Trust Me

Richard woke up the next day, at about an average time for him. The bed was empty when he woke up, Hazel was gone. “Hazel?” He called out.

“I’m in here.” He heard her say from another room. He turned on the light and got out of bed to look for her. He was about to check the bathroom for her when he saw light spilling out from the door opposite his closet. Every time he’d tried it in the past few days it’d been locked, but it kind of made sense that Hazel had figured out a way in.

He looked inside and she was sitting at a dining table he’d seen in pictures from the 50s sipping a mug of coffee. The rest of the kitchen looked like a fusion between the appliances he’d seen over at Stella’s and the craftsman aesthetic that he’d chosen in his own condo. He saw Stella’s big set of ovens in the wall, except they’d kept their steel color rather than the shade of brown in her kitchen.

Hazel had changed out of her pajamas from last night and back into her suit. “Good morning sir.” she said as she sipped from the mug. “World’s Best Lawyer”, it read. He recognized it of course, Helena had gotten that mug for him when he’d passed the bar exam. It’d come with another car of course, but the mug felt more meaningful. He wasn’t sure if it was the same mug Helena had bought him or if Genet had just made a copy, but it still felt nice to see a little piece of home on the island.

“How’d you get in?”

Hazel frowned at him asking. “I’m sorry Richard, did you not want me in here? We can leave if you need us to.”

“No, I’m not upset. I’ve been trying to get in here for days, it’s been locked every time I’ve tried the door. I was just confused that you were able to get in.” He tried to explain.

“Oh. I see sir.” She said, reassured now and focusing on his mystery. “It was ajar when I came in earlier. I had assumed that you’d just needed to get some water in the night. Is there anyone that could’ve been in here? If anyone else had been in here, they should’ve been stuck here with us. I’ve been up for an hour, and we were the only ones here.”

“Yeah, none of the others would’ve been able to leave before one of us noticed.” He turned away from Hazel and glanced at the door. There wasn’t a lock on it. The handle was as smooth as the one to his bedroom or closet. He’d expected some sort of lock like the one on the bathroom to explain why he hadn’t been able to get in. “Do you think Genet might’ve opened it?”

She nodded. “That would make sense. I don’t know why she would’ve locked it in the first place, but we can ask her about it at breakfast. Do you think you’d be able to get ready before Ms.Turner wakes up? After being stuck with her transformation all day I’d like to give her a break”

“Yeah, I just need twentyish minutes to take a shower and figure out what I’m wearing today”

Hazel followed him as he started getting ready for the shower. “You’re with Miss Soto today, right? Do you have any expectations for where she’ll be taking you?”

“Not really. Most of what we usually do together is workout or play card games, so that kind of feels most likely today. Then again we’d never gone dancing together before last night. Maybe she’ll have us go scuba diving or something.”

“I’ll see what I can do to choose something for you to wear.”

“You don’t have to do that. You’re not my servant” He protested.

“I do it for your sister almost every day, and I’d probably still do it for her even if I wasn’t working for her. You go get in the shower, I’ll have some clothes ready on the bed for you. Just meet me in the kitchen when you’re dressed.” She said, not taking any arguments.

***

When he got out of the shower, he found Hazel’s choice waiting for him. It was one of his outfits he used when playing tennis, a light blue collared tennis shirt and dark blue shorts. The clothes hugged his biceps and made his thin frame look a bit more sturdy.

He met back up with Hazel in the kitchen. “Do I look alright?”

“You look great. Now let’s go get her.” Hazel set the mug in the sink and walked with him out of the master’s cottage towards her own bedroom. After they arrived and Hazel let him in, she asked him to wait in the hall. “I’ll call for you when she’s ready.”

She left the door ajar so he could still hear most of what was happening. Then she went inside to go wake Helena. She tapped her boss on the shoulder and waited for her to react. Helena grumbled before slipping her headphones off. “God. Morning Hazel. At least it’s you today.”

“Morning ma’am.” Hazel said as Helena removed her blindfold. “I know you told me not to worry. But did everything go alright with your plans yesterday?”

Helena nodded as she sat up in bed. “Yeah, Genet confirmed my suspicions. I think I might’ve figured out a way to get us out of here.“

“You were with Genet all day?”

“She had me watch an old season with here where the cast was being tortured and turned against each other by this blue friend of hers. She said she wanted to promise that she wouldn’t do something like that, but it came off kind of like those men that dad used to work with that would promise you’d be safe as long as you kept paying them.”

“Are you alright now though?” Hazel wanted to focus on making sure Helena was safe.

“Just angry, frustrated. But we’ll figure things out together like always. How did everything go yesterday with Richard?”

“I think it went pretty well. I took him for dancing and japanese food like I told you about a couple days ago. I’m glad you warned me about the sushi, he seemed a bit squeamish about it.”

“Good. If he insists on dating someone, you’d be better than anyone else for him”

I know she helped me plan, but that seems too far for her. Why isn’t she worried about Richard and I? Did Genet do something to her? “Ma’am?”

“Yes?”

“I asked him to come over with me to help with your transformation. He’s been waiting in the hallway.”

“Hell…” Hazel watched her bed sit up on the bed, thinking and taking a deep breath. “Richard!” She shouted out into the hall.

He came in quickly. “Everything alright Hel? Did I do something wrong?”

“Did you hear anything in here?”

Richard quickly glanced over at Hazel. She was as stone faced as he was used to. “No.” He lied. “You guys were being pretty quiet.”

“Good. Would you mind taking care of the curse for today?”

“Yeah, of course. I tried to come by yesterday for it. You can walk with us like you did last time.”

Helena felt the pressure of gravity lift. She stood up and left for the closet, raising her volume as she continued the conversation and looked through her wardrobe. “We need to be way more careful about the phrasing. “We weren’t paying attention to the fine print day one, and so telling me to walk with you to breakfast meant that the curse came back when I was done eating. “Saying to do it “like last time” will probably have the same riders.”

Richard rubbed at the sleeve of his shirt. He hadn’t realized that he’d failed her the last time he’d come to help. But the point she was shouting so plainly from the other room was true; he needed to be more careful for her now that she was the one that needed him. She came back in with a burgundy pantsuit and noticed his fidgeting. “You alright? I think there’s some of your hand puzzles here that Genet left in my closet.” She put the pantsuit on the bed and retrieved a colored three by three cube that she tossed to him.

“Thanks Hel. Hopefully it’s not too late, but I’m giving you permission to walk all day today, so you can do what you need to”

“Hopefully that should be enough.” Helena said as she stretched. “‘I’m going to take a shower and get some peace before what we need to do today. You two can go ahead to the dining hall, I’ll meet you there later, Hazel.”

Richard was eager to get out of there after thinking about what was happening with Helena. Hazel was still worried about the strangeness of what her boss had said, but she came with Richard so she could talk to Genet.

When they arrived at the dining hall for the day, the host was manning the griddle for an omelet station. She had a blue cocktail dress on with a apron that was clearly more decorative than protective, as she was still showing a distracting amount of cleavage. Richard put in his order for one with spinach and sausage and sat down with Luna, while Hazel stayed behind to talk to Genet.

“How’ve you been the past couple days?” Luna asked as he sat down. She’d finished eating already and was just sipping one of the protein shakes Genet had been handing out.

“It’s been interesting.” He responded. “I’ve been learning a lot about myself and the others.”

Did the date with Hazel go well last night?” Luna asked. Seeing him smile, she changed the question. “Did you guys end up experimenting with each other?”

Richard wasn’t sure how to answer. He thought he understood the question. But he didn’t want to betray Hazel’s trust by actually spilling what she said last night. Plus the only time they’d actually talked about his sex life was the time that Aubrey had come into their office wearing one of his shirts. She’d been mad at him for weeks about the risk if a client had been there.

“I think it went well.” He tried to answer diplomatically.

“I know something happened yesterday. But it wasn't me that felt it, it was Ava.”

“Like through Touch Base? How did that happen?” He’d forgotten about Luna’s transformation the past few days and now felt guilt for letting her get hit by it the past couple days. He really needed to have more control over himself.

“We think it might’ve been a side effect of Roid Rage. We’re not sure how, but we think she accidentally stole it with this spiritual scabbard she was trying to explain to us.”

“Is she alright?” He wasn’t sure what he could do to make it up to her if he’d hurt someone else here.

“She was a bit squirmy, but she’ll be fine. She’s an adult. Just be normal, and she’ll tell you what she wants to do.”

Genet came and dropped off the omelet. Luna and Richard kept talking. He twisted the puzzle in his pocket as he ate with a fork in his other hand. “You’re probably right, as always.” I’m glad you’re here. I’m sorry I got you dragged here though.” He pivoted at the end.

“I was the one that put her on our schedule.” Luna said. “Neither of us knew this would happen. Even now that it has, it doesn’t have to be a bad thing.”

“But it is. I need to be careful with you all. None of you can consent if we were to do anything, **** is about as “under duress” as you can get.”

“Do you think you can consent, if we can’t? We got taken together.” Luna tried to test his argument.

“Of course.” He responded without thinking.

“What makes you different?”

He took much longer to answer now. “”I’m the master. Dr.Petrov told me that you guys were at risk if I didn’t give you a chance. I will, but I still need to be careful. Genet can’t do anything to me.”

“Maeve is right. There's risks for us.” It felt strange for him to hear her first name. "But us having risks here doesn’t mean that you need to protect us. Since you’re with Ava today, we both know she could kick your ass if she felt threatened.”

“Technically neither of you can hurt each other.” Genet chimed in from the next table over. She’d taken a break from cooking to talk to Hazel more closely about how yesterday had gone.

“What do you mean?” Richard asked.

“As long as my magic is active, all physical or sexual **** must be consensual from both parties. Neither of you would be able to do anything the other didn’t want to be done.”

“How do you know whether something i wanted though?” Richard asked

Genet crossed her arms, causing the top of her dress to bunch up and threaten a wardrobe malfunction. “It’s like I said back when you asked during the opening ceremony. I can see and hear what makes you happy.”

“But that doesn’t make sense. Those are hidden most of the time, you can’t read our minds like that.”

“Richard, I’m being specific with my words. Listen.” Genet implored him. “I’m not reading your minds. You all are loud. When you’re happy, I can see why. When you want something, I can hear it. I only really get access to the good emotions, but whether it’s biting into your favorite food or wanting to touch yourself, you’re loud. I like that you guys are loud, because it lets me know you’re happy. But I’m not reading your mind, I’m just being a good listener.”

“So you don’t need to worry about hurting us.” Luna picked up the baton and ran with it.

“But that’s just physical harm.” Dick protested. “I care about all of you, I don’t want anything to happen to sabotage the relationships we already have.”

“Then just do what you said you talked to Maeve about and give us a chance.” Luna countered. “If it feels like one of us wants to take it slow, I know you’ll be able to do that. But if we are open to more, go with your heart. You’re my best friend, just let yourself be happy.”

“I’m trying. I know you’re right Luna, I just need to get out of my head.”

“You know you can talk to us if you need, she- “ Luna checked to see if Genet was still listening. It looked like she’d gone back to talking to Hazel. “She picked people she knows you trust.”

“Yeah, I need to listen to you guys more.”

Just then, a ding came in from his phone.

Hey man, Genet told me about this cave system near the bottom of the mountain. Want to go exploring together?

Sounds fun. He sent back.

Cool. Just make sure you’re there by twelve fifty so we can meet Genet’s “date” deadline

He showed Luna the message from Ava. She smiled at it. “Good. Read for a bit so you can stop psyching yourself up, then go hang out with her. I’ll be talking to Aubrey when she’s up later.”

He glanced at her, getting worried again. “Did something happen?”

“I want her help with something.”

“Be careful. She figured out that you were one of the people that talked to me when we broke up, and she was pissed at you last time I was able to see her.”

Luna nodded. “I suppose I deserve that. But I think I know how to make it up to her.”