QUOTE : Sorry about this,” Kelly said as Ox and Joe looked on.<br /><br />I said nothing.<br /><br />Kelly closed the line of silver, trapping me in the basement once again.<br /><br />Ox nodded at me before heading toward the stairs.<br /><br />Joe said, “Your tether.”<br /><br />Ox stopped, but he didn’t turn around.<br /><br />Joe said, “Who is it?”<br /><br />I scowled at him. “Fuck you.”<br /><br />“Simple question.”<br /><br />“None of your business.”<br /><br />“Joe,” Ox said.<br /><br />Joe ignored him. “Is it still your mother?”<br /><br />Little wolf, little wolf, can’t you see?<br /><br />I snarled at him.<br /><br />And Kelly said, “Enough.”<br /><br />Joe left then, followed by Ox.<br /><br />Kelly glared after them before slamming the door shut.<br /><br />I paced back and forth, prowling the edges of the silver line.<br /><br />Kelly hung his head, hands pressed against the door. He took a deep breath before turning around. He picked up his blanket and pulled it around his shoulders. He sat on the floor again, back against the wall. He picked up his book but didn’t open it.<br /><br />I said, “This is all shit,” and “You all act like you know me,” and “You’re fucking with my head, this could all be a lie, everything could be a lie. Please let me go. Please just let me go home. I want to go home. I want to go home.”<br /><br />He didn’t respond, at least not verbally.<br /><br />His chest hitched.<br /><br />I could smell the sting of salt.<br /><br />He blinked rapidly as he looked down at his book. He didn’t turn the page for the longest time.