Hidden Gifts

Fifteen

*Trigger warning for violence towards children.*

"I... I... What happened?" Talia stutters.

"What happened?!" He yells and then does the unexpected. He turns his attention to Joseph and stomps on his stomach.

Joseph cries in pain but Mike doesn't stop. He crushes his ribs and blood erupts from Joseph's mouths as he chokes on blood. He kicks his face and dislodges his jaw, leaving a bloody appearance behind.

"Stop!" Talia runs up to him and scratched his skin of with her nails like a wild animal. Punching and slicing just to rescue Joseph.

He was her angel. He appeared out of nowhere and helped her get this far. She would not just let him die.

She is finally able to pin him she punches him, breaking his nose. She gets up and stomps on his throat over and over again. She wanted to do the same thing he had done to Joseph and destroy his already hideous face but if it became to mangled it may not recognize it.

She practically bounces on his chest as he wheezes. Grabbing him by his head she drags his body to the dome. It immediately does a facial recognition and shows a green light indicating their access has been granted.

The place where she stands shows green pentagons like that of a bee hive before opening fully like a door for her to pass through.

"Joseph we did it!" She smiles and turns over to Joseph but sees him on the ground. Broken and bloody.

"Joseph?" She whispers and runs up to him, falling on her knees beside him. "I'm so sorry." She cries.

"I'm sorry I let this happen to you. I should have used my powers to kill them from the start but I didn't. I don't know why but I just didn't. You are the only reason I'm alive but I couldn't even protect you. I'm so sorry, Joseph.

"It's–" he coughs spitting blood on her face but she doesn't pull back or gag. "–It's okay, Talia. You are the reason I was able to leave that hell. You rescued me. They were going to bundle us up and kill us but you took me with you despite your situation. You could have left me there but you didn't. When you saw me you didn't look at me with disgust, you looked at me with pity and that single acts of humanity made me trust you. I may not have been able to leave but knowing that I helped someone in my short time of life is better than silver or gold." He coughs.

"Joseph."

"I'm so glad I met you. This is the most exciting thing that has happened to me in nine years and it's all thanks to you. I never thought I would even make it beyond the sanctuary but I did... Because of you. Don't feel like this is your fault, not for even a second. Just promise me one thing, save us. Save the rest of us that are trapped her. Devon keeps us here and trains us as soldiers to fight for him during the uprising. There are more sanctuaries all across the country in fact all across the world all ruled by him. Save us, Talia. Please. I believe in you. And just know that I've always loved Clare, she was a wonderful woman. She promised to return but she never did. If you do see her please tell her that I am beyond grateful. My family and everyone." His eyes roll to the back of his head as Talia's sadness turns into confusion.

"How do you know who Clare is?" Talia urges. "Joseph? Oh no please don't die. Please. Please tell me how you know Clare. Joseph! Joseph!!" Talia cries.

~~~
She had carried his dead body out of the sanctuary. He deserved a proper burial and not just to be left rotting in the forest.

She dug up the ground with her hands and some large works. It's not six foot deep but anywhere you drop a dead body is a grave.

She kisses his forehead and drops him gently hoping his happy in wherever he is. Most people had the notion that their dead ones go to 'a better place' but refuse to accept the possibility that they may be burning in hell.

Joseph was a selfless soul and God would reward him. Grabbing a huge boulder she rolls it on top of the grave and uses a smaller rock to engrave the words Joseph on it. It wasn't as hard as she had though. She didn't know anything else about him like his last name but she wrote his age and the words: one last good soul gone to soon.

She didn't know exactly where she was but she was sure she was on the outskirts of town all she had to do was walk a few miles and hope she doesn't walk in circles.

She tries to process all the information she had just seen. The man whose name was TJ kept ringing in her ear and that when she remembered.

When she was in the hotel a man had said the name TJ and told him to go the location they talked about. Now that she processed the information well the man sounded like Devon.

It was Devon that was at the hotel that night and TJ as well and maybe even Mike. But who was Devon punching?

Her heart felt so uneasy, not only at the sight of seeing two young children die but the fact that Joseph mentioned Clare. It could have been another Clare but what other Clare did she know.

Joseph knew Clare.

Clare could be in the sanctuary and she didn't notice. No. Joseph said he loved Clare as in past tense, he obviously knew she was dead too. But he said if she saw her so maybe he hadn't seen for in a while but thought she was still alive. But how did he know she knew Clare?

Fuck. She thought to herself.

What was happening to her?

First she was a girl who was being bullied and had a sister in debt now she was killer. She had killed seven people in the span of two days. At least, indirectly killed them.

Before TJ had died it felt like the whole world was on slow motion and as if she and entered his mind. It was so dark and there was a man beating up a child mercilessly and when she got out of his head he started screaming as though she had made the memory materialize.

She was a manipulator.

There were many other manipulators living amongst her.

Did Damie know? Was this another one of the secrets she kept from her? Talia was about to get furious but decided to give Damie the benefit of a doubt.

It was evening and sleep was hitting her hard. She wanted to fall down on her bed and just forget about her worries but if she dared that she might just find herself back there.

Pushing away the urge to shut her eyes she kept walking and at some point even wobbling until she reached the town.