Dinner that night was… strange, no other word for it. There were no arguments between the men, who all seemed to have picked up manners and etiquette from somewhere in the last couple of hours. I watched and listened to the light banter that was mostly shared between Mace and Celine. She had no idea she was being questioned by an expert.

Each probe was meant to put her at ease, each follow-up revealing more about their life under the tyranny of Sam. I was even gladder now that I’d ...