chapter 6: continue
200 Words
Eliza paid while winking at Fiona. “He’s terrible at this. Ten years and he still thinks ‘buying her. the store’ counts as subtle.”
In the car back, Fiona touched the bags at her feet. New clothes. New start. Maybe.
Mark broke the silence. “You noticed I stop when people watch me.”
Fiona nodded.
“You didn’t look away,” he said. “When I was shirtless. When I was tired. You looked. Most people look away from things that scare them.”
“I’m not scared of you,” Fiona whispered. Truth.
Mark’s mouth twitched. “I know, little bird. That’s what worries me.”
Eliza coughed loudly from the front. “Someone’s catching feelings on day one! Luca owes me fifty bucks!”
Mark ignored her. But his hand moved. Just slightly. Until his pinky brushed Fiona’s on the seat between them.
Didn’t grab her hand. Didn’t claim it. Just... touched.
The mansion didn’t sleep at midnight.
It breathed.
Fiona learned that by Day 7. Guards changed shifts. The fridge hummed. Somewhere far away, a clock ticked like it was counting secrets.
But at 12:03AM, she heard something else.
Music.
Soft. Fragile. A piano.
- Writer
