Half

The Cage

You have a routine. It's not always the same but when you wake you know what you have to do. You planed it all out last night before you slept, that way there's no time wasted in the mornings. You know exactly what to do.

You don't need to open your eyes to know what's happening. You're in a cage, in the middle of no where. You're surrounded by hills and woods and more hills and more woods, and then there's the little cottage. Her cottage.

You don't know her name but she knows yours. You know her face and she knows yours. You know what she is but no one knows what you are. Not even you.

"Michael." You hear the same voice you've been hearing for the past 4 months. She throws the keys at you.

You slowly undo the chains attached to your right ankle, then rub it to show the pain she's inflicting on you. You do the same with your left again, rubbing it. Next you move onto your wrists, you take a moment to rub them too.

She stands watching you but you don't look up - you made that mistake a while ago -, you just unlock the cage. Taking your time you stretch out a bit to see how far you can take it then you throw the keys back to her.

Usually she wants chores done first but today she quietly says "Fifty." There's no need for her to raise her voice anymore.

You know exactly what's going to happen today, although she doesn't. Which is unusual because it's normally the other way round. You drop to the ground and start doing your daily press ups. She's still watching you.

One. The track.

Two. You take 45 minutes at the most.

Three. You can do it faster than that.

Four. She doesn't know that.

Five. The inner and outer track.

Six. They split.

Seven. She won't be able to see you.

Eight. You have 25 minutes.

Nine. At the most.

Ten. Concentrate.

Eleven. She'll come after you.

Twelve. Keep going

Thirteen. No matter what.

Fourteen. The bracelet.

Fifteen. The trick.

***

A/N: Short updates at the moment sorry