Cast The Die

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The bedroom is beautiful, decorated in white and grey, no other colours. The superking-size bed takes up most of the room, I've never seen a bed so big. There's a grey velvet ottoman at the foot of the bed and a set of drawers next to the window with a giant mirror above it. I turn on the light and a silver chandelier brightens the room; I walk to the window and make sure that it's locked before pulling the grey curtains closed. The bathroom is white and grey too, there's a walk-in shower the size of my bathroom at home and a free-standing bathtub on the other wall. I turn on the light and then walk over to the bed. On the nightstand there is a hairbrush and an unopened toothbrush, I wonder if they're there for me or if they're just spare. I brush off the thought because I'm exhausted and I don't care. I sink into the memory foam mattress and take in my surroundings. With the main bedroom light on and the bathroom light, I should be okay.

A few moments later, I hear a door open at the other end of the hallway. Where is he going? Another door opens and closes. He's gone to the bathroom. I'm going insane, I'm driving myself crazy because I'm so terrified of being alone. I've always been so independent; I could even go to the cinema by myself or sit in a restaurant and eat a meal on my own. I enjoyed my own company, being alone never bothered me and now that's all going to change. I'm annoyed at myself for crying again, my mouth is dry, I go into the bathroom but there's no glass on the sink like hotels usually have and then I realise I'm not in a hotel, this is not a holiday.

I stepped out of the bedroom onto the wooden floor in the hallway when the bathroom door opened. I glanced over to see Cole, staring at me. He had his black skinny jeans on but no t-shirt. I can't help but let my eyes wander over his torso and down to his chiseled stomach muscles, there's a small tattoo on his hip, writing that I can't make out.

"What are you doing?" his voice startled me.

"I...um...I needed some water" I trembled.

"I'll get it for you" he said.

"No, it's fine, I can get it" I'm not fine and I don't want to go and get it.

"Go back in the bedroom, I'll get you some water" he demanded.

When he came into the bedroom, he was wearing his t-shirt again carrying a glass of water. He placed it on the nightstand next to the bedside lamp.

"Has the bulb gone?" he asked, pointing to the lamp.

"Um...I don't know" I said.

"I can get a new bulb, so you don't have to keep the main light on" he said.

"No" I said abruptly. "I mean, it's okay, the main light is fine" I said. He gave me a concerned look and then gestured at the space at the bottom of the bed. I nodded and he sat down.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked. I can feel the tears welling up.

"Yeah I...I just can't believe this is happening" I said.

"I'm sorry this happened to you" he said sincerely.

"I'm sorry about what happened to you. You didn't deserve any of this either" I said, meaning every word.

"I did it to save my brother and his future" he replied. "I had to"

"Your brothers lucky to have you" I said. I don't know why I'm being so nice to someone who helped kidnap me. I looked up at him, examining his bruised face while the light is shining down on it. His short black hair is messy and slightly spiked up on the top. The bruise on his jaw has turned purple but his lip is no longer swollen. Even with the damage, his face is still stunning.

"Not anymore. I've done some fucked up shit" he said. He doesn't show much emotion, but when he does it's usually anger. He comes across hard-faced and emotionless, but if he risked his life to save mine, he's not as heartless as he pretends to be.

"None of it's your fault" I assured him. It isn't his fault, he's only in this mess because he loves his brother and he would do anything to let him have the life he deserves. I begin to wonder what Cole was like before he became this person. What were his likes and dislikes? Was he good in school? What was his favourite subject? He doesn't look anything like the boys do in my school, I don't think he would have been on the football team.

"I'll let you get some sleep" he said.

"Cole?" I don't know what I'm about to say, but I'm probably going to regret it.

"Yeah?" he replied. Shit. I don't know what to say.

"Never mind" I said.

"Goodnight, Macey" he got up and left me alone in the bedroom.