Wyatt
“You don’t have to wait on me hand and foot, you know,” I tell Rachel yet again after she plants a tray of breakfast on my lap. Lashings of bacon and thick sausages sit upon a bed of fluffy scrambled egg with crispy hash browns balanced on top. My mouth is watering just from the heavenly smell as I push myself upright against the headboard. I woke naturally a little while ago from the best sleep I can remember having, and I don’t think the memory foam mattress is the only reason for that. Back in the black dress with white collar and apron she likes to wear during the days, Rachel has a skip in her step and huge smile spread across her face as she rounds the bed to fluff my pillow.
“I know, but I’ve missed this so much. Please don’t take it away from me.” She mock flutters her thick eyelashes and pouts her lips, causing me to smile. Rolling my eyes, I stab a sausage with my fork and push it between my teeth as she releases a school-girl worthy squeal. I didn’t miss the double meaning in her words, her natural motherly nature having been suppressed since she lost Sydney all those years ago. I can’t fathom how she has managed to pull through such a loss and not withered up inside like I would have.
While I eat, she potters around my room. First, opening the black-out curtains to almost blind me with the sun’s rays, then scooping my worn clothes from the cream carpet. I’ve never been one to tidy up after myself since I was mostly raised by staff looking for a pay rise or had a wealth of girls at college eager to please me. Rachel disappears into the en-suite and a shadow catches my eye by the triple wardrobe, green orbs gleaming out of the undefined shape. Following the figure’s eyeline, I glance down to the two rounded tablets on my tray beside a glass of orange juice. Indecision pulls me in two directions, not seeing the harm in keeping my mom around now I’ve made my peace with her presence and wanting to pretend I’m a normal guy that isn’t going insane.
“Rachel,” I call, unable to keep up the pretence they are vitamins any longer. Her ponytail swings as she bounces back into the room, halting at my uncertain expression. “Why have you been drugging me?” I point to the pink pills and watch the frown pull at her lips. Slowly sitting on the edge of the bed, she turns to me with so much grief in her eyes, I can barely stand to look.
“Oh, my darling boy, I hope you won’t be angry with me.” She sighs and hangs her head, a tear trickling down her cheek. Pushing my tray aside, I pull her into my arms so her head rests upon my shoulder and reassure her that will never be the case. “They are antidepressants from my personal stash, I’ve been on them for longer than you’ve been alive,” she huffs a laugh.
“So why are you giving them to me?” I whisper, still not understanding.
“I love having you here, you know that right? But a part of me wishes you never came. You’re too pure for this place, but joining Ray is a lifelong commitment which will eat away until there’s nothing left. I’ve seen it happen to so many, all traits of their personalities drained until they are mindless drones with ‘Perelli’ branded on their asses. I thought if I could intervene before you started to be affected by the terrible doings that happen here, I could shield you from the same fate.” Stroking the tears from her cheek, I simply hold her as those words churn in my mind. Rachael has told me before she stays out of Ray’s business, but clearly, she is still touched by it. Before she even knew me properly, she saw someone worth saving and fuck if I don’t love her all the more for it.
“Anyways, I’d best get on. Ray is due back at some point today. Be sure to take this down to your friend, I reckon the guards are watching me a little too closely now.” Rachel picks up a styrofoam container she’d left on the bedside table and places it into my hands with a wink. A wave of steam escapes the box as I open it, a miniature version of my breakfast concealed within. Raising an eyebrow and opening my mouth to refute the ‘friend’ comment she made, Rachel whirls out and clicks the door shut behind her.
After a good stretch and a quick change, I glance back at the container on the bed with a frown. It must have been days since Meg ate properly, and its fricking cold down there. She could have hypothermia already, not that I care. But if Rachel is prepared to ease her suffering before Ray has his way, then the least I can do is aid her too. Besides, I’ve done my part – I delivered her here. I never agreed to torture her pointlessly too. She’s a part of someone else’s plan, a means to someone else’s end.
Pulling a second pair of cotton pyjama pants and socks on, I also don another top layer and head out of the room with the box in my hand. Taking the central stairs two at a time, I notice several guards pacing outside the lower windows as if they are expecting an attack. A man walks across the entrance hall, grinning at me shrewdly as if he recognises me but I’m sure I’ve never seen him before. His eyes are different colours, one brown and one blue, with a scar etched into his right eyebrow. He’s a strange mix of scrawny arms and legs, but with
