"I'd like you to do me a favor and be quiet for a while," he said. "If you want to cry or whimper, that's okay, but don't talk, all right?"

Olivia didn't respond.

Greg just sat there, silently staring at the women in cages. Every once in a while there'd be a hint of a smile, but mostly his expression was blank.

It felt like about half an hour before he did anything else. He took his cell phone out again, tapped the screen as if sending a text message, then pocketed it, looking annoyed.

He glanced back up at Olivia. "When I told you I enjoyed your music, I was lying, but it wasn't complete bullshit. You've got some talent. You were never going to be a superstar, but if I was a real manager I probably could've gotten you into a bigger club. If it will make you feel better to sing, go ahead and sing a couple of songs. Entertain me."

No way was Olivia going to sing for him. She'd let him rip out her vocal cords with his teeth first.

She wanted to tell him to go to hell. She settled for gently shaking her head.

Greg pointed to the cage next to hers. "Do it for your neighbor, then. She hasn't had any entertainment for the past few days except watching me put you up there. Sing her a song. Upbeat, depressing, I don't care. Sing something."

"No."

"What's wrong? Don't like the acoustics in this venue?" Greg laughed far too hard at his own joke. "C'mon, sing for us. Before too long you won't have the energy. Give the world one last song."

"Go to hell."

Greg stood up. "I bet if I broke one of your fingers you'd sing. Your pitch would go up a couple of octaves but you'd sing." He glanced over at Regina. "Hey, is she dead?"

He walked over and poked Regina's leg. She didn't respond. He jabbed at her with his index finger a few more times, until finally she opened her eyes.

"Ah, okay, still around. Couldn't see you breathing."

Regina closed her eyes again. Greg sat back down.

"I'm not going to break one of your fingers," he told Olivia. "I'm better than that now. I'm just going to watch. If you want to sing, sing. If you don't, don't. Your choice."

He leaned back, stretched out his legs, and stared at her.

Olivia wanted to close her eyes so she wouldn't have to look at him, but she was too frightened. She didn't want to open her eyes and discover him standing right next to her cage, reaching for her foot. And she didn't want to fall asleep. Falling asleep with him in the room should've been impossible, but her energy level was extremely low and she felt like she could indeed lose consciousness if she kept her eyes closed for too long.

So they watched each other.

For hours.