A Caged Canary

Jennifer didn't touch the food. She wasn't hungry anyway. She laid on the floor and wished that she could at least have a glimpse of the stars. Then perhaps she could have a little conversation with her mother. 

It may sound absurd to some people if they knew Jennifer spoke to the stars, imagining that her mother was up there, listening to her woes, offering her support. But Jennifer didn't care. It brought her contentment to some extent. She sighed. Now she couldn't do that. She would have to be patient with what she had. So she closed her eyes and heaved a deep breath. 

"Mommy. I wish you didn't die. I wish you were here to take care of me. Maybe then, I wouldn't be so lonely." She whispered shakily and remained like that until once again, sleep overpowered her. Later during the night, one of Frank's men came into the basement to take away the plate and saw that the girl had not even touched her food last night. He didn't want to get into trouble, just because she didn't take her food. After contemplating whether he should call and inform his boss about it, he sighed and picked his phone. Either way, the Grim Reaper would find out, and he'd rather let him know than letting him find out the next day. 

"Yes," Frank answered within a few rings. 

"Boss…..the prisoner didn't eat." He told him, after gulping down the saliva.

There was a sigh, followed by silence. Each passing second caused the palpitations of his heart to increase. His anxiety had reached its peak, and he kept wiping away the beads of sweat that kept forming on his forehead. 

"And what is she doing now?" Frank asked. 

"Sleeping, boss." He replied, suddenly feeling thankful that he didn't snap at him. 

"Fine. Let her sleep tonight. But make sure she takes something in the morning." Frank ordered and ended the call. 

Feeling relieved, he silently removed the untouched plate of food and walked out of the basement, leaving their prisoner to slumber in the blocked basement. 

The next morning, Jennifer woke up to the sound of the men yelling at her. Gasping and widening her eyes in bewilderment, she looked at the three buff men, who were staring at her angrily. 

"Wake up! It's time to eat!" One of them shouted. 

"Eat this! Now! Or else, I swear that we will hold you and force you to eat it!" The first one grumbled through his gritted teeth as he shoved in a bowl of what looked like oats porridge. 

She gagged at the smell and covered her nose as she looked away from the bowl. It wasn't that she wasn't hungry. She had never liked the smell of oats porridge. Despite the efforts of her nanny, oats porridge was one food that she simply couldn't stand, especially early in the morning. She had always opted for a slice of bread or a cup of coffee with some fruits. 

"What the fuck!!!!" One person hissed, disgruntled at Jennifer's reaction to the food. 

"Don't fucking make us come inside and force-feed you! Why the fuck won't you eat?" His anger was evident in his eyes, as he growled at their prisoner.  

"Relax." 

Frank's voice made him trail off. They were so engrossed in yelling at Jennifer, that they didn't realize that their leader had entered the basement. 

"Boss…." one of them stuttered and trailed off, their demeanour quickly changing from enraged to conciliate. 

Frank's eyes were on the girl, who seemed to be too stunned to react. Her hair was dishevelled and she looked as though she didn't get a good night's sleep. 

"Why aren't you eating?" Frank's voice was dangerously calm. The men knew that a storm was most probably brewing inside his chest. His collected demeanour was just the calm before the storm. 

Jennifer, on the other hand, was fed up. She may have agreed to be their prisoner to save her nanny, however, it didn't mean that she will have to be their slave. If she was to be their prisoner, she would make it hard to deal with her. 

She stared right into Frank's cold, empty orbs and narrowed her eyes. Her unsmiling face matched with his, as they stared at each other. Neither of them said anything. Frank's hardened face was enough to make anyone shudder in fear, however, Jennifer refused to back off. She had let it known to him that she wasn't scared of him, and it shall stay that way. 

She might have felt a bit anxious and unsafe, because of what she had heard from Frank's men the day before, leading her to the situation she was in right now. However, she wasn't someone who would give up, just like that. Even if it meant facing the Grim Reaper himself. 

"I have asked you something." Frank hissed after some time when Jennifer didn't respond. 

Still staring at the well-built man in front of her, she taunted him with her smirk. 

"So? I don't have to answer your questions, asshole." She hissed back.

His jaw muscles stiffened. She saw how he clenched his fists as his nostrils flared. It was apparent that he was trying to remain calm and not lose his cool. 

"I can kill you right now, bitch. And I promise you, no one will find out." His baritone voice was enough to make her shudder, however, she made sure that her face remained void of emotions. 

"Kill me if you dare." She dared him, fully knowing that it was dangerous to do so. 

"I don't fucking care if I die, jackass! Most probably, no one will cry for my demise! Like I said, douchebag, I'm not scared of you. I never was, and never will be! Kill me, and I'll come to haunt you in your nightmares." She threatened him.

She didn't know from where she got the courage to say what she did out loud. But she did, and she didn't regret what she had said. 

Frank's eyes dilated. 

"The fuck!" Cursing under his breath, he glanced at his men. A few minutes passed in silence. Jennifer's chest heaved as she took deep breaths. She was feeling a mixture of anger and anxiety. She was furious about how things had turned out for her, and at the same time, anxious due to the uncertainty of how this unexpected event would shape her future. 

"Feisty woman." He grumbled. "Fine. But if you don't eat anything, I'll make my family doctor inject supplements into your veins." 

Smirking, he studied her features. Long, auburn hair, though slightly messy, still looked soft as it cascaded down her back in waves. Alluring blue-green eyes that were laced with pure distaste as she drilled holes into Frank. Smooth skin and soft pink lips. The loose, light blue shirt she was wearing suited her well, as it brought out the colour of her eyes. The dark skinny pants hugged her legs like a second skin. She was beautiful. A beautiful canary in a cage. 

Frank's smirk deepened as he turned around to leave.

"Boss," the man closest to him called as soon as they walked out of the basement, gaining his attention, "the doc will be leaving for France soon, isn't he?" He inquired. Snickering, Frank looked at the questioner. 

"She doesn't have to know about that, right?" He chuckled and walked away. His mind was still on the situation. It was true that the doctor was leaving for France. Frank was sending him there to take care of a traitor to his mafia family. Doctors are legally trained killers. They have the power to save or take a life away. And Frank knew exactly who to turn to when a natural death was to be forged. 

Days passed by and there was no news from his rivals. This added to his headache. What he feared the most was his secrets being exposed. He knew as time passed it would prove to be crucial for him, hence he called his allies and asked them to hide their secrets and shift the goods in the warehouse elsewhere.

Another thing that disturbed him was that his prisoner barely ate. Frank visited his prisoner every day and it frustrated him that his mere existence didn't seem to bother Jennifer. 

Just as any other morning, he walked towards the basement to pay a visit to her. His men were guarding the entrance and accompanied him inside. They didn't expect to see her unconscious on the floor. Her eyes were closed and her face was pale. 

"Shit!" Frank cursed and took his gun before gesturing to his men to unlock the cage. His eyes were focused on the girl. He didn't trust her. She could be pretending to be in trouble. When she didn't move, he gestured to one of his men to check for her pulse. 

"Her pulse is too weak." He mentioned and slapped her cheeks a couple of times. She was truly out cold. 

"Fuck! And in the worst possible timing!" Frank cursed as he put his Glock away. The doctor had left for France just a couple of hours ago and wouldn't be back before the mission was over. 

"Shit! Bring her to my room. We cannot invite a doctor from outside here." He ordered and his men obeyed without delay. 

A visiting doctor was allowed into his mansion, who came in and started his investigation right away. 

"Okkkkk. She seems extremely stressed and weak to me." He told Frank, frowning. 

"Who are you, to her?" He asked. Frank's jaws clenched. However, he cleared his throat and faced the young doctor. 

"I'm her boyfriend." He professed without hesitation.