Page 83 of Once Upon a Fable

“Then do as I say.” Stepping away, he pointed at the door again. “Move.”

I moved.

If only to give myself time to figure out what the hell had happened.

Keep him talking.

As I stepped from the cell, my back crawled as he followed on my heels. Glancing over my shoulder, I asked, “Where did you go before? I was prepared to do what you asked. I ate the food you gave me and I’m grateful. I’m grateful enough that I would’ve pleasured you—”

“Enough.” He winced and worked out his bruised and bleeding hand.

“What happened?”

Hescowled. “I was reminded of something.”

“Of what?”

“Of why I like to live alone.”

“No one should live alone. I live alone, and it sucks.”

He looked up, catching my stare. “I should. I did. And I will again.”

My heart lurched. “What does that mean?”

He didn’t reply, waiting for me to scale the steps before pointing down the hallway to the kitchen. My knees quaked as I went where he directed. Common sense told me it’d only been a few days since I’d entered this house, but somehow, it felt as if a year had gone by. As if the kitchen was an old friend and the threshold was a hug from the last piece of safety I’d ever know.

“Get outside.” His anger pushed me forward.

As my socked feet stepped from inside to out and daisies crushed beneath my soles, the scrape of metal on stone ripped my head around.

Oh, shit.

“Hey...wait.” I held up my hands, backing away as fast as I could. “Please. You said you wouldn’t. You agreed.”

He hefted the heavy shovel in his hands. “I agreed to a day-by-day basis. Yesterday, it pleased me to keep you alive. Today, it does not.” The tonelessness of his voice petrified me.

It was as if he’d buried every part of himself that made him care. He looked trapped. Utterly, horribly trapped and controlled by things he couldn’t break free of.

Even now, even when faced with my murderer, I suffered a pang of sympathy.

I spread my arms as if to embrace him—cruelty and confusion and all. “You want to be alone again? Okay. Fine, I’ll leave. Right now. You’ll never have to see me or anyone else again.”

“You’re determined. I’ll give you that.” He squeezed his eyes closed as if my voice physically hurt him. “But you’re not leaving. Not by your method, at least.” Opening his gaze, he pointed the shovel in my face. “Now, walk. Get away from my house.”

My heart tripped over itself in panic. “Please...whatever your name is.Please,don’t do this.” God, why hadn’t I pushed for his name? Why didn’t I try harder to connect with him? He needed connection. He neededsomething.

He needs help.

“Walk.” Striding toward me, he pushed the edge of the shovel into my chest. “Enjoy the sun. Look upon my valley. Don’t spend your last moments begging.”

Tears sprang to my eyes as he pushed my shoulder to spin me around, then shoved me forward.

I stumbled but didn’t fall.

The blade of the shovel bit into my shoulder blades, marching me ahead.

I had no choice.