09

“Would you mind staying for a while?” He stuttered while still holding my wrist.

I don’t know what’s with the sudden soft voice but I felt his need for comfort.

My mind went at sixes and sevens, not knowing if I would agree or not.

Staying for an hour wouldn’t be so bad, right?

“What do I get in return?” I asked.

Creed was taken aback and he slowly let go of my hand.

“What do you want in return?” Asked the man.

I find his emotions shifting at every response he makes. I don’t know if he’s faking it, or if he’s trying to show what he really feels.

At some point, he’d be irascible and then the next moment, vulnerable and so on, so forth.

There’s so much of it!

He’s like a person with a split personality I couldn’t understand.

“Will you tell me what happened to your parents?” With obscure thoughts, I blurted.

I heard him faked a cough.

“Knowing about my case means you’re putting yourself in danger.” Says Creed.

His tone was the same as Mr. Duncan's earlier. His hoarse yet authoritative voice.

“Are you worried?” I ought to tease him a bit but it seems like he’s not playing it.

“I am. I wouldn’t want an innocent girl being involved in my own trouble.” The latter mumbled.

I’m not as innocent as you think I am. I have a lot of secrets kept in a closet too, just like you.

“If you can’t answer it now, it’s okay. But starting from now, you owe me a yarn.” I said and sat on the bed again.

I felt him move a bit to give us some distance.

His back laid flat on the bed, while I sit on the bed, leaning on the headboard.

“Why do you wanna know so bad?” Creed asked.

I sighed and tried to look around for a justifiable answer.

Maybe because I was once in your place.

I wanted to say but I didn’t.

You know, to lose your parents in a flash. To blame yourself for everything that has happened.

To ask the Gods every night, why did you have to leave me in this kind of life?

Why is the world so cruel and hateful?

I know exactly how that feels.

The excruciating pain of knowing that when you wake up the next day, it feels like the world turned its back on you.

Like you no longer fit in the puzzle.

Until now, I still had everything. The pain, the guilt.

Memories of the past were still vivid.

To actually think of it, I literally have no idea what this would cost me.

Will it be a good or a bad thing? I haven't got the faintest clue.

I haven't even had time to think that through yet.

“I’m curious,” I murmured. With all the things in my head, that’s the only reason I could say out loud.

I caught him scoffed.

“Did you know that being inquisitive leads you to bad things?”

Claimed the preacher, I mean, Creed.

Kidding aside.

Creed has a point. Perhaps, curiosity doesn’t always give us the answers we want or expect. But the satisfaction of knowing, of having an idea about it is peculiar.

“Have you ever wondered what’s happening outside? Like, the outside world? Aside from what you can see here inside these four walls with a bed. Aren’t you drained of having a life like this? If I were you I would’ve thought of escaping. I can’t stand sleeping, waking up, and living my life in a dungeon. What do you think?” I asked continuously and tossed around to look at him.

I can't help but chuckle when I saw his posture.

His arm was used as a pillow and his eyes were closed formerly.

Creed was sleeping peacefully while breathing heavily. I can hear his soft snores or was it just the sound of his breathing.

I giggled without a sound causing him to move. Unintentionally, I covered my mouth because of it.

Here I am talking mindlessly, looking all stupid, only to find him sleeping.

Have I just been talking to myself for a while now?

His brows formed a crease but his eyes were still closed.

I maneuvered my hand that traveled near his face. I had the urge to caress it, so I did.

While staring at him, I only thought of one thing.

Indeed, he’s not really that bad.

He’s got the long lashes, the Duchess’ nose, and the masculine jaw that makes him additionally handsome.

Hah! Did I just say he’s handsome?

Well, he really is. I can’t deny the fact that he’s got the ravishing look that’ll make women swoon over him.

That is if he’s in a clean-cut. The stubbles on his cheeks were quite visible that makes him a little bit, uhm, old? No, he’s more likely, matured.

If only he could lessen the frown, or maybe the furrowed eyebrows then I’d expect him to surpass the look he has now.

But I know why he looked like that.

If I were to be accused of killing my parents, my brother, then I would’ve been horrible for a long time now. I’d look like trash by now.

In fact, I may not be able to live long.

Due to my impulsive action, I realized that I’ve been holding his face for some minute now.

I went alarmed when Creed held my hand without a warning. I forgot the fact that I was slightly caressing his cheeks.

He held my hand that was on his cheeks, tightly. It’s as if he was grasping for strength.

“I’m honestly tired of having this set-up, but I can’t quit, nor I can’t escape. If I escape, it’ll only signify that I’m guilty and I can’t be that. I still have my brother,” he whispered with his eyes closed.

The pain and the longing in his voice were clearly evident. It feels like what he's saying now has been kept for a long time that he couldn't endure it. He couldn't manage to keep it to himself that he suddenly said it even if it's out of bounds.

As for me, I couldn’t help but gasp because of the sudden disclosure of information.

“B-But they said you killed him?” I stuttered now that he spoke about the issue.

“Not everything they said is true, Nix. They just believe in whatever bullshit they want to believe in. They only know far from half.” Then his voice cracked. His eyes slowly opened.

A lone tear fell off his cheeks.

He is crying.