I wasn't sure why I'm surprised when Kieran says no, especially since he just slammed the heavy iron door shut, trapping me inside the suffocating cell once more.
"No."
Kieran's voice is so commanding that it seems to have a physical presence, shaking the room with its firmness.
Without turning to look at Lydia, he heads towards the small window, the only connection to the outside world in my mini dungeon. As Kieran pinches the bridge of his nose, a growl escapes through his clenched teeth, his rapid breaths betraying his frustration. I watch as his chest rises up and down, his body trembling with the effort to contain his anger.
"She's staying right the fuck here. Where it's safe."
"Safe?"
Lydia scoffs, her hand waving dismissively through the air, her sharp fingernails catching the moonlight. I gulp, feeling my lips tremble with nervousness.
While I'm not entirely convinced by Lydia's assertion that they aren't human, I'm not about to take any chances and upset them. I can't shake off the feeling of being at a disadvantage, especially if what she says about them not being human is true.
Trapped with no way out, I feel completely powerless, my life hanging in the balance between their hands.
"Are you sure this place is safe? She barely gets any rest on the uncomfortably thin mattress."
"I'll bring her a bed and a brand new mattress."
Kieran shrugs, as if implying that a new bed holds the key to relieving my immense back pain. While technically possible, I prefer the idea of sleeping in a room with walls, a door, and a sense of security rather than a cage with steel bars and Kieran, even though he makes me feel safe, watching over me while I sleep.
"I'll make sure she gets the best ones. Those fluffy ones, you know, the ones with feathers and that smell like rainbows and sunshine. I'll give her whatever she wants. But she's not going anywhere. And that's the end of it, period."
Lydia sighs, her breath heavy with resignation, as Kieran paces back and forth, his fingers absentmindedly tousling his hair into disarray. Shaking her head, Lydia can't help but let a smirk slip onto her lips. As if reaching a resolution, Lydia presses her weight against the cage, her fingertips rhythmically tapping the cold metal bars that confine me.
"Hey, honey. There's something I've been meaning to ask you, and I expect complete honesty."
I blink, and a rush of excitement courses through me, my heart pounding in my chest.
Not that I don't trust the old woman, but there's something about her that strikes me as peculiar, to be honest. After spending a few days inside the cell and conversing with both of them, it feels as though my instinct for self-preservation has vanished.
I know better than to trust people I just met, but now? Now, everything seems to have changed. It feels like a battle between my mind and body, constantly at odds. Yet, every time I search for an answer, it's always the unexpected one that emerges.
I feel secure in putting my trust in both of them.
For some inexplicable reason, I can never put into words.
"Uh," I stammer, my gaze darting nervously between Lydia and Kieran. "Sure?"
Lydia's mischievous grin spreads across her face as Kieran turns around, his forehead creased with worry lines.
The weight of uncertainty settles over me, causing me to tense up, questioning my decision to answer Lydia's impending question.
Once the old woman is certain that both Kieran and I are focused on her, she crosses her arms against her chest and inspects her nails, pretending to be uninterested.
"Tell me how you handle your business, darling."
I frown, "Business?"
"Business."
Lydia repeats with a mischievous tone, relishing in the sight of Kieran's eyes twitching in response to her question.
Tilting my head, I struggle to understand the old woman's question.
I don't have any business under my name. Before coming to Westfall, I had taken the step of resigning from my previous position.
"I want to know how you handle it here. No doubt, it's a tougher task than one might think, and I'm certain you've faced your fair share of challenges while doing it. I'm sure with this boy always in the room with you, there's a sense of unease that you can't shake."
"I don't... I don't do business?" I mutter feebly, my head shaking in a state of utter confusion. "I... I'm unemployed?"
Lydia twists her head so fast to look at me that the sound of her neck cracking echoes through the room.
With her eyes wide and her hand against her face, Lydia grumbles something that sounds like "pining morons" under her breath.
Unsure of how to react to Lydia's anger, I offer an awkward smile, sitting with perfect posture at the edge of the narrow mattress, feeling its worn fabric beneath my fingertips.
"Silly girl, you misunderstood me, that's not what I meant at all."
Lydia whispers, her voice barely audible after taking a few seconds to inhale the scent through her nose. Finally, the old woman lifts her head, her weathered hands gently massaging her temples as she opens her eyes a fraction, their intensity bearing down on me with such seriousness that I feel a wave of pressure and anxiousness.
"I meant business, as in how do you handle the call of nature when nature calls. No doubt, you're finding it challenging to do it on your own. Having a bathroom right next to where you sleep means convenience at any hour, but it also means enduring the constant presence of this massive mutt acting as a vigilant guard dog."
And finally, a light bulb goes off in my head, and everything makes sense.
My face turns red with embarrassment, and I instinctively cover it with my arms, hunching over.
Before I do, I catch a glimpse of Kieran's face, his eyes widening in surprise and his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
Embarrassment and shame wash over me as I groan, realizing that I have to confess the intimate details of my bodily functions to Kieran, who stares at me with an unrelenting gaze.
I loathe it, but I can't find the words to tell Lydia she's wrong.
As it turns out, the old woman is correct - I'm facing numerous challenges in that particular area.
It takes great effort to ignore the primal instincts that urge me to respond to nature's call, regardless of whether it's daybreak or when Kieran finally departs for the night. In the unfamiliar openness of the cell, it often takes me several minutes to unwind and finally accomplish what I need to do. Still, I can't help but feel embarrassed as I openly admit it, even though it will strengthen my case for getting out.
Thankfully, Kieran's words come just in time, saving me from the awkwardness of having to say anything. Frustrated, he spits and flings his hands up in the air.
"Fine!"
"Oh?"
Lydia teases, her voice filled with playful taunting, as she pushes herself off the cold metal cage and makes her way towards Kieran. With a flick of her finger, the old woman removes a loose thread from Kieran's shirt, her gaze fixed on him from beneath lowered lashes. With each passing moment, her smirk stretches wider and wider as Kieran's face turns a deeper shade of red, his growing agitation evident from her question.
"My boy, don't you ache to hear her response?"
"No."
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"Shut your trap, you old hag!"
With a thunderous bellow, Kieran pushes the old woman aside, her laughter ringing in the air. Kieran walks towards my locked cage, grumbling to himself and emitting a strange noise from his throat, accompanied by the clicking of his tongue.
As my heart thuds against my chest, I witness Kieran pressing his forehead onto the frigid metal bars, his eyes reflecting confusion and a tinge of melancholy. The sadness in the air seems to seep into my bones, leaving me inexplicably melancholic.
"I'm really sorry for everything that's happened. I just want you to be safe, you know?"
I part my lips, preparing to let him know that everything is okay.
But almost immediately, I clamp my mouth shut, suppressing any words that are about to escape.
No, everything is far from fine.
Not in the slightest.
I find myself trapped in a makeshift dungeon, my freedom stripped away against my will, and under constant supervision like a child. I'm forbidden from approaching Evan, my fiancé, who I'm convinced has found me, and to make matters worse, my phone, my personal belonging, shattered before my eyes.
Nothing is fine at all.
With determination, I raise my chin and settle for a small, reluctant, "Okay."
The thought of telling Kieran that it's alright, that I forgive him, fills me with dread, knowing he will repeat his mistakes. And I desperately want to avoid that outcome.
Kieran nods once in acknowledgment of my answer, then painstakingly unlocks my cell door. As it is technically pulled from its hinges hours ago, I witness the cell emit a rickety noise before collapsing into a heap on the ground. Lydia can't help but snicker to herself, finding amusement in our jostling at the unexpected sound.
"Come here, child," Lydia beckons with her finger, her perfectly manicured nail glinting in the dim light. "Take my hand, and I'll bring you to the comfort of my own home."
"Slow down, I'm coming too."
Kieran mutters, his voice barely audible as he grabs my wrist, intertwining our arms and directing me towards the door that will take us to the outside world. I take his arm and feel a comforting warmth radiating from his touch. As of that moment, my legs wobble like gelatin, and the excitement I anticipated seems to have disappeared.
My lip quivers, and I desperately bite down on it, trying to steady myself.
"Don't want anyone coming over, Lydia. She's a human who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."
In response, I crinkle my nose in nervousness.
Right. They aren't... humans.
I know it's weird as hell that I'm not as shocked about it, but there's an eerie calmness that washes over me instead.
I have a nagging feeling that something is off, but my mind is overwhelmed with panic, making it difficult to trust my instincts. I know it happens, I've seen it myself.
With that thought in my mind, Kieran's hold on my wrist tightens, offering a comforting touch.
Once again, an unusual sound escapes from him.
I frown, "What's that?"
"What's what?"
Looking at me with concern, Kieran asks back, the sound echoing in my ears.
Turning around, Lydia locks eyes with us, silently seeking answers.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?"
"That sound."
I murmur, my voice barely audible, making Lydia furrow her brows even more.
The mere mention of it causes Kieran to freeze, the sound he was making immediately halting. As I look on, Kieran's face becomes flushed, his ears turning a deep shade of crimson as he quickly glances away from me.
I blink, tilting my head to the side and squinting my eyes.
"The sound just went away, that's weird."
Lydia's soft chuckle catches me off guard, like a gentle breeze on a calm day. I face the old woman, unable to look away as Lydia's eyes hold a knowing gaze.
"I'm curious to know how you would describe the sound. If you tell me more details, I might be able to assist you in finding its source."
"No!"
Without hesitation, Kieran abruptly halts mid-sentence and makes a dash for the door.
Lydia swiftly sidesteps, effectively blocking his path, eliciting a deep groan from Kieran. His arm is still curled around mine, making it impossible for him to push the woman aside. Lydia's eyes gleam with delight as she revels in Kieran's helpless predicament.
"Step aside, old hag!"
"Tell me about it, Haven."
Being the curious person that I am, I do.
"It's like... it's like this rumble."
As soon as I start explaining, I sense Kieran's arm trembling in mine.
I furrow my brow and glance up at him from beneath my lashes, only to find him avoiding my gaze. As I continue to explain, Kieran's face grows more and more embarrassed, as if he wishes to disappear into the ground.
"It's weird, but strangely comforting. It's like lulling me to sleep, at the same time, making me feel safe and comfortable. And... and now that I said it out loud, it stopped. Kieran... What's making that sound?"
Lydia, this time, is the one to answer.
"A croon, dear."
Lydia whispers, her words filled with warmth, a gentle smile appearing on her face as she shakes her head, smiling at the man who she claims she watched grow up.
"I had no idea this bratty boy could do something like that."
I hum softly, my mind deep in contemplation.
"A croon? What's it for?"
"For you, silly girl."
Lydia grins, her fingers lightly tracing patterns on my cheek.
"It was only ever for you."