Spearmint

2. Julia

May 2018

Julia opened her eyes, the bed was empty and cold. She knew it was morning already, it was probably around nine am, the time her internal clock always woke her up. The bright lights were turned on too. She blinked a few times to see the man was in the small makeshift kitchen making something.

She pushed the blankets off and slowly crawled out of bed. The moment her feet touched the floor the man's eyes were on her. He smiled at her, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. Julia forced a smiled back before she walked towards the sink to brush her teeth.

She knew she needed to act like he wanted just until he trusted her, then she could leave. Her attempt from the night before showed her she needed more planning.

He watched her from the stove as she quietly brushed her teeth like he had asked her the night before. She made sure she rinsed everything before she placed the toothbrush and toothpaste back where it was the night before. She quietly sat down at the table and stared at her uncuffed hands while the man made them breakfast.

"How did you sleep?" he asked, Julia's eyes snapped up to her captors.

"I slept fine, thank you," she sighed.

"Aren't you going to ask how I slept?" he questioned her.

"Sorry, how did you sleep?"

"Fine, thank you, how did you like the bed?" he asked while motioning to it with the plastic spatula in his hand.

"It was comfortable."

"Good."

"What do I call you?" the man turned to look at her, a warning.

"Do I have to talk to you again about that?" he asked.

"Sorry," Julia mumbled, "it's just that you know my name and I don't know yours," she explained. The man ignored her as he grabbed two plates out of the cupboard above the stove. She looked back down at her hands. She watched as he placed the food on the plates before he came to the table.

"You may call me Muse for now," he told her as he placed the food in front of her.

Muse?

"Why Muse?" she ignored his warning look.

"Because I will become your everything," he told her darkly before he placed a small carton of milk on the table along with two glasses. He passed her a plastic fork before he sat in the seat in front of her. She waited until he was seated and already digging into his food before she started eating hers.

She hadn't realized how hungry she was even after starving all night, she was surprised she didn't get sick from the lack of food in the past twelve hours. She knew Muse was watching her so she tried to eat politely but it was so difficult when the food was so good.

Julia was done first, she leaned back in her seat and waited for Muse. He smiled at her. "Was it good?" he asked. She nodded, she looked around the little room. What if she had to go to the bathroom?

"Where is the bathroom?" Muse shot her a warning look.

"In the laundry room, I'll let you use it if you stop speaking without permission," he placed his fork on the half empty plate.

"How do I ask permission to talk?" Julia snapped.

"Watch your tone with me," Muse growled, "all you have to do is ask."

"Like go, hey can I speak?" she questioned.

"Cut out the hey and it would be fine," Muse answered calmly.