Today when Jason walked in, I was ready for him. I was sitting up in my bed, planning on what I was going to say to him.

He furrowed his eyebrows as he came in, one of his workers handing me my tray. I started eating as Jason slowly walked over and sat at the end of my bed.

I looked up at him, stopping from eating. "What?"

Jason shook his head. "You're just...completely fine..."

"Should I not be?" I questioned.

"Well, you've never really been...comfortable being here. It's just weird."

"I thought about yesterday with our talk, specifically what you said, and I could have reacted many different ways and chose one of the worst ways..."

He started to cut me off, "You had every right..."

"No. Let me finish," I stopped him. I took a breath, getting to the point. "Can we walk around? Just a little?"

Jason stared at me, unsure what to say. Hw sucked in his lips, looking away as he thought. After a moment, he turned back to me. "Just yesterday you wanted out, and now after a conversation you suddenly don't and expect me to just let you roam?" He questioned.

"With you. And just for a little bit. I've been locked in here for...a few weeks I think..."

"Two weeks," he chimed in.

I have a nod. "Two weeks...I've been stuck in here, doing nothing. And I know you said your environment was holding you back, so I wanted to maybe...help...?" I trailed off, hoping he wouldn't explode.

Jason huffed. "How many times do I have to tell you not to help me?! You're not treating me anymore, and I don't need..." Jason froze as my eyes widened. He closed his eyes, turning around and grabbing his hair in frustration. He took a moment to take a deep breath before facing me again. "You don't need to fix me, you don't even need to help me," he said in a softened voice.

I stared at him, surprised he was able to control himself. I responded cautiously, "I know I don't need to...but I want to. And I think a part of you wants me to help too."

Jason kept his eyes on me, the intensity fading away. "Don't...don't put that on me..." he said, almost asking. "We can take a walk...but don't try anything. You have to stay by my side, and listen to everything I say, got it?"

I quickly nodded without hesitation. I was finally getting out of this room, even if it were only for a few minutes.

"Finish eating," he pointed to my food. I couldn't keep back the grin that formed as I went back to eating.

"Ready to go?" Jason asked once I was done eating. I held my hands out, nodding. Jason furrowed his eyebrows. "What are you doing?"

"The handcuffs?" I reminded him.

"You said you wouldn't try anything, right?" He questioned.

"Right..."

"And...I can trust you...right?"

I stared at him, wondering if he would actually trust me, especially knowing his past. I slowly nodded, "Right."

"Then no cuffs," he said, opening the door. I stood there, unsure if he was serious until he started walking out. I blinked a few times before quickly following him.

As we walked, I looked around and realized just how...extravagant this one floor was. There were so many doors for so many rooms, the halls were long and wide and there was even some decor. I had completely forgot about it, although I had only seen it once and that was two weeks ago.

"Coming?" My attention switched to Jason who was now a few feet in front of me. I didn't even realize I had stopped walking.

"Sorry...it's just...big," I apologized, catching up to him.

"Yeah, I have more rooms than I know what to do with. I've filled most of them though, a few even with trusted gang members."

"Oh. That's...nice."

Jason nodded, leading the way onward. "So, is there somewhere you wanted to go? In the house of course."

I shook my head. "I just wanted out of that room," I answered, still looking around. "It's a big room, bigger than my apartment actually, but being in there 24/7 makes it feel smaller and smaller each day."

There was silence, Jason probably reflecting on my words. He should though, it's wrong to keep someone locked up like that all the time no matter the circumstance. I think he was starting to realize that now.

I stopped in my tracks as I got an idea. "Actually...there is a room I want to go to."

Jason raised his eyebrows. "Which one? As long as it's not mine, I can take you."

Dang it. I bit my lip, trying to think of another idea that could reveal more info on Jason. He smirked at me, and I hated that he knew what I was thinking. "Take me to your favorite room."

Jason gave a confused look now. "My favorite room?" He questioned.

"Yeah, don't you have one? The room you like to just...go to and, I don't know, think? Reflect? Relax? One that brings comfort?" I explained, quickly adding, "other than your room of course."

Jason grinned before taking a moment to think. He finally gave a small nod. "Okay, follow me."

Jason led me down to the end of the hall before stopping at the last room on the left. He opened it, holding the door open for me.

I walked in, prepared to take everything in...except there wasn't anything to take in.

The closed, making me turn around. Jason was tanking there, watching me. "Is this some kind of joke?" I asked him.

He shook his head. "No."

I waited for him to elaborate, but he never did. "There's nothing in here. It's just...empty. Even the walls are untouched," I motioned back to the room.

"Exactly." I furrowed my eyebrows, even more confused. A person's favorite room is supposed to reveal more about who they are, what they like. Was Jason...empty? Jason chuckled at my baffled expression, walking towards me. "This is the only room in the house that's like this. There's nothing in here, or any real use for it, no one comes in here except me. It's a nice place for me to just come to be alone because no one expects me to be in here," he explained.

I stood there, surprised by his answer. I would have never expected an answer quite like that from him.

"It's untouched, unharmed, unentered other than me and now you...and pure. That's why it's my favorite room, it's an escape."

A small grin formed on my lips. This room did reveal more about Jason, it gave me a deeper insight into him. All those things he said about the room...it's who he was deep inside, who he use to be until all the chaos. I couldn't help but stare at him now, as he looked around the room and seemed to still get some kind of comfort from it. I knew it was somewhere in him, and now he pretty much confirmed it. Good.

Hope you liked this chapter, I think it's a bit longer than usual!

Also, if you don't already know, I made a Spotify playlist for this book! It has songs that fit this story, and I like listening to it while I'm writing this book to put me in the right mindset. You can listen while reading, or just in general!

I'm not sure how to link the playlist on here, but if you search Brianna Maitland on Spotify, you'll find a playlist "Psycho Book" and that's it :)

Luv ya!