Chapter 33 Chapter 33: Confused By Actions
Chapter 33 Chapter 33: Confused By Actions
Aliana Slate's POV:
How was I supposed to process something like this? I didn't know if making a move in any direction at that moment was going to be the right one. What was going to happen if and when I did?
"Are you alright?" I heard the man ask me right then.
What was I supposed to say? I didn't know how to talk without flinching. Talking... I mean, that's not something I was used to doing anymore. I didn't even know who I was exactly at that point.
"Here, I'll do this for you," I heard Sebastian say right then.
Suddenly, he turned towards me as I looked at him out of the side of my eye, and he used his free hand to quickly place it behind my knees and swoop me off her feet. I inhaled sharply, unsure as to what he was going to do. I couldn't help it as I grabbed at my chest when he started to walk around the large center island and set me down on a tall stool there at the end.
"First off, how about we get you situated?" Sebastian said once he had me seated. "I will cut both of them up, and you can pick and choose which ones you want to eat first. You can have all of them, or just some of them. The choice I leave up to you."
"Ummm..." I said lightly as I looked around at where he was headed.
He walked off from me and over to a separate counter in the corner by the wall and pulled out a drawer. I didn't know what he was looking for, but I tried not to jump when I saw that he had a small knife in his hand. He wasn't looking at me precisely, but he did grab a large wooden slab in a separate drawer and walk back to where he had placed the apples.
"Do you like Caramel Dip?" Sebastian asked me as he glanced up at me briefly. "Do you know what that is, exactly?"
I couldn't do anything but swallow right then. I tried to contain myself as I watched him take the knife when he first sliced into one of the apples.
asked her, and when I first spoke, she jumped again, even though my arm was still wrapped in a protective manner around her shoulders.
I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what I could do that would make all this easier for her. That's when I had an idea. The only thing I could think of was that every time he raised his hand, it made me think that I was going to be slapped for one reason or another.
"Would you care to try some of that caramel dip?" Sebastian asked me as he glanced up at me this time.
I was too busy watching him cut the apple on the counter that I didn't even realize that he was looking at me. It wasn't until I looked up and my eyes met his that I kinda lightly jumped, and my eyes went wide.
"Oh... ummm," I was fumbling with my next words.
I didn't exactly know what to say. I halfway shrugged my shoulders. My lips kept parting and closing as if I was attempting to say words, but nothing came out.
"After I'm finished cutting these," Sebastian said, looking back as he continued to cut them and then remove the seeds from the centers of each slice. "I will put a small portion on a plate for you. If you are willing, you can try it at your leisure. I leave the choice up to you."
I swallowed, trying not to get caught in my throat as I reached up and wrapped my hand around my neck. How is one supposed to deal with a situation quite like this one? How is anyone supposed to get past... Something that they have lived... Like I have lived.
Torture didn't quite cover everything that I went through. Day in and day out. You never knew what was gonna happen. You didn't know if going to the bathroom to relieve yourself would cause you to be beaten at any given point because somebody wanted to use you and you were indisposed.
"Can I ask you a question?" Sebastian asked right then, cutting into my thoughts.
"Huh?" I asked, looking up at him again.
This time he placed both of his hands down on the counter. One hand rested on one side of the sliced apples, while the other still lightly held the knife he'd been using.
"Do you have any idea what your name is?" Sebastian asked, catching me completely off guard with this question.
My eyes went wide. I looked up for a moment before looking back at him, my gaze again meeting his penetrating, powerful gaze as he seemed to look right through me. I could feel the tears starting to swell in my eyes. I didn't know what to say.
I guess a question in the back of my mind was... Would the people who put me in this particular position ever be punished? Would they ever be found out? Would it be worth telling my side of things and knowing that nothing bad would happen after the case was all said and done?
I broke eye contact as I looked down at the counter in front of me. I sniffled a few times, to a point where I lifted one hand and used my index finger to rub the side of my nose as it was starting to itch.
"A nickname perhaps?" Sebastian asked as I still had yet to respond to his previous question.
I sighed, breathing out as I still had yet to look back up at him. I lightly shrugged my shoulders and again parted my lips, but no words came out.
I wanted so much to trust someone. I wanted so much... I wanted... To do things in this life. To be somebody. To be successful. How was I going to accomplish any of that now?
Right then, Sebastian placed the knife on the edge of the counter as he slowly walked around the edge to where I was sitting at the end of the island.
"We can discuss this later, if you like," Sebastian said as he reached up and placed his hand on the top of my shoulder.
I could feel the warmth of his hand penetrate through my clothes. Granted, it wasn't my clothes. I didn't have any clothes when I arrived at that strange place where I had all those hoses hooked up to me. In fact, the outfit I was currently wearing was a bit rough, and it folded like cardboard. But it was all I had.
"You know what I'm gonna do?" Sebastian asked right at that moment, causing me to look up at him as he reached up with his other hand and placed it on the side of my cheek.
I couldn't help it as I leaned into his embrace. The feeling of his hand against the side of my face. It was peacefully gentle and warm.