Page 47 of Uncrowned
“You did good. After we finish, you can show me.”
“Show you?”
“That’s right.” He sat down, sliding his box in front of him. “Knowing and executing are two different things. You have to see how it feels.”
“Oh.” I slowly opened the box, not feeling hungry at all. “V… what if I hurt you?”
He made a sound that had me sitting a little taller. It was full of cockiness. Of disbelief.
“I’ll be fine, Penelope. If you manage to hurt me, I deserve it.”
I grabbed my fork, only pausing for a moment before I stabbed it into a green bean.
“I hope I do hurt you. It’ll serve you right.”
V laughed, grabbing his fork and mirroring me. He went to bring it to his mouth, freezing as he looked down at it.
“Oh, look at that. Guess you’ll just have to take that ugly thing off.”
The chair scraped loudly against the cement floor. V jerked up the box, stomping to the stairs.
“Don’t be absurd.”
He slowed, turning around.
“I’m not taking off my mask.”
“Can’t you just pull it up past your lips?”
“No.”
“V—For fuck’s sake. Put mine on me, then. I can eat blind. I don’t care.”
Seconds drug out before he nodded. He walked over, picking up my mask and bringing it over. I closed my lids, letting out a deep breath as he slid it over my eyes and fastened the strap.
“I’ll eat fast.”
His voice was low. Off.
“Don’t worry about it.” I placed my fork down, reaching in and pulling out a green bean. I brought it to my mouth, taking a bite as laughter filled the space.
“Eating with your fingers, very ladylike of you.”
“The circumstances call for it.” I’d meant to be teasing but my tone was so deflated, I knew V would pick up on it, and I was right.
“Penelope… You have to talk to me. No matter what it is, I need you to tell me. Secrets—” He stopped. “We can’t have them. Ever. They’re deadly. The risk is too great.”
“That! That is what’s wrong.”
Silence.
“V, I like you. You know that. I shouldn’t. Not after what you’ve done. But I do, but this…” I lifted my hand, gesturing wildly. “You killed my parents. You brought me to this room. I can’t see you. I can’t leave here. I’m lucky I still have my gown because the moment my monthly passes, you’re going to take that from me, too. You want me to fight, but I have no idea who or what I’m fighting. Truthfully…” I stopped, grabbing to my head wanting more than anything to rip off the mask.
“Truthfully, what?”
A big sigh left me. “I think I’m falling for a psychopathic, crazy, ugly killer, and I don’t know what to do. You’re clearly not well. You have to know that. Maybe… maybe we could call a doctor, a psychologist, and get you help. Maybe there’s medication you can take. I won’t leave you. We’ll let you adjust and return back to… the real world. You’ve been good to me. I can help you.”
Silence.
