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"Aiden."

I sat with my legs crossed on the couch and controller in hand facing the 52-inch TV mounted on the wall, and I was so deep in concentration that my tongue was sticking out a corner of my mouth.

How could I not be? The new Crash Bandicoot required the highest level of concentration.

One wrong move and I'd have to repeat the whole level.

I'd already failed about 99 times and this had to be my 100th attempt. There was no way I was going to fail.

"Aiden."

Crash touched one of those crawling turtle thingies and lost a few life points. "Shit, shit, shit." One more hit and it was game over. Again!

"Aiden, are you-"

I managed to make it to the next set of obstacles when a treacherous flame wiped me out and sent my plummeting into the abyss.

"For fuck's sake, that's not fair!"

"Aiden-!" Cain seized me by the chin and forced me to look at him. "You will answer me when I call you." I could clearly hear the "Or else in his voice."

"What do you want?" I said testily and tried to pull my face away from his grasp, from his intense glare, but it only tightened.

"It's time for dinner."

"I'm not hungry."

"I was not asking." He grabbed the controller from my hand and tossed it aside.

"Hey, you've already broken the other one!"

"Then do not constantly refuse to obey me so I don't break this one too. Dinner. Is. Served."

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me up effortlessly onto my feet in one swift move. I started to protest, but he pinned me with a dark gaze that immediately and effectively stopped my protests. Cain was not in a good mood tonight if his darkened expression and burning gaze was any indication.

It was best to do what he wanted lest I suffered the consequences of my defiance.

"Fine." I shoved off him and went to the kitchen where the large dinner table sat.

As usual, while Cain sat at the head of the table, I sat on the opposite side, the farthest from him.

Cain had a thing for eating by candlelight.

He'd dimmed all the lights in the kitchen and, like every night since my capture, had two lit candelabras placed strategically on the table, as well as the finest silver cutlery and the most luxurious-looking dinner plates.

I looked down at my plate. Damn it. It was something lovely again.

Cain had proved his culinary prowess once again; the smell alone made my mouth water.

Medium-well T-bone steak, mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables.

Schneizel's favorite.

My mouth instantly went dry at the memory of me devouring Schneizel's steak, mash and veggies on the first day of prison, mistaking it for mine. If I had been anybody else, Schneizel would have pulverized me.

Who would have thought that I would ever look back at The Prison from Hell fondly? Certainly not the me from a year ago.

"What's the matter? You do not like steak?"

"No... it's fine." My stomach growled. I hadn't had anything to eat since breakfast, and it was the only reason why I picked up the fork and steak knife and managed to force down a few bites before my throat constricted.

.. with unshed tears. I grabbed the glass of bourbon and threw it down, hoping that the burn would un-constrict my airways.

I pushed the chair back, ready to get back.

"You haven't finished your plate."

"I'm full. Thanks for the meal." I rose and headed to my room.

I sat on the porch hugging my knees as my thoughts once again revolved around the same person I'd thought about these last forty or so days.

It was also exactly six weeks, thirteen hours, and forty-five minutes since I'd been kidnapped and brought to this island.

It had also been six weeks, thirteen hours, and forty-five minutes since the last time I saw Schneizel.

I buried my tear-stained face and allowed free rein to my misery. The last time I saw Schneizel, he'd been shot because of me. For the millionth time, I wondered if he was alright now. Was he still hurting? Was he in pain? More importantly, was he looking for me, or had he given up hope?

No, the man who breaks out of a maximum-security prison to come to my rescue the first time won't abandon me now. He will come, I know he will.

But still, the more time passed, the more my belief wavered and doubt seeped into my heart.

"You look like you could use a drink."

I sighed into my knees and raised my face. Only once I'd made every evidence of my tears disappear did I look at him. Sniffing, I demanded, "What do you want?"

He placed a glass of wine on the porch right next to me. "Drink."

I looked at the red liquid and saw a chance to forget my misery. I took it and started swallowing it all in one go.

"Easy, boy." But I'd already downed the entire contents of the glass by the time he finished his sentence.

I felt his gaze on me and growled, "What?"

He didn't say anything and only softly chuckled, as if he were privy to some inside joke.

Well, I supposed that to someone like him, I really was a nothing but a joke, an insignificant insect waiting to be crushed.

I only had value up until the moment Cain accomplished whatever it was he wanted to accomplish.

Yet, for the past few weeks, he'd treated me with near kindness and some level of respect, much to my utter shock.

Just like his gesture just now. I kept waiting for the moment when he'd strike and show me his true colors.

I couldn't help lowering my guard, little by little, and if that was his intention, I was ashamed to say that it was working.

After all, we had been living together these past few weeks with nary an incident.

The only time he ever reminded me that I was really a hostage rather than a 'guest' was when I'd refuse to do his every bidding.

Maybe he already was showing me his colors...

"You were thinking about him again, weren't you?"

I glanced upon his countenance from the corner of my eye.

He stood on the other side of the porch, his eyes fixated on the invisible ocean.

He looked the picture of nonchalance, but I knew, oh, I knew.

Every time Schneizel was mentioned or even remotely implied, his mood went from zero to hundred real quick.

I could see it in the shadows on his face and the hard set of his jaws.

The mere mention of Schneizel's name sent Cain raving mad.

"What is it between you two?" It was a question that was long overdue, but hopefully, he'd answer this time. "Just tell me already. What difference will me knowing make?"

Cain didn't say anything. He stayed quiet for so long that I began to lose hope that he'd ever give me an answer, and turned to look at the ocean as well when he said, "He stole something from me."

I blinked, surprised. "Stole? Stole what?"

I didn't know Schneizel to be a thief.

"My hopes and dreams."

I blinked again, dumfounded. "You've got to be kidding me," I scoffed.

He pinned me with a glare so deadly, I actually yelped.

He suddenly came toward me like a charging bull, leaving me no chance of escape.

Seizing me by the collar of my shirt, he lifted me onto my feet so that I could look him directly in the eye.

Fire spewed from his cerulean eyes. He was so livid that the veins in his forehead popped.

I'd never regretted anything as quickly as I regretted mocking him the way I did.

There they are; his true colors.

"You wanna know what that bastard did? Your beloved boyfriend betrayed me! I thought we were friends!"

"Betrayed you-?"

"I know you saw me that night. Who do you think gave me that injury?"