I'm not sure how long I've been locked down here for. All I know is that I haven't received any food, which means that it cant have been two days yet, but it feels like it's been a year. I'm starving, I don't know how much longer I can last down here.

All I've had to keep me company is Scott, and after a while, he becomes quite boring and annoying. "Literally, you just haven't had well cooked Brussels sprouts! When we are out of here, I will force feed them to you, and it will change your mind."

I giggle. "No, i'm always going to hate Brussels sprouts, and you can't change my mind."

The echo of our laughs bounce around the cells and we earn protests from the others locked up within the other cells, making me laugh even more. Despite this, my mind can't help but linger on Scott's words. He said 'when we get out of here', but what makes him think that's even possible?

I have gathered that Matteo is an extremely powerful man from all that Scott has told me, which makes me doubt that I will ever be able to see the light of day again. He could just keep me locked up for the rest of eternity.

"Scott, do you think that we really will ever be able to get out of here?" I ask, seriousness in my voice.

"Yes." He says, his voice oozing with confidence. It does make me feel slightly better. At least I've made a friend throughout this. Though, I haven't even seen his face.

"Thank you." I say.

"For what?"

"For talking to me." I reply, a small smile forming on my face. Scott has been nothing but nice, and distracted me from all the horrid thoughts that have manifested within my brain over the past few days, or however long I've been locked up in here. "You know, if we met under normal circumstances, i think we could've become very good friends."

"Why can't we? What's stopping us?" Scott's deep voice echoes.

I let out a shallow laugh, more like a sigh. "I guess i'm still having trouble picturing freedom, and i don't think that it would be much of a friendship if we only ever spoke between a concrete wall, without ever having seen each other."

There was a moment of silence. I know he's thinking of the right thing to say. The right words that will put me at ease to help me forget where I am. I am grateful for when he does this, yet sometimes I wish I could face the truth of my situation.

"I promise i'll get you out of here, Mia." His gruff voice whispers.

My lips break out into a subtle smile, and I feel butterflies within my stomach at the sweet sentiment. "Thank you." I whisper back to him. His words are already taking their drug-like effect over my mind. I already feel better.

***

I don't know when i fell asleep, but all i know is that i'm awake now... And that the lights are on.

I squint, trying to adjust to the brightness. I instantly fear that Matteo has come back to finish me off, but no one is in sight. It's dead silent.

"Scott?" I call. I hear his body shuffling and a groan escape him, as if he too is just waking up. Then I hear a gasp come from him as he realises the lights are on.

"Shit, Mia, they are coming down. Be silent, just do as they say. Okay?" For the first time, Scott's voice sounds worried, even fearful, which makes me ten times more scared.

Why are they coming down?

They're probably just bringing food. I'm sure it's been two days, it certainly has felt like it.

"Okay." I whisper back as I hear the familiar sound of the cellar door opening.

Goosebumps run over my whole body, and I shiver in anticipation. From what I can tell, it sounds like multiple sets of footsteps. Is Matteo coming down as well?

My breathing is ragged, and I huddle further up in the corner of the cell.

The footsteps only become louder as they come down the hallway.

I feel like I'm about to pass out.

The men's shadows dance along the walls, making them look even more menacing--If that is even possible.

And finally they arrive at the front of my cell. There's three of them, large guards wearing their usual suit. I let out a sigh of relief as I noticed there's no Matteo, but that relief was short -lived when he stepped out from the corner, a wide grin plastered across his face.

I take in a shaky breath and push myself further up against the wall. His mere presence now terrifies me. It's like he's some sort of terrifying ghost, but he's very, very real.

"How has your stay been my Mia?" Matteo asks, as he motions for one of the guards to unlock the cell door.

No, he can't come in here. Why can't he just leave me alone?

"Please, l-leave me a-alone." I whimper, attempting to become more of a ball.

The cell unlocked with an audible click, and Matteo walked in, confident in his stride. He looks every bit the crazed psycho mafia leader he is. But despite all the horrible things I know about him, I still blush when he looks at me with those possessive eyes.

I hate myself.

"I've left you alone for the past two days, Principessa." He purrs. "Aren't you hungry?"

Almost on cue, my stomach growls loudly, and I know he heard. There's no point in lying, so I keep quiet, hoping he might just leave and forget about me.

"Come on baby, apologise to me and this can be over. I can take you upstairs right now and you can have all the food you want. We can watch a movie and you can sleep in a nice big bed. How does that sound?" He asks, as if he's trying to coax a child.

I watch with large eyes as he comes towards me and keels down to my eyes level, bringing his hand to my face, he begins to caress my cheek.

I shudder at his touch, but he is so warm. I involuntarily lean into the warmth. "That's it, just say you're sorry and all will be forgiven." He sounds so nice now, maybe I should just say sorry.

"I-" I try to form the words in my mouth, but i just can't. I would be betraying every bone in my body to say those words. I just can't apologise. I shake my head, and drop my gaze ashamed.

Matteo's hand brushes over my head, as if he were petting a dog. "It's alright. I admire your resistance, Mia. But soon you will break, and i will be here to put you back together." He whispers, then standing and leaving me once again all alone in the cell.

"I will be back in two days to ask you again, Mia. I hope you will make the right decision." He says.

I hear their footsteps fade away as they begin to leave, and I open my eyes to find that at the door of the cell is a bottle of water and a piece of bread.

I scramble quickly and reach for the bread, about to take a bite before stopping myself.

I know for a fact that Scott has not received any food since I have been here, and I doubt that they just gave him anything. I can't just eat this bread knowing that he is probably starving, so I tear it in half and poke my hand through the cell bars, curving my arm to Scott's cell.

"Scott, take this." I say, and I hear him shuffling towards the door.

"No, Mia. You need to eat this." I feel his hand brush up against mine, pushing me away. I shiver at his cold touch.

"Please Scott, i don't know if i could live with myself if i didn't give you this piece of bread." I say. "Please just take it."

I hear Scott sigh, and he takes the bread off of me. "Thank you."

I smile, though it fades away quickly after I remember that Matteo will be back in two days, asking for my apology again.

Will he leave me down here until i apologise?

Will I ever apologise?

I curl up into a ball, eating my bread, wondering if i will ever be free again.

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