The Cunning

24

Madison shuddered as she went from the bathroom back to the bedroom. Lily had stopped by earlier that morning and deposited a black bag of clothes for her. Jase had emptied it on the bed to search through and ensure there was nothing in there that shouldn't be in there. There were a few overly revealing items she wouldn't wear unless they forced her to, but mostly the collection was comprised of leggings, jeans, vests, and t-shirts. Slipping into a pair of leggings and opting for Jase's hoodie again, Madison brushed her hair and set about making the bed.

An object in the middle of the mattress caught her attention when she pulled the sheets back. It was Jase's switchblade. She picked it up, turning it over, surprised by the weight. The handle was black with a silver butt and a button on the side that released the blade with a swish. She stared at her eyes staring back in the stainless steel. The tool was paper-thin but well looked after, polished, and freshly sharpened.

It could come in handy, but Jase would notice it had gone missing and it wasn't like she could stab him and get past everyone else. She placed it on the bedside cabinet and finished straightening out the sheets, frowning at the smears of blood she'd left over the white covers from the cut on her hand. The dried blood had been rinsed off in the shower, leaving a hairline slice through the middle that would likely scar.

Jase and Sam were talking in the kitchen, falling silent as she walked in.

"Where do I put these?" she asked, holding up her washing. Jase took the laundry from her, dropping it in a white basket tucked beside the table, out of her view. "Also, you dropped this." She took the switchblade from her pocket. Jase's eyes flickered to Sam, who looked back at him with a what-the-fuck glare. Jase had practically stepped in the firing line when Benny had the knife to her cheek, she didn't want to kick him in the teeth so soon. Getting on his good side would be in her best interests if she was to survive without selling her soul. She wanted to earn his trust. He'd never trust her fully but she needed him to trust her enough that he didn't watch her too closely. Madison was playing the long game. Jase told her to go back upstairs without thanks.

"She literally tried to break out last night, and you're making sloppy mistakes like that?" Sam said. Jase's lips curved upwards slightly.

"It wasn't a mistake," he mumbled, looking down at the blade before tucking it back in his pocket. As she was testing him, he was testing her. Gauging each other's reactions and choices, tracking behaviour. Trying to get into each other's heads.

"What do you mean it wasn't a mistake? She could have cut any one of us." Jase shook his head, flicking the kettle on and taking two mugs from the pine cupboard above.

"She's not dense enough to do something like that," he said. Sam scoffed, folding his arms as he stared at the back of Jase's dark curly hair in disbelief.

"We are talking about Madison, right? The one that was stupid enough to try and run away?"

"Stupid enough to try or smart enough to almost succeed?" Jase looked over his shoulder at Sam, who looked as if he was going to explode, and rolled his eyes, turning back to the boiled kettle. "I wouldn't be so quick to underestimate that girl," he said matter of fact as he made coffees.

"I wouldn't be so quick to jump to her aid, either," Sam quipped back. Jase sighed, handing him his drink and sitting opposite.

"You're an idiot sometimes, you know that?" Sam frowned, deep lines forming at the corners of his mouth, waiting for an explanation. "Why does Janine behave herself?" Jase asked. Sam shifted uncomfortably.

"Because she doesn't mind working-" Jase cut him off prematurely with a shake of his head.

"Don't lie. We both know no girl on this earth enjoys this job. Why does she behave?" he repeated. Sam didn't like being questioned, especially when Jase already knew the answer. It was a touchy subject.

"To make my life easier," he grumbled. Jase smiled,

"Exactly. Because Janine loves you." Jase had a habit of pointing this out even when it wasn't technically relevant. He strongly disapproved of the relationship Sam had with her but she did her work and rarely complained. As long as Janine didn't pay Sam too much attention when Benny was around, it wasn't such an issue.

"See how Madison returned the knife?" Jase paused for effect, and Sam shrugged. "She's under the impression that if she behaves, I'll go easier on her, look out for her here and there. And I will because eventually, this house will do the hard work for me." Sam still wasn't quite catching on. Jase elaborated as he lit a cigarette. "I left the knife in the bed to see how she'd respond. She did exactly what I expected. As I said, she's not stupid. Madison knows she can't get out of here with nothing but a knife and she knows there's no chance I wouldn't notice it was missing. She needs me on side."

"She's playing you," Sam said, as if he was first to reach this conclusion. Jase smirked.

"And I'm letting her," he said.

"Why?"

"Keep your friends close, Sammy boy, but keep your enemies closer."

*

If you could ask any of the characters a question, what would you ask and who?