Chained by Tessa Escalera Read Free Book Online

cot to push herself to her feet and walked, off, but only to my bathroom.  She came back carrying the brush that had been left earlier.  She motioned for me to get up and to sit in the chair at the desk, gingerly placing the soiled blanket over my vomit. 
     
    “Eat the sandwich.  You need to keep up your strength.” 
     
    I looked down and realized that the food was still there from earlier, the food that the man Jenny called the Master had brought.  I didn't want to eat it, but I knew she was right.  I took a bite of the sandwich.
     
    Without another word, Jenny began to brush my hair.  Her touch was gentle, motherly.  As I ate she brushed, and, if I closed my eyes I could almost believe I was at home and Mama was standing behind me.
     
    Jenny pulled the band from the end of her hair and braided mine with deft hands.  Then she came around to the side and leaned back against the wall, crossing her arms on top of her swollen belly.  She watched silently as I choked down the now-dry bread and followed it with the lukewarm juice.
     
    “Look,”  She said as I finished.  “Travis is the lesser of the evils here.  He's under the old man's spell.  I don't know why.  But he doesn't hurt us without reason.  He's just a servant, I guess.  If you need something, you ask him.  He'll bring you things, within reason.  Master won't let you wear anything besides that gown, but you can ask for other things.  Soap, toiletries, books, paper, blankets, food, stuff like that.  They don't like us to die, at least not right now.  So don't be trouble for the Master,  keep quiet, and ask Travis if you need something.  Okay?”
     
    I nodded numbly.  None of this made any sense.  Jenny spoke so matter-of-factly, as if we were discussing the weather.  You'd never guess from her attitude that she was imprisoned in a cell below the ground, pregnant with her captor's child.
     
    My door creaked open and Travis stuck his head in.  “Jenny, you need to go back before he catches you out.”
     
    Jenny nodded and pushed away from the wall, clasping my shoulder as she passed.  She walked quietly back into her cell and Travis locked the door behind her before returning to me.  He watched me as if I were a deer that might bolt, moving slowly and carefully.  He gathered up my soiled blanket and left, reappearing immediately with a plastic bucket full of foaming cleaner.  It smelled like Pine-sol, and the familiar scent made my heart clench.  He silently sponged the puddle from the floor and wiped it with a towel thrown over his shoulder.  All the while I stayed in my chair, afraid to move.
     
    When he was done cleaning he rose.  “It will be okay, Butterfly.” 
     
    Travis turned to leave but I stopped him.  “Wait.”  When he turned to look at me, I cringed.
     
    “Yes?”
     
    “C-can I have something?  Some soap...m-maybe some paper?  A pen?”  Those seemed safe.  Surely he couldn't object to such simple things.
     
    Travis nodded silently and left.  A clean blanket was tossed through the door then it closed, locking with a click.  Footsteps receded down the hallway and I was left alone.

Chapter 6: Birth and Death
     
    When I woke, a new tray of food sat on my desk, along with a spiral notebook and a package of pens.  A little paper bag proved to hold two bars of soap and a bottle of shampoo.
     
    This time the food was scrambled eggs and toast.  A tall glass of milk stood next to the plate, the sides still covered in condensation.  I didn't know how Travis kept managing to get in and out of my cell without my noticing, and the thought was pretty disturbing, but on some level I managed to be grateful for what he had given me.  I didn't know his role in this.  I was struggling to believe that someone so handsome, so kind and so eloquent could truly be as evil as the man who had assaulted...raped...me.  Surely he was a prisoner, just like us.  Yes, that must be it. A prisoner, or a servant.