The Doll's House

126

‘Hello Ruby.’

Ruby had crawled into the corner and stared up at her captor with ill-concealed fear.

‘Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you.’

Ruby kept her eyes riveted to him. The more he insisted he wasn’t going to hurt her, the more convinced she was that he would.

He sat down on the bed a few feet away and looked around the room as if seeing it for the first time.

‘I have a confession to make.’

He smiled now, looking for all the world as if he were blissfully happy.

‘I made a mistake.’

Ruby stared at him. What was he up to? Where was this going?

‘I got the wrong girl. I shouldn’t have taken you. I’m sorry.’

He seemed genuinely penitent. And oddly relaxed.

‘What are you going to do to me?’ Ruby asked, her voice shaking as fear bit.

‘What do you think I’m going to do to you?’

He half laughed as he said it, as if she were the one that was mad, not him.

‘I’m going to let you go.’