Reaction
1295 Words
Thalia's Pov
I was sitting on the bed with my back pressed hard against the bed frame. My knees were pulled to my chest, and my arms were wrapped around them. The room was quiet.
I sat still, my eyes closed as I remained unmoving.
Then I heard the doorknob turn, followed by a gentle ‘click’ sound.
I didn’t move, and I didn’t lift open my eyes, but I already knew who it was. I could tell by the light footsteps. It was that girl again.
She stepped in slowly, she didn’t speak at first, just came in with a tray. The smell of eggs and toast filled the room. It made my stomach twist, but I will be damned before I eat anything from this place.
"Good morning." She greeted me. I opened my eyes to stare at her but said nothing.
"You didn’t eat yesterday," she said quietly, her gaze shifting from the untouched meal, back to my face.
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, no kidding."
She placed the tray on the small table. "You need to eat. It’s not poisoned. I ate some of it before I served it."
I stood up and took baby steps towards her, "I told you yesterday. I don’t eat food I didn’t make. You could tell me it’s holy water and I still wouldn’t touch it.
“I don’t care what you tasted,” I said. “You think tasting it makes it safe?”
Lilia looked at me like she was trying to stay calm. "It's not healthy to skip meals.”
“Spare me that fake concern.” I yelled, causing her to flinch.
She stepped back a little.
“I’m just trying to help,” she said.
“Then help by getting the hell out.”
I snapped and without thinking, I grabbed the tray and threw it across the room. The plate shattered, food went flying, glass spilled and eggs smeared on the wall. Lila gasped and jumped back.
“Tell your boss to eat it himself!” I shouted. “Maybe he will grow a soul!”
A loud knock hit the door before it swung open. A guard stepped in. He was tall, built like a truck, and looked like he hadn’t slept in days. His hand rested on his gun like it was a habit. He didn't even blink at the mess.
“The boss says you eat,” he said.
I walked toward him with all the fires in my eyes. “Then the boss can come say it himself. What’s he scared of? A girl who skipped breakfast?" I was still yelling.
The guard didn’t flinch, but he looked at Lila, who was now standing quietly in the corner like she wished she could vanish into the wall.
“Go get him,” I said. “If he’s so bothered about my meals, let him say it to my face.”
The guard gave me one last long look, a small smirk on his lips as he turned and left without a word.
Lila followed after him, but she looked back at me once, her eyes soft. I didn’t return the look.
The room was a mess. Food on the wall, the floor, the air still smelling like burnt toast.
"The boss says you eat," the guard said, like that was
I paced the room, still angry and ignoring the slight migraine that made my head, bang.
I could literally hear my heart beating fast.
A few minutes passed, and I heard his footsteps. He definitely wasn't in a rush as he took his time.
I stopped pacing as I braced myself up.
The door opened and there he was.
He was dressed in a black loose pants and shirt. His hair was damp, probably just got out of the shower
Cold eyes stared at me with something close to hatred brewing in them.
He looked around at the mess. His gaze landed on the food splattered across the room, then back at me.
"You done?" he asked, his voice flat.
"Not yet," I said.
He stepped inside, the door closing behind him. His hands tucked into his pocket.
"You think this little act will do something? Make me feel bad? Feel sorry for you?" he asked.
"No," I said. "I know you are not capable of feeling anything."
He walked up to me. His presence made the air heavier.
"Are you?"
I kept quiet, but didn't let my gaze waver away from him.
"You know," He began as he walked round the room, "If I have my way, I will slowly drain life away from you. But that, I can't." His shoulders sagged in disappointment, "Because you are carrying my child. So here's the deal. You will eat. Not because I care about you. Believe me, I don’t. But that child matters."
I smirked. “How sweet. You must be father of the year.”
I scoffed. "Why don't you play daddy? Come sit here and feed me with a spoon."
His jaw tightened. Suddenly, he held my hand in a rough grip.
"Let go of me."
"You had your chance."
I fought his grip, yanked my arm back, but he was way stronger. I kicked and turned, but he didn't break a sweat. Instead, he doubled his pace, pulling me toward the door. I stumbled, but he didn’t stop.
"You want to throw tantrums like a child, fine," he said. "Then I will treat you like one."
“Let go of me.”
“We are going downstairs and you will eat like you are told.”
I pulled, tried to yank myself free. “You can’t make me.”
“I already am.”
He dragged me down the hallway. My feet barely kept up. The guards we passed didn’t even look twice. Like this was normal.
When we got to the dining room, he let go of me just enough to push me into a chair.
A new tray was already there. Hot rice sauce, toast, eggs, fruit and water.
He sat across from me.
"Eat."
I stared at him. He stared right back.
“I said eat.”
I looked at him, eyes burning. “You don’t scare me.”
“You don’t need to be scared. You just need to obey.”
“You are sick.”
He didn’t answer. He just stared.
I picked up the fork, hands shaking a little from anger. I ignored the newly formed bruise on my wrist and stabbed into the rice, pretending it was his right eye, I took a bite.
He kept watching.
I ate a little more from the platter.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” I said, not looking up. “I’m not eating because of you. I’m eating because of the baby.”
I took another bite.
Something didn’t sit right.
My mouth felt weird. My throat started to feel tight. It wasn’t the fruit. I would have seen that. This was something else.
I dropped the fork and grabbed the edge of the table, my nails digging in.
“My throat,” I said. “It’s burning.”
Lorenzo’s eyes narrowed, an eyebrow shooting up, like he was watching a movie.
I stood up fast, knocking over the chair. My chest hurts. I was coughing and gasping.
"My mouth... It's burning. My throat..."
My eyes widened as I couldn’t breathe.
I was now on all four, fighting for my life.
Lorenzo stood up, fast.
"What the hell is going on?"
I tried to speak, but no sound came. My body was going numb.
His voice was sharp now, shouting something at the guards.
Darkness started to creep into the edges of my vision, making it blurry.
Everything went dark.
- Writer
