“What?” I asked, in confusion.
“Which hand do you eat with?” he asked. “I was instructed to set your eating hand free so that you could eat. When I come back to collect the empty tray, I have to cuff both hands to the bedpost.”
“Who are you?” I asked, furious at how sadistic Walter’s instructions were.
“No one you know.”
“Why are you keeping me here?” I demanded.
“I’m not keeping you here,” he said, and he actually sounded insulted by that.
“Then who is?”
“Ghost.”
“Walter Black?” I asked.
“That’s just one of his aliases.”
I gulped inwardly. “Where is he?”
“Around.”
The man was looking at me sympathetically, and I returned his gaze imploringly. “What does he want with me?”
“I don’t know,” he sighed. “I don’t think it’s going to be pleasant, however.”
“Why is he keeping me here like this?”
“I don’t know,” the old man replied. “He doesn’t share his plans with me. I just take care of the house for him. I’m going to un-cuff you now.”
I thought about attempting to knock him out when he was un-cuffing my right hand. That way I could grab the key, free myself, and get the hell out of here. He seemed to know what was running through my mind.
“This house is full of his men,” the old man told me. “You’ll never get out of here alive if you cross him. Don’t make this harder on yourself than it needs to be.”
I felt my resolve weaken instantly. He freed my right hand, and I edged closer to the bedside table where the tray lay. It was still incredibly difficult to eat and drink that way, but that was exactly what Walter wanted. He wanted to punish me.
“Drink some water… you look weak,” the man told me.
“Being abducted will do that to you,” I responded.
He turned to leave, and I cried out after him. “No… wait.”
He stopped and turned back to me.
“Please… please… you have to help me.”
“I would if I could,” he responded. “But I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because he would kill me,” the man replied. “He would literally kill me.”
“You’re scared of him?” I asked.
“I’m smart enough to be scared of him,” the man nodded. “And you should be, too. Just go along with whatever he wants, and you’ll be all right. Be smart.”
“Please,” I tried again. “Isn’t there something you can do for me? Can’t you at least… un-cuff both hands?”