Red Tiles

chapter 15

  "Ah, they fit. Good. I was hoping they wouldn't be too big or else I'd have to go out to buy a few things for you. I didn't want to have to leave you alone though."

She came over to me and ran her fingers through my hair, slowly walking around me in a circle. I watched her, nervous. Goosebumps formed on my arms and legs. She must have noticed my tension, as she stepped back.

"Come with me." She turned towards the door, and started walking out. I stood there, dumbfounded. Was she really going to let me out of the room? She turned back to me and held a hand out.

"I won't ask twice. If you want to stay here, then you will not come out. I suggest you follow me." I hurried towards her and grabbed her outstretched hand like a small child would when following their mother through a store.

We went down a short flight of stairs, and turned left down a short hall, and entered a beautiful kitchen. Very open, bright, and big. The floor was marble and cold against my bare feet. I shivered and pulled my hand from hers, wrapping my arms around myself as I followed her. She pointed to a stool at the island in the center of the room, and pulled it out a few inches.

"Sit." I did. She stood on the other side, across from me, and leaned in just a little bit.

"Do you have any questions?" I looked down at the counter. Granite. I ran my fingers across the smooth top and shivered again. It's so cold here. Finally I looked up.

"Why did you drug me?" She didn't seem phased by my question. She simply nodded, acknowledging my question, and turned, grabbing a mug from a cupboard above the sink.

"Because, Jasper, I wanted you. Your friend was of no use to me. Nothing but collateral damage. She would have gotten in the way if I'd have taken you first. So I took her out, then collected my prize." She heated up a cup of water in the microwave and then placed a small tea bag in and began to stir it.

"Sweetened or no?" She asked casually. Startled a bit, I shook my head. She nodded and placed the mug in front of me. I forced a small smile.

"Th-thank you," I stuttered softly, hardly audible. She smiled a bit and turned to make another, this one for herself. I was receiving so many mixed messages that I was getting confused. I spoke up.

"Why are you being nice to me?" I asked quickly. She was clearly surprised by my sudden outburst. She stopped what she was doing and turned to me, leaning over the counter again.

"Why am I being nice to you? Because, my dear," she said softly, coming around the island to me.

She placed a gentle hand on my cheek and stroked just beneath my eye where a tear had fallen.

"Because I want to take care of you. I love you," she whispered.

Unconvinced, I pulled my face back a few inches.

"How can you say that? You don't even know me!" She stifled a small laugh and went back to making tea.

"There's so much you don't know yet, baby. So much. But you'll learn soon, my love. Very very soon. I'm going to take care of you. All you have to do is follow the rules and do as I tell you. Simple, right?" Assuming that was probably a rhetorical question, I looked down at the cup of tea in front of me and picked it up, slowly bringing it to my lips. I paused just a few inches away. She noticed my hesitation.

"It's safe. I promise, I won't give you anymore pills. It was just one time, to get you here without a fight." I looked at the cup again, then back at her. She nodded, reassuring me.

I took a sip and set it down. It was actually very good. She smiled and brought her mug to the island, standing across from me again.

"Relax, I won't hurt you, baby. Not ever again. You're mine."