21. Chapter 21

Chapter 21

-Jared-

Julia and I had much to discuss, so after breakfast, I quickly changed clothes before we headed to the office. She settled into the same chair I typically occupied when meeting with Vince, but her small stature made it difficult for her to see over the desk. Seeing her struggle, I decided to join her, moving to sit beside her so we could have a face-to-face conversation. It was clear that neglect had taken its toll on Julia's body.

"Do you eat all your meals?" I inquired.

She shook her head. "It's always the same. I don't like it."

"So you refused to eat, like this morning?" I clarified.

"No, Bea doesn't allow that," she explained.

"And who is Bea?"

"My caretaker. She's been with me since Mom disappeared. Sometimes, I hide the food and flush it later," Julia admitted.

"Ah, that explains why you're so petite," I teased lightly.

"I'm not little!" she protested.

I couldn't help but smile, but as she attempted to prove her strength by grabbing my arm and pulling me toward her, I knew her efforts were futile. Despite her determination, her strength was no match for mine. After a few pointless attempts, she grew frustrated and released her grip, sinking back into the chair with a defeated expression.

"You're too big. That's not fair," she protested, crossing her arms.

"You just need to remember to eat and get some sunlight," I advised.

"Then I will grow bigger?" she inquired.

"Most likely."

"What if I don't? What if I'm stuck like this?" she worried.

I chuckled softly. "That's not funny. I could be cursed," she said, revealing her lingering childlike traits.

"There's no curse. Only extremely rare conditions can trap you in such a small form," I reassured her.

"Maybe I have that condition," she mused.

"Most likely not, or your father would probably have been informed of your medical condition. Children are often screened at birth, even before," I explained.

"Were you always this big?" she asked.

"No, I was like you. Tiny. Made me an easy target," I admitted, opening my computer and scrolling through it.

"A target?" she inquired, and my thoughts wandered to Alison and her old high school friends.

"Bullies," I replied.

"You were bullied?"

"You know what that is?" I questioned back.

"I've read about it," she replied. "What did your parents do? I read that those are the ones you should talk to."

"They did nothing," I confessed.

"Why not?"

"My mom left, and my dad was an assho... he wasn't good," I replied.

"Your mom left?"

"She left to start a better life. However, I learned a few years ago that she was fighting to take me with her, only to die in a car crash. I thought she abandoned me," I explained.

"So what happened to the bullies?" she inquired.

"Nothing," I repeated.

"Nothing?"

"Nope. At least not for a long time. Then I made sure they felt my wrath," I revealed.

"How did you do that?" she asked, sounding intrigued, but I wasn't here to reminisce about the past. Instead, I pulled up pictures of her grandparents' house.

"Remember this place?" I asked, turning the screen toward her.

She nodded.

"You remember the inside?"

"Some of it," she replied.

"Well, we came across a living room before going toward the dining room. I hope to keep the meeting there," I explained.

"Why?" she inquired.

"Quick exit," I revealed.

"But will Alison be there?"

"I don't know. But I can't just go in and stir up trouble," I admitted. "That's why I need to seem like I'm cooperating."

"And then what?" she pressed.

"Then you sneak out, so I know you're safe," I clarified.

"I don't understand," she admitted.

"Julia, I need you to act for me," I explained.

"Act?"

"Act like you want to be with your grandparents and start your life with them. When people trust you, they let down their guard, and then you can sneak out," I elaborated.

"I-I can't do that!" she exclaimed.

"You did it before," I reminded her.

"Alison helped me!" she protested.

"You just need to wait until it grows dark. I'll wait for you," I assured her.

"Where?"

"Just outside," I explained.

"And then what?"

I froze. How could I explain to her that I intended to eliminate her entire family? But Julia had been exposed to death and violence, and she didn't need me to spell it out for her.

"You're going to kill them, aren't you?" she inquired.

I sighed. "Listen, in this world, when someone crosses you, it's best not to give them a chance to retaliate. Your family will never leave you alone or me."

"Because I'm a key?" she inquired.

"Yes, you're a key."

"What are you then?" she questioned.

"An obstacle," I replied.

"And Alison?"

"My weakness," I murmured, before noticing the confused look on her face and shaking my head. "And an obstacle."

"So, they need to be removed?" she concluded.

"Yes," I confirmed.

Julia contemplated it all, starting to tap one of her fingers against her thigh as she stared into the air. I could almost see the gears turning in her head as she tried to make sense of it all.

"Listen—" I began.

"How do I sneak out?" she interrupted.

"Well, how did you escape your father's house?" I asked.

"Alison helped me. We climbed out of a window," she revealed.

"I see."

"But wouldn't my grandparents be protective of me?" she asked.

"That's why I need you to make them trust you. Act happy. Act like they are your heroes. The more they trust you, the less guarded they will be," I explained.

"Should I break out right away?" she questioned.

"Actually, I want you to wait three days."

"Three days!" she exclaimed, growing pale.

"I need them to be relaxed, and in the meantime, you can take a look around, finding the best way out of there. I would go for this area," I explained, showing her a door leading out into a tiny forest behind the house. "It will most likely be locked, but if you can find the key, then you have a way out. If that does not work, then I want you to request an outing. Yet it's unlikely they will allow it if I'm not dead yet."

"I feel like there are a lot of ways this could go wrong," she admitted.

"There is, but I cannot touch them until you're out of harm's way."

"And what if I can't find the key or they won't let me leave?"

"Then you don't stop trying to break free. All fortresses have a weakness. You just need to find it. I will keep watch over the place and be ready for you. I promise."

"Three days is a long time, Jared," she whispered, grasping the fabric of her pants and squeezing it tightly between her hands.

"I know."

"I'm not sure I can do it," she confessed.

"But you can. Listen, Julia," I said, putting away my computer and showing her that she had my full attention. "You survived your father."

"That's different. I didn't try to escape."

"No, it's not different, because these people will act much the same."

"They will hurt me?" she asked, scared.

I reached out, stroking her hair. "No, I don't believe so, but they will not care. Like your father, they want you alive, but that is it. However, hurting you, especially when you are so small, can leave permanent damage, and they won't allow that."

Julia nodded, but then she grasped my hand, the one that was resting on the armrest. She studied it, and I wondered what she was looking for.

"You have a lot of scars on it," she pointed out, then pushed my sleeve higher, seeing more. Her eyes grew big. "Is this what you mean? The permanent damage?"

"Something like it."

"But you're so big now," she said.

"I was lucky I was saved in time," I explained, and she looked around.

"It was your other dad, right?"

"Yes, he found me," I replied, yet Julia didn't ask for more information. Instead, she pushed the sleeve of my hoodie higher, showing my only tattoo I had made to show my commitment to Alison.

Julia smiled as if she knew it was there, and I realized something.

"Were you searching for that?" I inquired.

"Alison told me about it. She said it's your necklace."

"My what?" I asked.

"You know, like the one she has around her neck, the one that doesn't unlock. She says it's like a ring," she explained.

I smiled, liking the way Alison had put it. "Yeah, it's like a ring."

"She said her real one is still here."

"Yes, she left it on the nightstand. Now I carry it around with me," I said.

"Can I see it?" she asked.

I nodded, reaching into my pocket and holding the ring out to Julia. She grasped it, smiling, and turned the dark obsidian stone so it glinted in the bright light.

"This is beautiful. My mom had a really big diamond. Why is this black?" she inquired.

"Because Alison used to be married to someone else before me. I didn't want the rings to resemble each other," I explained. "I wanted something unique."

"It definitely is."