Sylvain stirred awake to the soft vibration of his phone on the nightstand. The master bedroom was still dark, the curtains drawn tight against the morning light.
Silas lay beside him, breathing deep and even in sleep. Sylvain's body still ached from the night before, a constant reminder of his place in this cage.
He quickly silenced the phone and glanced at the screen. It was Leon.
Careful not to wake Silas, Sylvain slipped out of bed and tiptoed into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. He answered in a whisper.
"Leon? Is everything okay?"
"Hey, bro!" Leon's voice was bright, full of excitement. "Sorry for calling so early. I just wanted to tell you — I saw an online job offer last night. It's at a small restaurant nearby. They need a waiter. I applied and they replied this morning. I'm going for the interview today!"
