Soundless Sky

Chapter 8: The Treatment Room

"Would you like my apple," Eli asked Jenny?

"Thank you," Jenny replied and smiled before taking a bite out of the apple. "They really don't give us enough to eat here."

"Shelly," Eli made out, "want my chips?"

"N-no," Shelly answered in disappointment. "I don't feel like eating," she stuttered. 

Eli lowered her head in sadness as Jenny grabbed the chips from Eli. Eli's eyes remained on Shelly before she quietly slid next to her forcing Shelly to naturally lean back and look at her. Eli returned her stare but remained silent as she sat next to Shelly.

"What is it," Jenny said leaning in when she noticed Eli closely next her?

"I'm not sure," Shelly answered slightly scooting away.

"Sorry," Eli made out before moving a few inches back.

Both Jenny and Shelly watched as Eli sat in silence next to them.  They stared at each other but before a thought could arise, the door sung open and a man in a black suit pointed to two women.   Instead of leaving he turned towards their direction and looked around.    Eli lowered her head motioning Shelly and Jenny to do the same.

After a few seconds the man approached a different woman and directed her out. Eli sighed in relief and jumped when Shelly and Jenny were staring at her.

"Is there something on my face," Eli made out while gently patting her face?

"I think he was eying you," Jenny replied.

"At least it was me," she blindly answered.

 She suddenly sighed.  She stared at the two women as her heart dropped.    What if Jenny was right?  What if the two became targets because of her?

Eli sighed once more; would it be better if she kept away to keep the two safe?  She looked up at the woman with eyes filled with warmth; they had been kind to her.  They only returned her stare.

"Maybe it be best to keep away from me," Eli quietly remarked.  "When I find a way out, I'll come back for you."

"We can at-at least finish breakfast together," Shelly said before Eli could back away.

Eli stared at the women before smiling.  They looked up when the door swung open once more and instead of one man, there were three. With little effort the man in black spotted Eli and pointed his finger at her. She froze before gulping and slowly standing. 

Shelly and Jenny quickly withdrew from Eli.  Eli unsteadily watched as the two men standing beside the black suited man headed towards them. Is this it, Eli thought, but she was unable to move?

Her breath became unsteady, and her chest rose and fell as she watched the men. Go, Eli commanded before you draw more attention to the other two. She glanced back at the women and smiled grateful for the short time she spent with them.

Just before the men could reach Eli, Shelly grabbed the men's leg, wrapping her arm tightly around his ankles. Eli's eyes flashed to Shelly and then to Jenny who took the same initiative.  Eli stared at them with fluttering passion before Jenny mouthed 'go'.

Eli nodded once before she jolted up to a run. She was able to dodge a few women sitting nearby.   The man by the door only watched leaving enough room, from Eli's estimation, to get pass the door.  She glanced over her shoulder and noticed, what she thought, the men kicking at Shelly and Jenny.

With all the energy she could retain from panicking Eli jolted back towards the women. She tripped halfway but continued, half crawling, before pushing one of the men away with the weight of her body. She returned to push the other man away however she noticed he had stepped away.

She stumbled, falling to the ground, and gasped in slight confusion before one of the men in the black suit kneeled to help her up. She stared at Shelly and Jenny before grabbing his sleeve instead of his hand.  Shelly and Jenny lowered their heads in sadness and watched as Eli followed them.

As their usual behavior, they were not hurting Shelly and Jenny nor would they hurt her, Eli concluded, as her eyes rolled up to stare at the back of the man's head.  She looked over her shoulder at Shelly and Jenny before smiling and nodding once. They watched with hope, as right before Eli reached the door, she released the sleeve and ran towards a pole by the exit, tightly clutching the pole.

The two men attempted to pull Eli off the pole, but Eli tightly hugged the pole. She clenched her teeth when they attempted to pull her away once more however, she did not budge. Although the pain in her arms was excruciating Eli continued to hold onto the pole. She shut her eyes tightly in fear they would use brute force and braced herself for the worse.

She opened her eyes when the two men suddenly released her. Still attached to the pole Eli watched as they headed out before turning to Shelly and Jenny who rejoiced!   She happily sighed out widely grinning as Shelly and Jenny approached her.

"Thank you," Eli made out, her heart still soaring, still attached to the pole.

"I think it's ok to let go," Shelly stuttered and paused, "n-now."

 "Uh-huh," Eli breathed out trembling but held on.

  "Are you okay," Jenny asked?

  "I think so," Eli slowly made out.

  "You're something."  Jenny smiled. "Why don't we," she paused in attempt to pull Eli off the pole, "sit down so your body can relax?"

  "O-okay," Eli answered still attached to the pole. "I think I'm glued."

Shelly and Jenny stared at each other before slightly giggling and helping Eli pry her arms free. Eli smiled, first at Shelly, then at Jenny as they held onto her shaking arms and led her to sit. With the same grin on her face she brushed her hair behind her ears.

"It's ok now," Shelly Stuttered before Eli looked up at her with teary eyes.

"Thank you," Eli answered.

"Is something the matter," Jenny asked when she noticed Eli's teary eyes?  "It's ok now so don't cry."

"I've never had anyone tell me it was ok now," Eli answered as a tear rolled down her eye.  As she swallowed, she nodded.  "It's ok now," she repeated.  Jenny and Shelly smiled and waited as Eli hesitated.  "It may be safer if the two of you sat separately from me."

"No way," Jenny answered as she locked eyes with Eli's watery eyes.  "They already know we all associated so it's pointless to separate us now."

"Ok," Eli sighed before reaching out for a hug but hesitating.

"It's ok," Shelly made out before jumping to hug Eli.  

Eli sighed out a happy smile as Jenny joined and cradled her arms around both ladies.  So this is what it feels like, Eli thought with joy in her eyes.  The smile on her face widened before she tightened her embrace.