middle and fell onto her side on the disgusting floor. She couldn?t stop herself, no matter how much she wanted to vomit having her face pressed to the dirty cement. The pain in her stomach, coupled with the pain in her heart, was too much to withstand. She sobbed against the cold floor until something warm slipped under her head. It was the girl. She slid in underneath Jane and let her rest her head on her lap. The girl was just as dirty as the floor they sat upon, but at least she was warmer, and the physical touch was somewhat comforting, at least a little.
Jane cried until the pain in her stomach began to ease and then she cried harder as she wondered if she?d ever see Dirk again. The girl rubbed small circles on her back and brushed her hair from her face as she shushed her like one would do to a fussy baby.
Jane?s mourning and self-pity ceased as she felt a new wave of emotion flood her. Determination. She knew that it was Dirk. His mindset was to find her and whether he meant to or not, he helped to uncover her own courage that had been buried beneath her hurt.
She sat up and wiped her eyes, then turned to the girl. ?We have to find a way out of here.?
?I?ve tried,? the girl whispered.
Jane shook her head, ?I won?t accept defeat.?
A laugh boomed in the distance, then the lights flickered on. Jane stood, balling her hands into fists at her side as she watched a figure approach. It was the man she was beginning to know too well. The one who?d imprisoned her here.
?Are you ready to tell me what I want??
Jane stood silent, refusing to waste the energy to reply.
?You know that information is your ticket to freedom,? he cooed.
Jane only narrowed her eyes in response and then the man huffed. ?Your choice. I guess neither of you will be having breakfast.?
Anger raged inside of Jane and she felt like her blood was boiling. As quick as he?d arrived, the man was gone and so were the lights.
Jane stared at the doorway he?d disappeared into and wished that she could follow him. The wrath she?d unleash upon him if she could get her hands on him, but it was useless, there wasn?t any way out.
She looked back down at the girl she shared her prison with and asked, ?Why are you in here??
The girl sighed and shrugged, ?I have no idea. He told me that I disobeyed him and that this is my punishment. He said he will let me out when he feels that I am ready to serve him without question.?
Jane sat down next to her and sighed as well. ?I wish I could remember something. I don?t know how I could?ve allowed myself to get mixed up with people like these.?
The girl nodded, ?I know what you mean. I don?t feel like this is my kind of crowd either.?
Chapter 19
The sun had set and night had passed, yet no one had entered the cellar that Jane and her fellow captive had been imprisoned in. Dawn had come hours ago and Jane?s stomach growled as she watched the door, waiting for someone to enter.
She glanced over at the other girl propped in the corner. The girl was pale and sickly-looking. She knew that the girl was malnourished and weak. She couldn?t survive under these circumstances much longer and Jane questioned how long she?d be able to hold out as well. She?d only spent a day and a half in the cell, but was already crumbling. She could feel the energy slowly drain from her with each passing minute. The only things that seemed to revive the fight in her were thoughts of Dirk and the bubbling anger that she held for the man who?d put her here.
As she?d anticipated, the door soon opened and her mouth watered as the aroma of breakfast floated through the door with her captor. He smiled an evil smile as he approached with a plate of eggs, toast and a glass of orange juice. He sat the glass and the plate down on an old desk outside of her cell and took a seat on the other side of it, facing her. ?How much does a good breakfast mean to you?? he questioned.
Jane eyed him and weighed her options. If she refused, would she have to wait another full day for the chance to eat again?