35

“Dane, are you awake?” I rap lightly on his bedroom door, straining my ear to the smooth surface for noises or signs of life, and jump when the door clicks open, and he edges around it, so I only see his face. Cast half in shadow from the early hour, his bruises have progressed further, but much of his swelling has calmed down. He looks like someone went crazy with purple face paint.

“Yeah. Did Elisa go home?” He eyes past me down the darkened hall and seems uneasy that he might get caught if he comes out further. I already know he’s safe.

“Yep, she left a few minutes ago. Monique is up, but she’s cleaning downstairs before she goes to the market. She normally doesn’t come up here until after to sort the rooms. You have maybe an hour to get ready and for us to leave after she does.” I hold up the glass of orange squash in my hand and the tube of Arnica gel and wave them at him. “To take your meds and to help with your pain.” I point out and hold them out to him so that he slides back