“Where are they now?”

“Ay por Dios! Have you not been listening to me? I have no idea. If I did, do you think I would be here right now?”

He said nothing for a long while, his gaze fixed on me as if he was trying to detect any lies. Then he turned and left the cell, closing it behind him.

“Wait, what are you doing?” I shot to my feet and went to the door.

“There have been strangers spotted in the city. These might be the men you claim dragged you here. We will have to find them and corroborate what you are saying.”

“Ahhh!” I screamed with my full chest.

“And you think they’ll just confess?” I was spiraling now,“Look, I am not trying to mess with whatever you guys are doing out here, in your make-believe world…actually, I will give you some feedback. You’re doing this all wrong. I might not have played a lot of D&D, but this is …I saved that little boy; he would have drowned if I hadn’t stepped in. That would have been a HUGE lawsuit.” I was rambling. Tangents everywhere. “I’m a hero, and you tied me up and threw me in this place. Do I have to roll a nat 20 to get out? Terrible player experience. Would not recommend. Fuck this place.”

My chest heaved as I ran out of breath. I felt the heat rush to my cheeks.

A smirk… no smile spread across his face, and his gaze brightened. He was incredibly handsome.

“You are quite vulgar and very unladylike.”

He was mocking me now.

“Are you in on it?” I managed to say, deflated. “Are they paying you more to torture me like this?”

The tears came again, unbidden. I was such a fool. Of course, they knew what had happened to me; this was all scripted, and they didn’t care as long as they got paid.

My knees hit the ground with a loud thud, the prickly dry straw poking me through my jeans. I sobbed, head leaning against the bars, staring at his boots. He stood before me for a long time, not saying anything. Just listening to me. Then he walked out and left me to my pity party.

How much longer would I have to endure this? Or would I have to play along just to get home…

Those thoughts looped in my head when the door opened again, but I didn’t look up. I didn’t have the heart to look up at the faces of the men who could be paid to go along with such cruelty.

Several more footsteps walked in. Before me were the feet of children. The cell door clanked open.

I stood up, and the silver-eyed man entered again. He walked behind me and slowly began to untie my wrists. His voice was soft, even gentle, as he explained.

“That little boy you saved.” I looked out and saw him in the arms of his father. “He has been begging us to let you out, or at least reward you for saving him.” Where the rope loosened, he began to massage my wrists; the sudden touch was unnerving but soothing too.

“I decided to grant his request. Aren’t I a gentleman?” He bent down and whispered in my ear.

I pulled away after I felt the last of the rope fall from my wrist. I glared at him. Was he expecting a thank you after leaving me bound, gagged, and soaked for hours?

“What is your name?”

“What’s your name?” I repeated, failing at hiding the mocking tone in my voice.

He chuckled softly and offered me a white handkerchief, pointing to my hand when I didn’t take it right away. The floral cloth the young girl had given me was completely soaked and ruined. I took it without a word.

“It’s Kael,” he answered. He then extended his hand to me, as if inviting me to answer as well.