? What did I do that made me appear in his sights and get stuck here?
I didn't eat or drink. I curled my knees to my chest and hugged them tightly. I stared into the void and saw only darkness. Saw only death waiting.
"Caroon?"
I didn't answer that deep, soft voice. I didn't want or need to.
Something groaned but I didn't move. Something was in front of me, but I didn't see what. Something was shaking me, but I didn't really feel it. I just went deep within my mind and built walls to protect myself. My body might get hurt, but my mind would remain strong. I wouldn't be weak. I wouldn't cave to fear and darkness.
Milura wanted something from me. I knew it. I felt it. He would tell me what soon enough, I knew, but until then, I'd not let him break me. He is being reasonable now, even accommodating, but it was the calm before the storm. It was the stillness before the strike of a snake. And I had to be ready for it.