The Comfort Of Danger

5. A Loud Lunch

Instantly my cheeks are hot and I stain them with tears. I don't understand why I'm so drawn to him. He clearly feels something for me but he doesn't want to admit it. That's why he pulls away and shuts me out. I count the bullet holes in the mattress and try to ignore the blood stains. For hours I wonder how many girls have died in here. How many girls have been raped and murdered in here by Jordan or even by Silas. The door creeks open and I jump up.

"It's time to eat." Charlie says. Eyeing me I realize I'm still in just a tank with underwear.

I throw on pants I find. I follow him out the door and up some stairs. We go through more weird doorways and up another set of stairs to a beautiful huge room with a long table. All the men that were at the meeting were there. Jordan was there glaring at me. Tori was there. But, no Silas. Charlie pulls out my chair roughly.

"Sit." He commands.

I sit. He pushes the chair in too hard and hurts my previously broken rib. I yelp.

"She's too damn sensitive." Someone mutters. Followed by laughing.

I feel ashamed and bow my head. I hold my rib and start to cry silently. Everyone starts talking again about drugs, girls and people they've killed. I smell food and put my head up quickly. I haven't eaten in days. I see Silas sit at the head of the table. Everyone starts passing the food around but I'm the last to get each bowl. I get the first one, it's empty.
That's okay. There's plenty. So I thought...I get the 2nd then the 3rd then the 4th one. All empty. I look around and everyone has food piled on their plates and they are looking at me and smirking at each other. Jordan is eyeing me waiting for a reaction. I stand up. Everyone's eyes go to me. I take my plate and hurl it at the middle of the table where it shatters. I throw my chair out of the way and take off running. All I hear is laughter. I find my way back to the room I was in and throw myself into the corner and cry. Not long after someone comes by and slams my door shut and calls me foul names. I sit and go over everything again. Why didn't Silas stand up for me that time? Why did he let them let me go hungry. Doesn't he care I haven't eaten since he took me?

The door opens and Silas walks in. I look away. He kneels on the floor in front of me and puts a plate down. It's piled with chicken and mashed potatoes and vegetables. He leaves and comes back with another plate with more food and a big cup of water. He looks down at me.

"That wasn't acceptable behavior." He frowns.

I start to back talk but catch my tongue. I look up at him and instantly lift my shirt ignoring the fact that I wasn't wearing a bra. He's seen me naked already so no point in trying to hide it. At first he stares at my breasts confused and amused but then he looks down and sees my rib. The skin is all red and bruised. It never fully healed and Charlie re-broke it. He jumps up and leaves the room. Quickly he returns with ice and a wrap. He lays down a blanket and helps me to it. He lays me down gently and puts the ice on it. I wince in pain and his eyes show sympathy. He puts the wrap under my back and starts wrapping my torso. Once it's nice and tight he helps me sit up and hands me the food. Just like that. He's gone. Again.

Silas - POV

I go into the dining room and see everyone having a good time. Except Aurora. I'm not surprised but she looks like she's in pain. I see her notice the smell of food and she perks up. Fuck... I haven't fed her in 3 days. I hear Jordan and Tori whisper to everyone and start handing empty food dishes to Aurora. She gets the first one and is disappointed but has hope for the others...until she gets them. She looks around and makes eye contact with me and I look away. She stands up and throws her plate at the table and runs away crying. Jordan starts laughing.

"Give me your plates Tori and Jordan."

"What? No." Jordan says

"Uh, no." Tori says.