She glanced at the window and saw that the sky was lightening to an indigo. When she looked over again, he was unlocking Braithe’s handcuffs. He pulled her to her feet, where she swayed, unsteady, and then he led her to the food. Rainy watched as he sat her on a stool and placed a fork in her hand. It was the first time she was seeing Braithe’s face since the night of the dinner. Her hair was still in the topknot she’d worn that night, but it sagged off the side of her head like a piece of fruit past its prime. A few strands had escaped their pins and hung limply around her face. She didn’t have bruises, not that Rainy could see, but Braithe was so gray she matched the concrete floor. Her eyes looked swollen, but that could have been from crying. She didn’t look up when Rainy said her name.

“She’s so zonked out she doesn’t know who you are,” Paul said, stroking her head. She was staring down at whatever was in the container, the fork poised above it. “Go on, be a good girl and take a bite.” When Braithe didn’t move, he spoke again. “Hey! I’m talking to you, you ungrateful shit, eat! God!” Throwing his hands up, he paced behind her chair.

“You said it yourself, she’s drugged. Untie me and I’ll feed her.”

“I don’t think so,” he said. “We’ve already been through this, Rainy.” He took the fork from Braithe and speared something in the box. Braithe opened her mouth and Paul spooned what looked like pancakes through her lips. She chewed unenthusiastically, her eyes on the table. He handed her the fork and she took over, robotically.

“Braithe wouldn’t eat at first, you see. She can be really stubborn, as I’m sure you know. Anyway, we came to a deal—she eats what I bring her, and I don’t leave her in the freezer all day.”

“You fucking psycho.”

“Now, now, Rainy, it’s right over there—” he pointed to his right and Rainy followed his gaze to two large steel doors with what looked like vault handles on the front “—waiting for a new bitch to freeze. You’re up next!” he said cheerfully. “I brought you bacon and eggs.”

He hummed as he unwrapped her food, setting it on the counter. He glanced over every few seconds to make sure Braithe was eating.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” Rainy said.

Paul nodded. “Soon as she’s done.”

Rainy searched Braithe’s face, looking for something—a message or a plea for help, anything—but her head remained bowed, her movements mechanical. Rainy sighed, frustrated.