Apologies for the long wait. hope this makes up for it
Clarissa awoke to see it was already early afternoon. She rubbed her eyes and stared up at the Ceiling. Always early bird she was use to being up a few hours ago and out in the world to go to work or run errands. But now, in this glamorous prison, she had no reason to get out of bed. She could lay there and rot and no one would care.
Clarissa closed her eyes and shook her head. No, Jim had a list of people that contradicted that thought. Irene had already risked her life to save her. That was the only reason she was here, to keep them alive.
She got out of the bed and continued with her new routine of bathing and brushing her teeth. This time she decided it was best to bring her change of clothes into the bathroom.
Once dressed and ready for the day, Clarissa looked into the mirror concentrated on the image before her. It was important part of the day. She needed to make sure she didn't loose herself in this process. "Day fifteen" She thought to herself and smiled.
Walking out of the bathroom, Clarissa sensed a slight disturbance in the room. A fire was cracking and a tray of food had been set out.
"Wow he was already here." A sigh of relief left her lips. "Let's see what kind of food I'm suppose to stomach today."
She sat down and pulled a bowl of what looked like oatmeal into her lap. She tried to stir the almost solid lumpy mess that use to be oatmeal. Lifting a spoonful up to her face she inspected the so called nutritious meal. Turning the spoon upside down, the oatmeal stuck to it like cement. She dropped the spoon into the bowl and set it back into the table.
Leaning her head back, Clarissa pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. "I can't go through this shit again. I need a real meal."
Looking around the empty room she weighed the options in her head. But there was really only one option.
She stood and walked to the door. Slowly she opened the door and popped her head out. There was no one in sight. She quietly tip toed to the stairs and crouched next to the railing. Taking a few moments to listen, she was only met with silence. Satisfied with the empty sound Clarissa cautiously took each step down the stairs. Each step she took boosted her courage. Once at the bottom, she strolled down the hallway to the only room she knew of with certainty.
Finding the dining room was easy. She had only been there a few time. But the only way Jim would allow her to eat was in his company in this very dining room. Clarissa would go days at a time starving herself just to avoid these little 'dates'.
But when she finally gave into her hunger Jim would be waiting in this room. A plate of delicious warm food would be waiting for her. The first time she ate as fast as humanly possible while Jim tried to start a conversation. Once all her food was gone Clarissa was up and running back to her room before Jim could stand.
The second date was a bit more strategically planned.
Clarissa sat down to an empty plate and a smiling Jim. "Where's the food?"
"So impatient." Jim picked up his napkin and placed it in his lap. "Dinner will be ready soon. But in the meantime I thought we could take this opportunity to talk." Clarissa had yet to lift her head. Both her arms laid on the table on either side of the empty plate. "You've been staying with me for over a week now and I feel like we haven't had a real chance to get to know each other."
"Oh really." Clarissa looked up from her empty plate. "I know you're a kidnapping, blackmailing, psychopath."
"Oh but you've only just scratched the surface." He placed his hand on top of her's. "But let's start with you. This being our second date and all I thought we could just skip the boring stuff. Tell me something
interesting."
"You have a list of my loved ones in what I can only assume is in a file of my life. What Could I possibly tell you that you don't already know?"
"Tsk tsk tsk you're not doing this RIGHT." Jim slammed his hands against the table with that last word. "The first date is all about where you're from and where you work. Yes I know all of that from the files of your life." He leaned in closer and softened his tone as he spoke. "This is the second date. All that superficial stuff is out of the way. This is the part where we talk about what is up here." He tapped the side of her head. "Your dreams and aspirations, what you want out of life."
"I just want to get out of here alive" She pulled away from his touch.
He set his elbows on the table on the table and rested his chin in his hands. "I'm intrigued by you and I want to know everything about you."
"I ummm..." The door behind Jim swung open and Sebastian came out with a roast beef in hand. He carefully placed it in front of the two. Clarissa's mouth watered as the smell wafted up her nose. It had been too long since her last meal and the food in front of her made her forget exactly where she was.
Fork in hand, Clarissa reached out for the food. Her actions were met with a sharp pain as Jim stabbed his fork into her arm.
"Not yet." She tried to retract her hand but Jim caught her wrist with his free hand. He pulled it up to his chest. "It is only polite to wait for the entire meal to be placed on the table before eating."
He kissed her knuckle and yanked the fork out of her arm. Clarissa recoiled back into her chair, tending to her wound and glaring at Jim as he cleaned his fork with his mouth.
"So where were we?" He said while he took the fork out of his mouth and started to polish it with his napkin. "Oh yes you were about to say something"
"I'm fucking bleeding you asshole." Clarissa quickly wrapped a napkin around her arm.
"Yeah sorry about that." Jim leaned back into her and helped knot the napkin. "People say I can be a little eccentric. But a point had to be made and you would not have learned if you were not punished. Bet it won't happen again" Both sat in silence. " How about this. I'll start. As you know I work in the consultant business."
Sebastian came back out of the kitchen with two side dishes. He picked up a bottle and started filling Jim's glass.
"What is that?' Jim hissed as he stared at the glass.
"It's the wine for tonight's dinner." The large man timidly answered.
"It's white wine." Jim picked up the glass and concentrated all of his attention on the clear liquid.
"It's just wine." Sebastian filled Clarissa's glass and placed the bottle on the table.
"Just wine." Jim stood and stood toe to to with Sebastian. Thought Sebastian had a good foot above him, Jim Looked up at him with superiority. "I meal like this requires a dry red wine" Jim lifted his glass over Sebastian's head and slowly poured the wine out. "Not this swill."
Sebastian stood perfectly still. The liquid dripped from his nose and ears. "I will grab another bottle."
"It's too late for that." Jim snatched the bottle from the table. The bottle shattered to pieces as it collided with the side of Sebastian's face. "The night has already been ruined by your incompetence." He screamed into the marksman's ear as Sebastian bent over from the impact. "Clean this mess up."
Jim stormed pass the marksman and pulled Clarissa out of her chair by her wrist. Clarissa scrambled out of her chair reaching for the food that just to tempting to resist. With her free hand she stole a roll and shoved it down her shirt.
Clarissa almost tripped on her own feet as Jim pulled her into the hall. He yanked her back up to her feet and paused at the stairs. He released his grip and let Clarissa's arm fall back to her side.
He straightened his tie and smoothed out the from of his suit. "Sorry about that it there." His fingers ran through his hair as his head tilted to the side. "It's sooOOoo hard to find good help these days. Shall we."
He expended his hand waiting for her to take it. The thought of willingly that man almost made her loose her appetite for that hidden morsel of food she worked so hard to get. She reluctantly took his hand and he pulled her in close as they ascended the stairs back to her room.
"I truly am sorry about all of this." The sincerity in his voice was the most confounding thing Clarissa had ever felt. Had this mad man finally seen that all of this was a mistake. It had been the longest week of her life, having to keep her guard up, refusing to cooperate while keeping to the guidelines of their agreement. He had to be getting fed with her by now. She turn to look at the side of his face with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. Was she going home?
""It's been a week and we haven't been able to spend much time together. It's my fault really. I thought you should be given time to adjust to your new surroundings. But I have been a terrible host and I apologize for that." He turned and smiled as the hope in her features disappeared and rage took its place. "From now on we will be spending more time together."
Clarissa was silent the entire walk. Both stopped at the door to her room. With that same smile Jim leaned against the door frame. "I had a really lovely time."
'He can't be fucking serious.' Clarissa looked at him and then at the door.
"This would be a lot easier if you would just give me a chance. I'm a pretty good guy once you get to know me." He wrapped around the back of her neck. "And to show it I'm going to let you keep that little delicacy you've tucked away." He glanced down at her chest and back up into her eyes. Slowly he leaned in and pulled her closer.
With out hesitation Clarissa ducked under his arm and slipped into her room. Quickly she slammed the door shut and leaned against it.
She could hear Jim chuckling on the other side. "Good night my love. See you tomorrow." She listened to his footsteps as he walked away. She sunk to the floor as the sound ceased. Pulling out the roll she inhaled it in seconds. The tears she was holding back finally fell as she swallowed.
Back to the present Clarissa found herself sitting in her dining chair in the empty dining room. You never would have known this was the very same place the devil ate his meals.
Her stomach growled reminding her of her primary objective. Food. She got up and walked through the swinging door that had to lead to the kitchen.
The enormous kitchen was in pristine condition. It looked too perfect, almost completely untouched and clean. She walked around the island to the fridge and swung the doors open. It was Fully stocked with everything she could wish for and more. She piled up everything she would need and placed the items on the counter. She opened every drawer and cabinet looking for the cooking utensils.
Putting a pot on the stove Clarissa measured and melted some butter. Adding flour and milk, she made a basic rue and stirred the contents. Waiting for it to thicken she chopped up some thin sliced deli meat and tossed it into the pot. While it cooled she cut a couple of slices of bread and popped them in the toaster. The smell was delicious and reminded her of home.
" Well what do we have here." Clarissa jumped out of her skin from Sebastian's voice. She spun around and was met with his chest. "Smells good."
The toast popped up and Sebastian stepped to the side to pick up a plate. He pushed her off to the side as he slathered HER food onto the toast. Walking around the island and took a seat. He shoved the toast into his mouth.
"Damn girl you should cook more often." He spat out his words in between chewing.
She shrugged off the irritation that came with Sebastian's presence and prepared some more toast.
"What do you call this little dish?" A bit of food slid down his chin.
"Edible." She poured the rest of the rue on her toast and slowly took a bit.
"Haha smart ass." He took another bite. "So what is it?"
Thinking it wiser to indulge in the conversation than ignore him, she answered him. "Shit on a shingle."
"What kind of disgusting name is that?" Sebastian cringed at the title.
"Well that's what my nana use to call it." Clarissa sat across from him as she ate. "But the clean version is called chipped beef on toast."
Neither let their eyes drift from the other as they ate in silence. Their plates were empty and Clarissa looked around the room. "Okay you know the rules. I cook. You clear."
"Umm no." He stood and headed for the door.
"Now wait a minute buddy boy." She threw a wash rag at the back of his head. "You just invited yourself and enjoyed the delicious lunch I work over a hot stove to cook myself. Time to pull your weight."
Sebastian cracked his neck and turned around. Reveling in her little victory Clarissa skipped pass him as he started his chores.
"Where do you think you're going?" She stopped in her tracks and looked over her shoulders back at Sebastian. "If you're going to be out of your room it's my job to keep an eye on you. Stay here while I clean up."
She might have won the battle but she didn't win the war. Not wanting to push her luck, Clarissa sat down and watched him clean. He made quick work of his task. Cleaning and drying, Sebastian put each piece away in it's exact spot. He knew this kitchen like the back of his hand. Wait.
"Why did you make me inedible groul for the last couple day?" Her words didn't phase him as he continued cleaning. "I can't see Jim cooking. This is obviously your kitchen. SO why starve me for two days?"
"Because I was told to." He stated matter of factly.
That didn't make sense. "But why?"
"To get you out of your room. Moriarty didn't want you to rot up there and he thought with him gone you might be more inclined to move around. The food was apart of the plan to make sure of that."
"Like a game of chess. Every move thought out. How clever." She sighed having been beaten.
"I just follow orders. I have no idea of his plans."
"Your a pawn. Always moving forward. Never looking for the big picture." She was starting to hate Sebastian even more. "Someday you'll walk straight to your death."
"You think you got it any better?" Sebastian stomped over to where she sat. He pulled her head back by her hair. A clean butter knife was push against her neck. "You're never leaving here alive. Sooner or later he will get bored of you. I just hope I get to be the one that puts the bullet in your head."
Sebastian was a cold blooded murderer. There is no denying that fact. He could easily killed her with that dull weapon in his hand and not lose a wink of sleep. But he didn't frighten Clarissa. He was just a dog obeying his master.
"How pathetic" The words left her lips before she had realized she didn't mean to say that out loud.
Something in Sebastian snapped. In a flash his fist smashed into her jaw with all his strength. Clarissa went flying out of his chair and hit the floor. The familiar taste of blood hit her taste buds.
Survival took over her senses. Clarissa was quick to get back on her feet and ran out the room. She had miscalculated. Thinking she had any control over the situation was a mistake. She had underestimated Sebastian and had paid the price for her stupidity. Too scared to look back, her instincts told her to hide.
Running down the hall, She opened the first door she spotted and jumped in. 'A towel closet. Great.'
Clarissa rolled her eyes as she squatted in the tight quarters.
In the dark room, Clarissa tried to tune out the the sound of her heart beating inside her ears. Outside the door, the sound of footsteps getting louder. A sliver of light from under the door is broken by a shadow. The footsteps stop just outside the door. She could hear the doorknob lightly jiggle.
'What a way to go.' Clarissa waited for the inevitable. 'Torn to shreds by a dog off its chain.'
But the door never swung open. What felt like hours, but in reality was five seconds, Clarissa watched the shadow on the floor.
"I know you're in there." He voice came from behind the unlock door.
'No shit sherlock.' But she remained silent. 'What is he waiting for?'
"We both know you deserve that." She humphed at his words. " You can stay in there if it makes you feel better. But you might want to consider trying to make this stay a little easier on yourself."
With that the shadow left the floor and footsteps faded into the distance.
Left alone Clarissa felt around in search of a towel. Finding a washcloth, she wipes away the liquid dripping down her chin. Pushing it against her split lip, the dull pain was a hard reminder. Clarissa was never good at manipulation. Her whole life she had been blunt and to the point. People might not like the words that came from her mouth. But there was a respect for her pure unbiased honesty. What made her think she was cleaver enough to play this type game.
The sun had set by the time Clarissa finally journeyed out of her hiding place. Hours of siting in the dark room, poking at the cut on her lip. Each jab inflicting pain. Each jolt of pain burning the lesson she had learned today. Clarissa could not act like something she's not. If she was going to survive she had to stay true to herself. No more games.
She snuck up to her room and crawled into bed. 'Day fifteen finally over.'