26. Levi

Sitting on the cold concrete, Levi pulled his knees in close to his chest. He lowered his head and rested it gently on his knees. He had no idea how much time had passed since he was thrown into this dungeon. Was it six hours? Was it three days? He understood now how people could get so disoriented when they were deprived of light and a sense of time.

Chase would come for him. He had to. Chase would never give up searching for him or fighting to get him back—at least, he hoped not.

He raised his head and stared at the tiny bed sitting in the far corner of the room. The bed looked old. Its frame was iron, and the mattress sunk in toward the middle.

How many others have slept in that bed? How many others against their will?

In all the time Peabody came to La Maison to hang out and relax, there was never any indication that he could do something so horrible. Yes, he was odd and seemed kind of lonely, but that sort of behavior didn't mean you were a bad person.

Clearly, Levi had missed something.

"How did you make out last night?" a voice asked from the other side of his door. It sounded like Simone.

Levi pushed himself up off the floor and slowly moved toward the locked door. He peered between the bars and shrugged his shoulders at Simone.

"As good as anyone in this situation," Levi responded, grabbing hold of the metal bars with both hands. The metal was cool against his skin, but he didn't care. It meant that he was still alive, and that was what was important.

"You'll get used to it in no time."

Levi's stomach turned. The thought of being locked up in here for the rest of his life made him feel sick.

No. There was no way Chase would ever let him be held captive for that long.

Remembering back to his question from last night—the one that Simone deliberately didn't answer.

"Can I ask, how long have you been in here?" Levi asked again, taking note of the dark circles and pale complexion of Simone's face.

Simone glanced up at the wall in his room to calculate.

"Two years and three months."

"What? And no one's come looking for you in all that time?" Fear and panic filled him. There was no way he was going to spend two years locked in this cell.

"Oh, they've come. They've checked, and they've spoken, but none of them have been able to find the secret entrance into these quarters," Simone explained.

"Secret…" Levi's voice trailed off as he looked down the corridor. Where were they?

"It's best not to think about it. I gave up hope a long time ago. Some of these other newbies still believe that one day they will be rescued, but I know differently."

The man looked over at the other cells with such pity in his eyes.

Was it truly possible that he might be held captive for the rest of his life?

No!He refused to think like that. This man may have given up hope, but that was not Levi's style. Chase and Matteo would never give up on him. They would search the ends of the earth and burn down every fucking building there was until they found him. That was what family did! That was what you did for those who you loved!

"It's not so bad as long as you follow the rules. He eats dinner with us three nights a week, he eats breakfast with each of us individually once a week, and he always makes sure that we have clean clothes and something to entertain ourselves."

Levi looked back at Simone. "But why does he keep us captive?"

"Cus he's crazy and thinks we're all his friends," an angry voice said from the cell next to Simone's. It was a male voice, a deep voice, but from this angle, Levi couldn't see the person standing in the cell.

"What do you mean?" Levi asked, wondering if perhaps he brought this on himself for being so friendly to Peabody. He looked so lonely and genuinely lit up whenever they hung out. Perhaps he had given Peabody the wrong impression, led him on?

"That's one of the rules. We have to indulge his fantasies—play along with his games," Simone added. "He likes to pretend that we're all close friends who hang out together. He creates scenarios in his head and expects us all to play along with the fantasy."

"Like sex games?" Levi asked, horrified.

"No. He never touches us sexually. He likes to pretend that we've all gone to an art exhibit together or that we're all going on a ski trip at Christmas," Simone clarified.

"See? Crazy. The dude is a complete lunatic. He clearly has no friends and has taken us all prisoners to act out some sick as fuck delusion he has in his head," the guy next to Simone grumbled angrily.

"Chris! Shut your mouth and keep quiet. If Oldridge hears you speak like that, who knows what he'll do," Simone warned.

They heard a low rumbling and the sound of a large click.

"Shh, he's coming," Simone whispered.

The row fell silent.

Levi took a step back from the door and listened carefully as the sound of footsteps descended, then made their way toward his cell. His heart was beating so hard he half expected it to burst from his chest.

"Well, good morning, my little sweet," a cheery Peabody greeted, peering in through the cell door.

Levi heard the jingling of keys, then the door unlocked and opened. Peabody stood there holding a tray with a plate covered in his hands.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, walking in and locking the door behind him. "Oh, don't panic. I just lock the door behind me so that we can talk together without me having to worry that you will rush off the second I step away from the door. I promise I won't hurt you. We're friends, after all," the man said, grinning from ear to ear.

Levi stared at him suspiciously and took another step back. He had never seen this side of Peabody before. The smile, the confidence. It was all so… different.

"Friends don't lock friends up in dungeons."

Peabody glanced around the room as if seeing it himself for the first time.

"Well, I guess it is kind of gloomy. Let me know what you want to decorate your room, and I'll get it for you tomorrow. Lamps, posters, books, whatever you want, just give me a list," he said, still smiling.

He sounded like a hotel concierge, and it was his job to make Levi's stay as comfortable as possible.

"But I thought you didn't allow for such stuff?"

Peabody's eyes narrowed. "I take it you've been talking with the others. Well, between you and me," his voice drifted off as he leaned in Levi's direction. "You're my favorite." He straightened up and took a step back. At least the man understood personal space and comfort levels.

"You know you can't keep me down here forever. Matteo will come looking for me."

A sinister smile emerged on Peabody's face. "I'm sure he will, but as you know, there is no evidence to suggest that you came home with me last night. You came over in a taxi, remember?"

Levi's stomach sank. Shit. So that's why Peabody didn't wait around for him.

"Also, don't count on that big, brutish man of yours coming around again. That man stormed through my house last night, looking for you. He even ran by the entrance without even a second glance. Honestly, why is it that sweet guys like yourself go for such stupid men? Does it all come down to muscles and good looks?"

Making his way around the room, Levi watched closely as Peabody sat down on the bed and straightened out the cover.

"Over time, you'll get used to things and see that I am not a bad man. I take care of my friends," the man waved his arm toward the hallway. "And my friends have grown to love me." Peabody stood up and walked to the door. "You'll see. Eventually, we are going to be best friends, Lee." The man smiled one last time before unlocking the door and exiting. He waved at Levi through the bars, then disappeared down the hallway.

Unable to control himself any longer, he slid down the wall and began crying into his folded arms.