Xavier stood imposingly in the kitchen doorway. Ella avoided looking directly into his eyes because there was something in his gaze that gave her a strange feeling. She still couldn't identify what it was, but discovering it would require an approach she didn't yet have the courage to attempt. She decided to remain silent, perhaps that way she wouldn't provoke the beast.
She continued storing the rest of the food without saying anything.
"I'm hungry, Ella. Could you fix me something to eat?"
His voice still carried a bit of the hoarseness with which he had sent her to the room, but it didn't cause as much fear as before.
"Sure, what do you like?"
"I'll eat anything as long as it's not bitter. Whatever you put on my plate, I'll eat."
Ella placed French fries, cassava, rice, eggplant,
