Aidan led Tammy downstairs. She’d been held in this house for what felt like an eternity yet she’d only seen a few rooms; the kitchen being one of them.

“Hope you like it,” Aidan said as he pulled out a chair.

There sat on a plate were two fried eggs, sausages, and a slice of bread and butter.

Tammy didn’t dare ask how long the bread had been there for, but she still gagged.

“If you actually knew me, you’d know I hate eggs,” she told him, turning her nose up at the plate.

Aidan sat down opposite her, digging into his own plate, which had mushrooms, tomatoes and potato waffles… Foods that she did like.

“And if you knew me,” he said with his mouth full. “You’d realize I don’t too take kindly to waste.”

Tammy refused to believe that Aidan knew about her favorite food but not her least. The guy was playing games with her.

“Thank you,” Tammy replied, standing up. “But I can’t eat this. Fried food makes me ill.”

Aidan laughed, a short, sarcastic laugh before he too stood, mirroring Tammy’s actions with ease. “You will eat it, because if you don’t I’ll force it down your throat myself.”

He pushed on her shoulders, urging Tammy to sit back down. She did so with reluctance; the thought of Louise still fresh in her head.

The memories from the previous night came back to her all at once, leaving Tammy with a headache and questions she knew Aidan wouldn’t answer.

“Where is Louise?” she asked before forcing a piece of sausage into her mouth.

Aidan raised an eyebrow, as if Tammy had just asked the stupidest question ever. “Hell, I hope.”

Before she could reply, the sound of a door opening interrupted her.

There was a brief silence followed by a rustling noise.

“Job’s done,” a voice boomed from around the corner, making Aidan shoot up, full of eagerness.

“Good work, Alex,” he replied, greeting the man with a hug. “I knew I could rely on you.”

Alex pulled away, revealing himself to be the same man who had appeared at Aidan’s little party a few days ago.

The man nodded, his eyes landing on Tammy. “Just don’t make it a hobby.”

~

Aidan had been pacing around the kitchen for the last half hour, waiting for Tammy to finish her breakfast.

Meanwhile, Alex sat close by, taking occasional sips of water.

He watched carefully, making Tammy believe it was his presence which forced Aidan not to carry out his threat.

“You have five minutes,” Aidan whispered. “To eat what’s left on your plate.”

Unbeknownst to Aidan, Alex lifted his head. “She’s probably done, buddy.”

Aidan’s fist tightened with rage.

One glance towards his friend was all it took to send him out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Alex rolled his eyes, before landing his attention on Tammy. “Is he usually this huffy?”

He sighed, giving into the emptiness that was in Tammy’s eyes.

“I know it’s hard for you to understand,” he said, lowering his voice. “My cousin has a lot of problems. His heart is good, but mind not so much.”

Tammy’s ears perked. Did he just say cousin?

“Here,” Alex continued, throwing his hand in his trouser pocket. “This is my number.”

Tammy accepted the small piece of paper with hesitation. “Why are you giving me this?”

Alex licked his lips, thinking twice about what he was about to say.

“Aidan’s a good person,” he started, watching the door anxiously. “But he has problems.”

Tammy crumpled the note up in her hand, holding onto it tightly.

“Just give him a week,” Alex asked, almost pleading. “I really think you’d be good for him, make him a better person.”

Tammy snapped, her voice stronger than it’d ever been. “That’s not my job.”

“I know,” he replied, sighing once again. “That’s why I’ve given you my number.”

Tammy’s fingers tightened around the paper he had given her, blood burning inside of her. “I need your help now.”

“If after a week you still feel the same, I’ll get you out, but until then, please try."