I burst into the room they were keeping Michael in. I was just in time to see Matthew cutting into Michael’s bicep. I bit my lip.

“Stop!” I yelled.

Mathew turned around and looked at me angrily.

“What the hell do you want? Can’t you see I’m in the middle of something?” he turned his attention back to Michael.

“No you can’t! I… um… mistress wants to see you!”

He turned back towards me.

“Well I’m not finished here so she can wait.”

“No! She said it’s urgent!” I said starting to panic.

Matthew puffed an angry sigh.

“Very well. Don’t worry Michael, I’ll be back soon and we can play some more.”

Matthew started to walk past me and then he paused. Could he tell I was lying? I really should have thought of a better plan.

“Don’t clean him up. He can keep bleeding while I’m gone.”

With that he wiped the blade along my shoulder, leaving a bloody trail.

As soon as he closed the door behind him I ran to Michael.

“I’m so sorry this happened to you. Please forgive me!”

He looked weakly up at me. “Forgive you for what?”

“For giving that blade to him. For not doing anything.”

He laughed softly. “You are forgiven”

He stared at my lost finger. “I’d rather they have done this to me rather than another suffer.”

I stared at him in disbelief. This boy did not know me at all. He was saying that he would rather be hurt than me. Am I hearing him correctly? I’m nobody important. I don’t understand.

“That’s it, I’m busting you out” I said as I stared at the lock.

“No. The chains are too strong.”

I stared into his eyes “Trust me.”

He nodded and I concentrated on the lock. I willed it to be unlocked and it clicked unlocked. He dropped to the floor in a loud thud. I helped him up and held his arm around my neck for support.

“I thought you were human” he muttered.

“I am…. some-what. I’ll explain some other time.” We hobbled towards the door.

I reached for the door handle but someone opened the door before I could. I stepped back with Michael as the door opened. There were two guards and a strange girl was with them. Crap.

Goodbye freedom, for both of us.