took a small energy bar out of his fatigues and offered it to her.
She took the water through the bars opening it and gulping it down thirstily. "Thanks." She smiled taking the bar from him.
"Do you know where we are?"
She shook her head moving away from him to the far end of the cage. "Does it matter?" She looked around her seeing at least six identical cages just like the one she was in, as well as others, larger and further down the expanse of the room.
~34~
"Yes it does...Look. You have no reason to trust me right?" he said and passed a paper to her through the bars, then got off his knees and whistled, the dogs in the long room looking up at him. He patted his leg and opened the door to the side pen, the dogs running out into the devastating brightness of the day. They were alone now; aside from the occupants in the other cages.
"None whatsoever, you've been nice but... you still put me in here." She sighed trying to be braver than she felt. "I was an extra in a horror movie once. I know what’s going to happen or at least some variation of it." She looked up pleading with him. "I don’t want to die."
"Actually I didn’t put you in here, but I am going to let you go. That paper is coordinates to here, and I don’t have long to get you out."
"Why?" She asked suspiciously moving to the door of the cage. It couldn’t be true; he was surely messing with her.
He smiled. "Why indeed. Let’s just say I have serious doubts about the work Cristof is doing, and you’re the only one that’s come in so far that’s strong enough to escape...And I don’t want anyone hurt."
"Anyone? What's this project?" she asked panicking slightly. She didn't feel strong enough to escape but the thought of staying trapped in a cage waiting for torture and death wasn’t very appealing.
"Calm down. You’re going to be forced into participating in the Lamia project, like the rest of the girls. I have a plan, but you gotta help me, ok?"
"Ok." She nodded knowing that, whatever the Lamia project was, being forced into it really didn't sound like a good thing. "I can do that... calm down that is." She smiled nervously into his blue eyes.
He was kind of hot, for a not so evil bad guy. She looked away trying not to blush, gods the body sure does play crappy tricks on you at the worst time. She hadn’t even looked at a man, or anybody, in that way for years and now was the time her messed up head chooses to start noticing one. "I've never been in a cage before... willing or otherwise." She blurted out horrified at her own words.
"I didn’t think you were that type of girl, Evelyn." he smiled. “I’m going to let you out ok? Don’t bolt. I have a plan, but it’s going to require your help Hun."
She nodded looking around. "I may be a model but I'm not stupid enough to think I can get past those dogs."
"Bright girl." He opened the cage and offered his hand. "There’s more water and food too. And we’ll be alone for another hour before that fuck Jax gets back. So we gotta be quick."
She crawled out taking his hand and letting him help her stand. Her legs seared with agony and refused to hold her. She fell into him grasping onto his noticeably well-muscled body for support.
Homer caught her and chuckled, lifting her and carrying her to the large padded chair he’d been sitting on and setting her down. "Here," he said giving her another bottle of water. "Shake out the knots." he said, grabbing her leg under the knee and carefully massaging her calf.
His hands felt warm and hard, they were a little rough from what she imagined was handling all sorts of different weapons. The warmth tried to spread up from her calves but she furiously fought it back down. She just wasn't that kind of girl, despite what the papers said and for all she knew this could have been his plan, a cruel joke aimed at her. Let her think she's free, get her real thankful and then slam her back in the cage or worse. "So you kidnap girls often?" she asked