The Mute and the Liar (53 page)

The
silence
that
ensues
is
cold,
draining
and
painful.
Jasper,
taken
aback,
parts
his
lips
slightly,
caught
somewhere
between
speech
and
gasping,
then
gives
up
and
pulls
them
back
together
again.
Pained,
he
just
looks
down,
his
shoulders
hunching
over,
not
knowing
what
to
say
or
do.
Donny
silently
pleads
for
reassurance
from
him,
but
no
one
says
anything.
Giving
up,
Donny
settles
back
in
his
chair
and
folds
his
arms.
I
notice
he’s
deliberately
squeezing
them
tightly
into
his
chest
,
like
he's
holding
his
whole body together.

“
Donny,
”
Jayce
begins,
strained,
then
appears
to
lose
whatever
he
was
about
to
say
and
just
sighs.
“
Just…
”
he
tries
again.
“
Just
keep
going.
I
know…
I
know
that’s
just
words
to
you
and
doesn’t
really
mean
anything
right
now,
but…
but
believe
me.
There’s
a
better
life
out
there.
”

Donny
watches
him
carefully.
Curiosity
pulls
at
the
corners
of
his
lips
and
I
can
almost
hear
his
mind
racing,
trying
to
decipher
what
Jayce
is
trying
to do, or why he’s trying to help him. It’s quite a mediocre motivational speech really, trying too hard but failing
at being something out of
Touchstone
Pictures
film
,
but, Donny
actually
seems to be listening
to him,
and
I
suppose
at
least that’s
something.

“
Just
try
and
get
yourself
an
education,
”
Jayce
concludes
confidently.

“
You
think
you’re
out
of
time,
but
you're
not
.
T
he
y
’
r
e
helping
you
get
some
qualifications
so
you
can
start
again
in
the
future;
don’t
start
giving
up
now.
Get
yourself
those qualifications
and
start
again.
That’s
all
you
can
do.
”

Jayce
smiles
at
him
reassuringly.
Donny
does
something
odd
with
his
lips,
like
he’s
trying
to
return
that
smile,
but
doesn’t
know
how
to.
It’s
enough,
though.
For
a
moment,
they’re
back
to
the
way
they
were.
For
just
a
moment,
Jayce
isn’t
lecturing;
he’s
talking
to
an
old
friend.

Everything
is
still
as
Donny
takes
this
in.
He’s
thoughtful
for
a
moment,
and
I
guess
we
assumed
he
was
just
going
to
stay
silent,
which
is
why
we’re
all
so
surprised
when
he
slowly
parts
his
lips
and
murmurs
out:
“
But…
It’s
no
use.
”

That’s
done
it;
whatever
sliver
of
hope
had
been
fuelling
in
that
cold,
unnerving
room
where
you’re
being
watched
from
everywhere
falters
away.
Jasper
sits
up
straighter,
more
alert;
there’s
a
solid
wooden
stiffness
here
that
there
wasn’t
before.
It
jerks
us
upright
and
leaves
us
all
wary.
I
can’t
look
at
Donny
because
once
again
I
get
that
unsettled
feeling
I
had
when
I
first
entered,
the
kind
of
troubling,
uncomfortable
feeling
you
get
if
a
stranger
stands
too
close
to
you.

The
echo
of
the
smile
that
tugged
Donny’s
lips
falls.
He’s
gone
right
back
to
that
lightless,
wispy-eyed
look
of
surrender.

“
Huh?
”
Clear
confusion
takes
hold
of
Jayce,
as
it
does
with
Jasper,
who
cautiously
leans
in
a
little
more.

“
It’s
no
use,
”
Donny
repeats,
his
voice
still
so
soft
and
quiet
it’s
almost
inaudible.

“
What
do you
mean,
Donny?
”
Jasper
asks,
visibly
concerned.
“
Even if
I
get
out
of
here,
he’ll
come for
me.
”

“
What?
What
do you
mean?
Who’s
coming
for
you,
Donny?
”

“
I’m…
I’m
safe
here.
That’s
why…
that’s
why
I
have
to
stay
here.
W-
When
I
get
out, he’ll come for
me…
”

“
Calm
down Donny.
No
one’s
coming for
you.
”

Donny’s
voice
breaks
into
a
raspy
whisper
and
his
eyes
completely
glaze
over
as
he chants:
“
he’ll
come
for
me.
He’ll
come
for
me.
He’ll
come
for
me.
”

“
Donny-
”

“
You
can’t
let
him,
Jayce!
”
he
suddenly
yells,
jerking
forwards
and
staring
right
at
him
with
wild,
gaping
eyes.
He
leaps
out
of
his
chair
and
grabs
Jayce’s
collar
and begins
to
shake
him
violently.
“
You
can’t
let
him.
You
can’t
let
him
come
for
me,
Jayce.
Jayce!
”
This
immediately
alerts
the
wardens
who
run
over.
Two
of
them
run
behind
Donny
and pull
him
backwards
whilst
another
stands
in
between
to
shield
Jayce.

“
Let
me
go!
Let
me
go!
”
Donny
screams
.