Make Your Move Katherine

Oscar's Place

It had been four days since she had left the castle and day number two of her fearing for her life and wondering when she will see the man who is to kill her- the monster. It was a countdown for her life without knowing the time of her end, despite the fact that Eric assured her that she was safe as long as she returned home.

Home he said- as if. This is her home, not that place where she was kidn*pped. Where she had been stripped of basic human wants, if not needs. As far as she is concerned the deal is off for her father is dead.

The remaining cigarettes, though a bit cold she had finished them out, much to Eric’s disapproval- just the way Anthony had been before when he was the one guarding her. Her Pepsi was also done too. Apparently, her guard at the moment had a taste for it and between them both, an entire case was finished. She knew it would seem weird to the errand boy if she asked him to bring over another case- her eyes brightened for a second. Maybe the boy would- no it won’t cause him to think she was being held against her will and alert the authorities. Nor would the authorities be able to help her…she was kicked out, right?

‘How did this actually work now anyway? Didn’t the police help out illegal immigrants? The homeless?’ She sniggered…’And to think I did all that recycling too.’

Eric sat opposite her when she sat on the couch and the man never slept, not even for a minute as far as she knew and she barely had a couple of hours in herself. They had been using her card to order food for he refused to leave the apartment, even when she tried to convince him that she would not try to escape.

She learned that he was an apprentice of some sort, of Ju’s. He spoke and she listened for she had nothing else to do- television was not her thing anymore. Not even the finale season of her favorite tv show captured her spirits. Only her guard seemed interested in the television. He seemed captivated with a show about – get this- outer space.

Once again Kat wished the p*rvert would come and knock like he used to but he didn’t. She wondered if he moved out. She saw Eric stand up and flared her nostrils, for that meant he wanted to use the toilet again. She stretched her hand out, for he tied her robe belt around her wrist with one end and took the other end with him and shut the door. No showers were taken since her return for Eric said he was uncomfortable as she is queen and supposed to be with her maids when bathing. He said he liked his head and did not want to lose it if his king found out that she had showered in his presence.

Kat knew that Oscar didn’t care about her showering with another man in her place but she nodded her head for the castle-driven people had rules to follow and abide by- not that she cared but still something about his words made her obey. He twisted his mouth, for he was also irritated by what he had to do- as if she would run again but she didn’t blame him for she just might if she saw an opportunity- for who sticks around to die?

“Let’s take a walk, I have a phone call to make- His Majesty’s place,” he said plainly and they both stepped out. Kat soon found herself on the floor just above hers. She was beyond dumbfounded when he punched in the code and they were greeted by a smokey smell- so this is the lair. No wonder he couldn’t be found when she had called the police that first time, he had been at home here, she noted as she took it all in.

She didn’t know what to expect but it clearly wasn’t a home of any sort and it was furnished exactly like hers had been before she moved in and made a few changes. No pictures, she noticed first and the place seemed very unlived in. It seemed that it was just used when he wanted to change his clothes- a rest stop, for she saw soot-like footsteps around the entire floor- which explained the smokey scent when they had now entered. Did her place smell similar but had gone unnoticed by her? She doesn’t recall seeing any ashy footprints, now that she thought of it.

She saw Eric open a door inside the bedroom, pulling out a bag and she followed him in. Next, he was putting phones inside it, the same bag she saw the royal guards using previously that contained Oscar’s clothing. A silver laptop wet in too. Then he looked up and her and smiled before opening another compartment and took out a t-shirt and jeans and also shoved them inside the bag. Placing the bag over his shoulder and widening his lips in an unsmiling fashion he said, “Your Majesty, I’m sorry but I need to shower and I really, really need to use the toilet- properly,” he added when he saw her furrow her eyebrows and walked to the door leaving her by the large wardrobe. “I’m sure you too, so you can use here.”

“Here? What do you mean?”

“That is Oscar’s, Your Majesty,” he pointed to a closet as he walked to it and opened it. Kat did not miss the way he used Oscar's name casually but she did not question it as it was none of her concern. Inside were clothing similar to the shirts and jackets with pants on racks, which Oscar normally wore around the castle, lined up evenly. The shirts were ranging from white in different shades to grey and blue- no other colors. She saw tees, sweater jackets, and jeans also on hangers and four pairs of shiny shoes and two vans were on the flooring. She noted the clothing he pointed to were folded on one of the two shelves inside the closet- joggers and like clothing.

“You might fit into those,”

“I’m not wearing his clothing,” she mumbled and folded her arms across her chest, giving him a twisted mouth and face turned up look.

“That over there,” he pointed to the one he had just used, “Is ours, as in everyone else’s, so don’t wear those,” he looked down at her from his massive height and went on, “I expect you to want to do the wrong thing to annoy your husband but please don’t, that is why I am telling you what is his- okay?”

“The wrong thing?” she mocked him with another look and he gave her a dismayed look.

“Your Majesty- permission to speak freely?” and Kat nodded so he continued on, “I know that you and the King have your whatever that is,” he enlarged his eyes, “and I know that you don’t want to be here- well there but knowing that annoying His Majesty is not a great idea… so don’t because I am not Ju-“ he laughed uncomfortably, “No- no, I just mean that you cannot hold a weapon to me,” and he demonstrated with a show of his large palm, the distance between her head and his.

“Choose anything-”

“No,” Kat frowned and turned around and made as if to walk out of the room but the man blocked her path. “I have my own clothing.”

“I am leaving to go to your place- see I can’t leave you there for you know your password and I can’t change it for I don’t know when the king will be back. So, you stay here and I will give you one hour- to do whatever you want and I will be finished by then so,” he turned to walk out and Kat tried to run past him but he blocked her again.

“How will I know the time? You took all the phones,” Kat tried to play him but as she suspected he wasn’t the dumb sort and he pointed the clock on the wall- the same kind that she had at her place.

“Your Majesty, I do not want to put my hands on you but I will, if need be, trust me, the king will understand,” he uttered with a raised frown and backed out to the door. “Everything you need is here, time me,” he added and closed the door behind him.

Kat stared at the closed door and heard the key turn, locking her in. She stood in disbelief that she was actually locked in…who does that at this day and age?

“B*stard,” she snarled but still tried to open the knob to no avail. She yanked at it knowing she couldn’t break it for she had the same in her own room. Kat slumped down on the bed but only for a minute for the man was right, she did indeed want to use the toilet and shower.

Almost thirty minutes later, Kat was in the shower, washing the conditioner off her hair, beneath the hot water when she screeched out loud. A large warm hand placed itself on her waist.