Page 15

But a fantasy wouldn't get him free. He had to think logically, and as the days went, he let the gears turn in his mind. But the plan to escape slowly turned into one of revenge. He tried to turn away from the idea, but it grew obsessive.

He wanted blood on his tongue. He wanted Hendrik's head.

He didn't have a death wish. Though he wasn't afraid to die, it wasn't what he wanted. But the need for revenge ate at him so badly, he could see nothing else. Not even escape.

It was all he could think about...unless that woman came around. Only she ever broke his thoughts. And only because her insistence on helping him annoyed him. That's all. He only watched her because she confused him. She didn't show the same level of fear for him as the others. Or hate. She seemed inclined to talk with him. Not that it mattered to him or anything. He listened only because her voice didn't grate on him as badly as the others. She at least had something to say that might benefit him. Like telling him about the city and how it was run. Giving him an idea of what he was working with. She didn't stink as bad as the others, and her eyes were easier to look at, he'd give her that. And her hands had been soft when she'd cleaned him up. For whatever reason, he hadn't been as disgusted by her touch. He had no explanation for that one. It didn't matter anyway.

She was still a weak, annoying human.

He found himself waiting for her in the mornings when she came, just so he could imagine the things he could say. But whenever she did, he always seemed to forget the words. When he did remember, she couldn't understand him anyway.

Annoying.

Those little moments she came around were all he had to bring him back to reality. Then he would slip back into himself and fantasize. Hendrik would come later on, and he would drive out Xeda's rage in every lash, every shock, every stab, but inside, he would still be somewhere far away.

And still, he never broke. Not for him.

He could see it was getting to Hendrik really bad, and he liked to see the meatsack squirm. Then Hendrik’s little minions would come, but they could never get too close. They stank of fear so much it made Xeda gag.

He was daydreaming over and over about crushing Hendrik's skull in his jaws one night so that he'd hardly noticed the light of morning begin to seep in. Only when he saw the shadow pass by the door did he come to his senses. He blinked slowly and peered by the door to see the woman smiling back at him.

"Hey," she said softly. She looked back behind her, as if making sure no one was paying attention to her before turning back to him.

He watched her, noting she seemed excited about something. He hadn't seen her in a couple of days and found himself stepping closer. He almost hadn't expected her to come back. Not that he cared. He was just curious.

"I can't stay for long but...listen, you can talk to me now. See, look." She turned her head and pointed at her ear. He moved a little closer and saw the little black piece in her lobe. He assumed it was a translator.

She had gone out of her way to be able to understand him. To listen to him.

"I haven't tested it though, so I was kind of hoping you'd help with that. So, what did you want to tell me?"

What did he want to tell her? There were many things he had wanted to say.

"You...can understand me?" he said first.

Her eyes brightened, and she perked up. "Yes!" she gasped. "I got that."

He stepped even closer until the chains behind him could go no more. He narrowed his sights on her, a low hiss building in him. Oh, how sweet even the littlest revenge could be.

"You want to talk to me?" he said in a low, cool voice.

She lifted her shoulder. "You were trying to talk to me, weren't you?"

"Yes," he said softly. "Yes, I was."

He could see her pupils dilating, as if the thought pleased her. Her mouth widened a little more as she looked at him eagerly.

She waited, and he didn't say a word.

There was a shout somewhere behind her.

"What did you say?" she whispered hurriedly.

"You'd like to know?"

"Yes!"

"How...sweet." He stepped back into the dark corner of his cell.