When I woke up it was still pitch black. I didn't know whether or not to turn on the lights, I had no idea what time it was. I touched my wrist and clicked on the back light to my watch, 4:30. Too bad it never told me AM or PM. I felt like I had slept enough. I stood up quietly on the bed and stretched. I held my hand out and walked quietly to the desk and turned on the light. When I turned to face the room he was watching me from the bed.

"SHHhhhh wow you are creepy." I hissed at him while clutching the desk. "I…I didn't know if it was AM or PM and I felt kind of awake…I didn't know what to do with the light situation, I'm sorry if I woke you up."

"Do you apologize for everything?" His eyes held a hint of amusement mixed with annoyance.

"Yeah, actually, sorry." Muttering I started back to my corner, "Do you want me to turn off this light?" I moved my hand towards the switch as I gestured to the desk lamp.

He sat up swiftly and brushed his hands together. He took a few steps towards me and stood before me straight backed, glaring down at me. I tried to lean far away from him over the desk.

"What else do you require? We will be moving soon, I will make sure you have an extra few articles of clothing, do you require anything else?"

"Now that you mention it, a toothbrush, paste, a hairbrush would be amazing. If I could get a small light for over by my, uh, area, then I wouldn't have to bother you so much."

"Why do you need a light?"

"I can't read in the dark." I gave him my best duh face. I still could not bring myself to look him in the eye though.

"Anything else?" He took a small step forward and I saw his black boots had smudges of red on them.

"Uh, yeah some deodorant would be great, water would be even better. I'm really hungry, is it really 4:30 in the morning?"

"It is."

"Could you take a step back, you're going to give me a panic attack." I turned my head and put my hand out.

"I like making people feel uncomfortable."

"Mission accomplished, go get a cookie or something." I waved my hand at him trying to shoo him away.

He grabbed my wrist and squeezed. My breath caught in my throat and my eyes went wild to my arm. I used my other hand and tried to pry his fingers from around my wrist. By doing so I had to practically stand on Bane's feet.

"I think you need to know who to respect." He clenched a bit harder and lowered me to the ground; I was on my knees, tears pouring out from the pain. "You are like a kind of pet. Be glad I don't have a cage for you. When we move you will have your own room, be rest assured, but I could have just as easily locked you up in a closet every night." He took his other hand and cupped it around my mouth, from ear to ear his hand reached. He squeezed my face just a little, enough to bruise if held there too long. I squeaked and squirmed under his hands, he just looked at me with amusement. "When I tell you to do something you will do it, you will not wave me off; ever. I understand your need to joke about but do not do so with me. Answer me quickly when I speak to you and do so like an adult. If you do these things you will be treated well, anything else and we will have this talk again." He squeezed my wrist and face a little harder. "Do we understand each other?" I shook my head as best I could. "Very good." He tossed me aside and I half crawled, half walked back to my bed and curled myself into ball. I was terrified, I was in trouble but more I was probably not going to live. The light went off and I finally allowed myself to cry, silently for fear of disturbing Bane, but then the door opened and closed and he was gone, leaving me to the dark room, and my sobs that were muffled by my blankets.

After another few hours sleep I woke up to a dim light next to my bed, it was a small desk lamp, along with a bowl of fruits and vegetables and what looked to be a cheeseburger. There was a small bag next to the lamp with the things I had asked for, along with extra clothes and a towel. Peering around the room I realized I was alone and quietly stood up. I needed a shower and to brush my teeth. I checked my watch. 3:30, I assumed the afternoon. I didn't know how long I had the room to myself for; I quickly turned on the light above the desk, grabbed the toiletries, towel, and extra clothes, and I ran to the shower.

After my five minute shower was done, I went through the clothes I had been brought; a few pairs of basketball shorts (men's of course) and a few military shirts in various colors. I grabbed black shorts and black shirt and finished my hygiene routine with teeth brushing and went to sit back down in my corner. Realizing my towel was not going to dry in a heap, I got up again in a huff and draped it over the shower door carefully, hoping it would not cause him to be angry. As I went to settle back down on my bed, the door opened and in walked that beautiful woman from before. I nodded politely to her as I went back to my bed and she went to Bane's cupboard. She unlocked it, took something out, and locked it back up again.

"Excuse me Ma'am?" My voice was quiet but in the room it sounded very loud to me.

"Yes?" She stopped just inside the door frame.

"Could I ask you to put in a good word for me for some tiger balm, please? It's a salve for sore muscles and such, I fell pretty hard the other day," I rubbed my wrist under the blanket and wondered if there was a bruise. "I just want to ease some of the tension to get my full motion back. I don't know when Bane will be back and I didn't think I needed it yesterday. I don't want to make him angry." I kept my head down and my voice quiet.

"I will make sure someone brings you some. You are very polite so I will be cordial to you as well. Do not make me regret it."

"Yes Ma'am." The door was already closed. I lifted my arm up to the light of the lamp and sure enough, a deep purple bruise took up my forearm.

Turning off the desk light, I settled back into the semi darkness with my lamp and finished brushing my hair. Pulling it up into a ponytail I took out my medical textbook and started reading from the front. I had a few good books and some technical books as well. There were things I have always wanted to do in my life, but could never have the opportunity. Self study is a hard thing, but I had eaten more textbooks than mot professors. I loved every minute of it. I got 4 chapters in when the door swung open.

"I didn't realize you would eat so little." A mercenary walked in with a bag and a gallon of water.

"Oh, gosh, no, there's nothing wrong with the food." Turning my wrist over I checked my watch; 7:30. "Holy crap I've been reading for much longer than I thought, I'm really sorry. I promise I'll eat." I put a page in my book and set it down.

"Do not apologize," his chuckle was must gentler, he had a nice smile too. He also was wearing a huge armor vet complete with bullets the length of a large pencil and as thick as a dime. "I just don't want Bane to think that I am not doing my job, Jade."

"Oh, so you know me?"

"Bane told me what I am to call you, yes."

"Do you have a name?"

"Barsad." He took a small bow and smiled.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Barsad." I stood up and extended my hand. He let go of his weapon around his neck and shook my hand, gingerly at first but then changed when he felt me giving him a real handshake.

"You have a good shake for a woman."

"You're not so bad yourself." I flashed him a smile and he laughed good heartedly. "Oh good, you're okay with a little humor."

"Oh Bane is humorous, he has bad days like everyone else. Maybe he will warm up to you." He winked. "I should go, and you should eat." He handed me the bag and slide the water a few feet to my bed.

"Thank you Barsad."

"You are welcome." He closed the door gently. I took the bag back to where my lamp was and began to eat the fruits and vegetables from this morning. A few apples, a couple oranges, a peach, some carrots and celery sticks; I opened the new bag to find a few more burgers, 3 more apples, and some carrot sticks. I opened the burger from earlier to see if it was edible. It felt so cold and stale I just put it in my garbage bag and went for a fresh burger and an apple. The burger was actually not half bad; I drank more than half the water and was eating another burger and my apple when Bane walked in.

He didn't slam the door open and he didn't bang it closed. He turned to my mattress but I just kept my head down and kept eating. He tossed a small container on my bed; tiger balm, I put on a small smile to myself and took the container gently.

"Thank you."

He walked past me and took his coat off over the chair and his vest down by his bed. I made sure my things were tidy and out of the way before I got up and went to get my towel down, surely it was dry by now. Bane was getting his syringe and vial out, a shiver ran up my spine at the sight of the needle and I grabbed my towel and walked quickly back.

His mask was off and he was eating on the side of the bed when I folded my towel and sat back down. "May I have one of those?"

I looked up slightly and then at my bag of food.

"A burger or a fruit?"

"An apple, if you please."

"Are you a good catch?" I pulled a good apple out of the bag and gently removed the sticker.

"You will bring it to me; do not throw things across the room." His voice was still husky without the mask on.

I huffed a bit before standing up and walking briskly across the room. His hand was held out but I put the apple on his nightstand and turned quickly on my heels and went back to my corner.

"We'll have to work on some of your manners."

"I don't really like being touched and I feel kind of crappy after earlier. I feel really terrible actually. I'm sorry I didn't put it in your hands, I just didn't want to be that close to you." I rested myself into my corner and took out another apple and began to eat it with vigor. Eating was a good stress release.

"Honesty suits you." He sounded proud of himself. I didn't know how to respond so I just kept eating my apple and staring into the nothing of my blanket. "So tell me little Jade, who was this friend of yours who used a stone to represent a young lady?"

"I'd rather not talk about him if that's alright with you." I finished my apple and threw the core into my trash bag.

"I'm sure I asked you something." His voice was flat and he stopped moving for a moment and folded his hands together, elbows resting on his knees.

"He was just a good friend who was always there for me, until he wasn't anymore. I was supposed to check my email yesterday to see if he sent me something, but seeing as I never made it to the library, I guess either I'll find out later or I will never know." I kept my head down.

"Tell me more about him." Bane stretched out on his bed and kept his eyes on the ceiling.

"He was a bigger guy, but was really strong, not fat but built. He enrolled himself in the armed services. They accepted him, after basic he was shipped out, and off the continent. I keep in touch with him through email. He's like my big brother, he always looked after me." I slid down onto my bed and kept my face to the wall and my back to him. I turned off my light, hoping it would end the conversation.

"What was his name?" Bane's voice came out through the deeper tone of his mask.

"His name was Andrew." I pulled the tiger balm out and rubbed it over my forearm and lower back. As long as I was under the blankets the smell would not permeate too much and my clothes would cover most of the exposed area, leaving my blanket mostly clean.

"Did you ever have a relationship?"

"I don't want to talk about this anymore." My heart tightened up in my chest. I did love him, but I was always his little sister; he would never see me like that. Some part of me was grateful for that; I would always have a friend, a best friend, a big brother to always take care of me. But he didn't take care of me anymore.

"You are upset he left?"

I didn't answer and I tried to lay as still as possible, my eyes shut tight, willing him to leave it alone, to go to bed, to leave me alone.

"In a few days when we move I will have more time to speak with you. I suggest you get used to speaking with me. I hear your heartbreak in your voice, I will drop it for now, but soon you will not hide things from me anymore."

The lights went out and I said a silent prayer that I wouldn't wake up tomorrow.

When I woke up it was about 6am, I assumed it was AM because Bane was gone. Barsad walked in about 7 and brought me some breakfast. Fruit and some bread with butter on it; he even managed to sneak in a small bottle of chocolate milk.

"You are the best Barsad." I took the gifts gratefully and began eating quickly. I decided to avoid Bane altogether I would stay awake all day and make sure I was asleep when he came back every night.

"Jade it is not a problem." His smile was warm and I appreciated him more than he knew. He was a small bit of sanity.

"Will you be bringing me things every day?" I offered him a piece of fruit which he accepted only after he checked the hallway.

"Thank you, and yes, I'm Bane's second so I am in charge of important things like you." He winked at me and made me giggle.

"Oh well in that case I'll try to keep the riots to a bare minimum." He laughed back.

"When we move then I'll be staying in the house as well, maybe you'll feel a little better once we are out of here." He motioned around the cold room.

"Why does that sound like it could be trouble?" I continued to smile and him and he laughed again.

"Just don't get me killed okay?" He chuckled deeply. "Is there anything else you need?" His tone was genuine.

"Naw, I'm going to try to stay low key till we get out of here. How many days again?"

"Probably about 4 give or take, Bane said about a week but we may be able to get a place faster than that. I'm working as fast as I can."

"Oh I didn't mean to rush you or anything. I just want to know how much longer I have to play nice in closed quarters. I really need my own space." I stood up to throw my garbage bag into a small trashcan that had appeared in the night somehow.

"We all want out of this place. Like I said though, anything else? I don't mean to sound rushy but I do have to go be a badass today." His smile was infectious and he was quickly becoming my favorite person here. I didn't have much opinion on the woman I had met.

"I understand, go terrorize the innocent townsfolk." I turned around and shooed him with one hand while the other rested on my hip.

"You aren't mad?"

"Is being mad going to stop any of you?"

"No, not really."

"Then being mad is just a waste of my energy. You are human, so am I. I wish you well in your journey." I smiled lightly at him.

"You are a different person altogether aren't you?"He adjusted the gun over his shoulder.

"You could say that." I walked over and gave him a quick hug, catching him off guard.

"What's this for?" He patted my shoulder, a good natured brotherly hug.

"You're nice to me and haven't threatened to hurt or kill me. OH, I just thought about it, can you bring me a cup? It doesn't matter what kind but I just need a cup."

"Like a drinking cup? Yeah I'm sure I can swing that. I'll be in mid afternoon with food. You'll be okay till then?"

"Yeah, I can manage."

He nodded with a smile and left me to the dimming lamp light.

I went back to my bed as the door closed quietly. I really liked it when the giant metal door didn't just slam shut or open, it was so loud and scrapped my nerves.

I took out my sketchpad and set myself up some still life with the items I had in my corner. I began with the lamp, my clothes bag, and some books. My art teacher always told us to draw what we see not what we remember. I laid my hand over my paper and began sketching that too, every line and detail. I realized that my hands were much more calloused than I wanted to believe.

I stopped sketching after a few hours and studied my books until Barsad came back with lunch/dinner. More fruit and vegetables, no burger this time.

"Is someone vegetarian or something? Lots of fruit and vegetables, not that I'm complaining." I picked through the assortment and settled on a pear.

"No, it's just easier to get fruit and vegetables. I can send someone plain to the market. It's harder to drive a car full of mercenaries through a drive through window." He laughed and it was infectious. "But I do have good news, we're moving in 2 days, not a damn near week."

"Yippee skippy." I ate quietly, thinking about how fast things were going. How soon before I didn't wake up anymore. "Barsad, if he told you to kill me, would you?"

He was dead still then. He looked at me with a little sadness in his eyes.

"I would be hard pressed not to follow orders sweetie." He smiled lightly, trying to make light of telling he would kill me if he had to.

"I understand, I'm not mad at you Barsad." I got up and gave him another hug. It felt nice to be able to let my fear take me over for a moment, safe in someone's arms.

"You are unlike anyone I have ever met." He patted my back gently.

"Wait till you try my cooking." I winked at him and he raised his eyebrows.

"Oh really now? I'll hold you to it. See you tomorrow sweetie." And with that he was gone.

"Yeah, cooking.." I leaned against my wall and ate quietly, closing my eyes and letting my mind wander over the food I missed cooking so much. Maybe running down here was a good thing, it sounded like where ever we went next I would have access to a kitchen, and maybe more real food. I thought about food and music, eating my way through another pear, an orange, a few carrots and a tomato. Good variety at least. The cup I asked for was sitting at the bottom, it was a simple hard plastic cup with a cute cartoon on it. I rolled it around in my hands before I set it down next to my lamp and other supplies.

I needed a plan to get out. I would never be able to make it out of the sewers so I would have to wait till they moved me and hoped that I could come up with a better plan. I brushed my teeth and settled in for the rest of the evening. I knew Bane would be back soon, I was not ready to talk with him. After applying more tiger balm to my arm and back I lay down and turned off the light. It felt like it was getting colder every night, I pulled the blankets close and curled myself to face the wall. I closed my eyes and counted down from ten, my bruised arm cradled against my body.

I never heard the door and I never heard him. I woke up once in the middle of the night feeling something hot over the back of my neck, but I just pulled my blanket down a bit and went back to sleep.