"You have to ask?" I push the sheets off and get up, my naked body shivering in the cool night air. "He's hurt me every single day since I've been back. He's made it his mission to fuck me up. Why wouldn't I do the same to him? Why wouldn't I hit him where it hurts?"
"Is that why you didn't want me to use a condom?"
I smirk, strolling to the window, my fingers lingering on the wooden frame as I stare outside. "You sure catch on fast, Lai."
"You know, you could be pregnant right now." He approaches me from behind, arms wrapping around me and embracing me firmly. His fingers touch my belly, gently wandering over the flat expanse of my navel. "Maybe you've got my baby in there."
I don't answer, just silently place my hand over his as we continue to stare out the window.
A moment later, I break off the embrace and motion to the door. "You better leave. All the others have gone already. I don't think you want to be here when Dex arrives."
"You think I'm afraid of him?"
I shake my head. "I'm just looking out for you."
"Why do you care?" He picks up his car keys from the nightstand. "Does it matter whether I'm breathing or not?"
I don't know what to tell him. My alliance with Lai was born out of necessity, but I do have fond feelings for the boy. He was never as cruel as the others.
"Leave, Lai." My voice is gentler, and he nods in silent understanding, raising his hand before he leaves. I wave him off, and watch him walk to the door. Then, I stare out of the window and watch him get into his car and pull out of the driveway.
I got what I so desperately wanted. Revenge is coming, and it's going to taste sweeter than I could have ever imagined.
So why am I still not happy?
"I can't believe it," Minnie breathes. "You... you wanted them to do that to you? But why?"
"Because it's the only way I can hurt Dexter," I mutter. "The only way to get back at him for what he did to me."
"What about the other boys?"
"What about them?"
"Don't they matter to you?" Minnie's words aren't accusatory, but confused instead. "Don't you care about their feelings?"
"No," I reply firmly. "They didn't care about mine, either, did they?"
She doesn't answer. She ponders my words as she picks up the hairbrush again and once again begins to brush my hair. Her next words are spoken so quietly I nearly miss them.
"You're going to have a baby, aren't you?"
"It's too soon to tell."
"Your father's going to kill you."
"He hasn't yet," I mutter. "Besides, that kid will be privileged. And I'll be giving Father the heir he so desperately wants."
"So you're going to keep it?"
I shrug. "I don't care. I don’t even know if it’s going to happen. But maybe if I can give Father the heir he's wanted his whole life, I can use the baby as my ticket to get out of here."
"You'd give the baby up?" Her eyes widen. I don't know whether she's appalled or impressed. "You'd just walk away from a child?"
"It means nothing to me." My hands form fists in my lap and I close my eyes firmly, pretending I'm telling her the truth. Pretending I don't give a damn at all. "The sooner I have it, the better. The moment I do, I'm a free woman."
Minnie ponders my words, and we sit there in strange, but companionable silence as she continues to brush my silky mane.
"I found out where my mother lives."
"W-What?" she stutters.
"She's alive and well, as it turns out." I deliver the words with cool indifference. As if it doesn't matter at all that my own mother abandoned me. That she hasn't made a single attempt to reconnect with me. It must run in the family - am I not planning on doing the same thing to my child, once the time comes? "And she lives only a couple of hours away by train."
"Are you going to see her?"
"Yes," I nod. "As soon as I can get away. But you can't tell anyone."
"So you're leaving this town for good?"
"Maybe."
"What if..." She bites her bottom lip, obviously nervous to ask the question, and I squeeze her hand to reassure her. "What if she doesn't want you to stay with her?"
"Then I have another family waiting for me in Wildwood." Once again, the memory of my parents who aren't really my parents, of my sister Andromeda, hits me hard and cuts deep where it hurts the most. "I'm sure they'll take me in, protect me from my father."
"You're underestimating him," Minnie whispers, and for the millionth time, I wonder how far Father's abuse has gone when it comes to the pretty blonde maid. "He's going to find you wherever you go. And he'll drag you back by your hair, if he has to. He has enough money and power to do that."
"I'm of a legal age now," I remind her. "Nobody can tell me what to do. At least in the eyes of the law. And I know half of the cops in Eden Falls are on Emilian Oakes' payroll, but it's not that way in Wildwood."
Minnie nods, pondering my words as she finally sets the brush down. As she does, I spot the faint hint of bruises on her wrist, barely there, but noticeable enough for me to make out the shape of fingers where someone held her.
"He did this?" My fingertips gently touch the bruised skin, and Mignonette winces when I touch her, nodding without saying a word. "I'm going to help you, Minnie."
She smiles at me, but it's not a sign of happiness. She doesn't believe me, and neither do I. Minnie has no one looking out for her. She has nowhere to run. At least I have options, places to go if all else fails. Even Minnie's mother would betray her.
"It's okay," she mutters, but the tremble in her voice doesn't escape me. "I'll manage."
"Maybe I should speak to Brazen," I suggest. "He's helped you out before and-"
"No." She grips my hand, pulling it to her chest and staring at me with pleading eyes. "Please, Pandora. Promise you won't say anything."
"But why?" I demand. "You know he loves-"
"Stop." Her eyes fill with tears, and she blinks fast, shaking her head. "Please, stop. I can't."
"Okay." I don't poke her further, knowing I've overstepped already. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."
"It's alright." She manages a weak smile, getting up from my bed and smoothing down the white apron she's wearing over her sky-blue uniform. "I should get back to work. My mom will be wondering where I am."
"Minnie..." She shakes her head again, shutting me up. I want to comfort her, to offer her solace and friendship, but it seems as if she doesn't want that. She's pushing me away, eager to keep the topic away from Brazen. And while I may not understand her eagerness to not speak of my brother, I owe her not to push the subject as her friend. "Okay. I'm sorry. I'll stop. You can leave."
"Thank you, Miss." Minnie seems relieved as she gathers her cleaning supplies and leaves my bedroom, softly closing the door as she leaves.