We carried on end, in the same way for hours.
Groaning, I squeeze my upper arm. I try my best not to whine. I know Graham will mock and taunt me for the rest of my days.
My muscles are cramping, I'm hungry, tired and I can consider that I've showered twice in a day. The second, being in my own sweat. My hair is plastered onto my face, my clothes are clinging to me. I didn't know we could sweat from the soles of our feet but we learn new things every day.
" That's enough for today," He says as he walks towards the wall to pick up his shirt.
" Have a shower, and meet me in the kitchen," It's almost one o'clock in the afternoon. I'm drained. I'm not sure if I can crawl all the way to my room.
" Shay" Graham calls, and Shay appears at his feet in a blink of light.
" I'll see you in fifteen," I don't have the energy to fight him off and a whine escapes my lips as I trudge through the corridors. I don't even know where I am. I haunt the corridors for a good while. I stumble on a few more alcoves, from which more corridors sprout and I lose all hope of ever finding the way to my room. I knew it. I'll probably starve to death in this hole.
After a while, I get fed up and plop myself on the floor. I'm too tired to move an inch. I call for Shay. I had every intention of making it on my own. Maybe some other time when I'm not beaten up and broken.
Shay appears in a blink and I find myself in the kitchen where Graham is finishing eating his lunch.
" You haven't showered," He says with a straight face.
" No shit. You must be some kind of genius. How did you figure that out?" My filters have been completely obliterated. I'm too tired to filter out the snark, and the obnoxious.
" That hungry, huh?" Graham smirks and slides a plate in front of me, full of germinated barley.
" What am I? A fucking horse?" I seethe and he laughs at me.
" No. It is packed with nutrients. Nutrients that you need. That now are evaporating off your skin," The man makes a good point. I've lost eighteen years worth of sweat in half of a day.
" Eat that. And then you can have this," He waves a plate of grilled chicken with freshly cooked vegetables in front of me and I'm this close to falling to my knees and begging him to give me real food.
" Eat up, buttercup," He takes the plate away and places it on the edge of the counter. The bin is next to it on the floor. He is blackmailing me. Eat the barley or this will end up in the garbage.
" Extortionist," I grumble and scoop a spoonful of barley.
" It tastes like cardboard," I swallow, but it doesn't really go down. It sticks to my throat. I take a sip of water to wash it down. That does the trick.
Graham seems pleased with himself, and I settle on following the same pattern. Take a spoonful and then wash it down with water. It is bearable this way. So, I carry on until I empty the bowl. I really want that chicken. It looks and smells amazing.
I pick up the bowl and show it to Graham, and he chuckles.
" You must've been an exemplary child. Finish the mouthful," He urges and I down it with a sip of water.
" Now the chicken," We exchange plates. He takes the bowl and I take the plate.
Halfway through I have to stop because I'm stuffed. All the water that I drank and the barley, are contently sloshing inside my stomach.
I forcefully swallow the mouthful and glare at Graham who is chuckling from behind his hand.
" You are so entertaining, " His laughter booms inside the kitchen.
Huffing, I stand up, take my plate and leave the kitchen. I'm sticky and I smell. I need to wash, and preserve what little sanity I have left before I commit murder.
His laughter follows me all the way to the alcove, and it fades away as I enter the corridor. The pitter-patter of paws, makes me halt my steps and I see Shay settling on his haunches in front of me. At least someone takes pity on me.
Lowering myself to his level, I scratch Shay behind his ears. Grumbling, Shay stretches his neck as an encouragement and I delve deeper into his fur. Suddenly, he rises and runs away. A bit fazed, I watch him run away. Maybe he just wanted a little love.
Sighing I stand, and my eyes go to the plate. The chicken is gone. That weasel stole my chicken. I looked at the sad little veg sitting on my plate all alone, I guess it was light dinner for tonight. Really light.
After finally making it inside my room, I relinquish my clothes and head to wash off the filth of me.
Tiredness fully sets in, and it takes everything to finally crawl into bed. I need sleep.