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Chapter Five

Branson

I’m already in my cage, as usual, when Amelia is brought down again a few days later. I haven’t been brought upstairs since her first victim, and my eyes follow the girl as she and Jane walk into the room. Neither says anything while Jane opens the cage and lets the girl in. By the time the door shuts, Amelia’s hands are already wrapped around the bars of her cage and she’s looking at me hopefully.

“Hi, Branson!” she greets, “I read the rest of that story last night, so now I know the ending! So, the prince—”

I shake my head lightly but don’t say anything and her words trail off.

“Branson, what’s the matter?”

I sigh and look up at her, noticing how big and worried her eyes look.

“Amelia….” I stop, unsure how to say what I need to.

“What’s wrong? Did I do something? Are you mad at me?”

I look up at her watching me earnestly and sigh.

“No, I’m not mad at you,” I tell her, “I just… What did you think of your project?”

Amelia’s face splits into a wide smile. “Oh, Branson, it was so fun! Did you see me? Jane said I did a really good job too, and today, I get to do more.”

A headache pounds unforgiving behind my eyes.

“Amelia, you shouldn’t—fuck—I mean...”

“What is it?”

I consider what I can possibly say. Does she even understand what she’s doing? She must. She’s not that young, is she? Should I even tell her? And if I do tell her, what then? She’ll either feel bad about what she’s doing and that is just doing to get her in trouble with Jane, or she won’t. And is that something I am prepared for? Better for her she wants this, that she doesn’t end up like me.

Standing there in her pink lace dress—the picture of innocence—she watches me.

“Nothing, Amelia. Just want to make sure you’re happy.”

In hell, innocence is a curse, not a blessing. And I won’t be the reason for her curse.