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Chapter 9 - The New cage

The silence after her father left was the loudest thing Eva had ever heard.

She stood in the middle of the huge, cold room, her arms still wrapped tight around herself. She could not believe what just happened. She had said yes. She had agreed to live here. With him.

Leonard Cruz watched her. He didn't seem to feel the silence. He looked like he was used to it.

"This way," he said. His voice was not loud, but it cut through the room.

He didn't wait for her. He just turned and walked away, expecting her to follow.

Eva's feet felt like blocks of wood. She made them move. One step. Then another. She followed him down a wide hallway, away from the big windows and the amazing view.

He stopped at a plain wooden door and pushed it open.

"These will be your rooms," he said.

Eva peeked inside. It was not what she expected. It was not a cold, modern box like the living room. It was a sitting room, with a soft-looking couch and a big bookshelf. Through another door, she could see a bedroom with a big bed. It was nice. Normal, even. But the door had a strong lock on the outside.

It was still a cage. A prettier cage, but a cage.

"A woman named Alma will bring your things from your aunt's house," Leonard said. He was still standing in the hallway, not coming in. "She will get you anything else you need. You do not leave this floor. Ever. Do you understand?"

Eva nodded, her throat too tight to speak.

"Good," he said. "We start tomorrow."

"Start what?" The words came out in a whisper.

"Your training," he said, like it was obvious. "You want to burn down your family? You can't do it with just angry words. You need to learn how. I will teach you."

He looked at her for a second longer, his eyes missing nothing. He saw her fear. He saw how she was shaking. He didn't care.

Then he turned and walked back down the hall. A moment later, she heard another door open and shut. Then, silence again.

Eva was alone.

She stepped into the sitting room and closed the door. She leaned against it, finally letting out a shaky breath.

Her room. His floor. Do not leave.

The rules echoed in her head. This was her life now.

She walked slowly into the bedroom. It had its own bathroom. Everything was clean and perfect. There were no personal touches. No photos. No colors. It was like a hotel room. A very nice prison.

She sat on the edge of the bed. The mattress was firm. She ran her hand over the smooth, cool blanket.

This was it. She had gotten what she wanted. She had her deal. She had her weapon.

So why did she feel so hollow? So alone?

A sudden, sharp longing for Maria's messy apartment hit her so hard it brought tears to her eyes. She wanted to hear her aunt's voice. She wanted to smell real food cooking. She wanted to be somewhere that felt lived-in. This place felt dead.

She was here to learn how to be cruel. How to be cold. Just like him.

Was this what she wanted? To become like the man who just threw her father out like trash? To become like her family?

The doubt was a cold knot in her stomach. She had been so focused on escaping, on fighting back, she never thought about what it would cost her. Her freedom. Her peace. Maybe her soul.

There was a soft knock on the door.

Eva jumped, her heart leaping into her throat. She wiped her eyes quickly. "Who is it?"

The door opened. A woman stood there. She was older, with kind eyes and a calm face. She held a tray with a sandwich and a glass of milk.

"I'm Alma," the woman said. Her voice was warm. "Mr. Cruz thought you might be hungry."

Eva just stared. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until she saw the food. She nodded.

Alma brought the tray in and set it on a small table. She didn't try to talk. She didn't ask questions. She just gave Eva a small, gentle smile and left, closing the door softly behind her.

The simple kindness, after all the hardness, was too much. A single tear escaped and rolled down Eva's cheek. She quickly brushed it away.

She ate the sandwich. It was good. The milk was cold.

When she was done, she felt a little better. A little stronger.

She walked to the window and looked out. The city was far below, all tiny lights and moving cars. Everyone down there was living their normal lives. She was up here, in her tower, completely alone.

She was scared. She was lonely.

But she was not giving up.

She had made her choice. She would learn. She would become strong. She would get her revenge.

Even if it meant staying in this beautiful, lonely cage.

Even if it meant becoming a different person.

She turned away from the window and got ready for bed. The first day of her new life was over.

Tomorrow, her training will begin.

 

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