The Conductor

Chapter Seventeen- The Conductor

I tried to remain conscious as the Drum Major stalked her prize. She smiled with a wicked grin, occasionally pulling up her white gloves. She continued to walk around me, while I looked at him with a face of pure desperation. I had let Cicile down. I had let Brittany down. How could I have been so foolish?

"You sure have satisfied me, men." the Drum Major said with a titanium smile, acknowledging my wounds. The two men smiled with delight.

"Now it's my turn."

The Drum Major slowly walked around to face my back, staring into the whole ripped in my suit. "I see you took the time to wrap yourself up, didn't you?"

I looked down in shame. I was trying to hide my tears of a mixture of pain and sadness. I looked up at Cicile.

"I-- I'm--" I stammered. I could hardly talk anymore. The only noises that came out of my mouth were little yelps and squeals of pain.

"I'm sorry." I squeaked.

Cicile's mouth gaped open as hot tears streamed down her cheeks. I looked to the floor again to find my blood in droplets on the floor below my mouth.

"You're such a fool. Putting yourself before others. Pathetic."

"That's not true!" Cicile whimpered. "Conductor, don't listen to them, please!"

"Quiet, woman!" the Drum Major barked.

I waited and waited in silence until pain would be inflicted upon me. Pain was the Drum Major's specialty. Why couldn't it just be over already? I was as good as dead!

"Because you have taken your sweet precious time to fix yourself and not this mess, this may just hurt a little less than it should."

I suddenly felt a thorough kick where my cut was. I screamed in pain as the burning sensation spread all over. I knew my place in this situation and stayed quiet.

The Drum Major kicked me again, this time even more painful than the first. I didn't feel bad for myself. I felt bad for Cicile and Brittany. They didn't deserve to watch me get beaten.

She kicked me in the sides, the back, and my stomach, each getting more painful every time. A few kicks later, Cicile's voice rang out.

"Stop it, please!" she screamed, with sadness in her voice. She was sobbing now. I looked up at her with watery eyes.

"Cicile, stop." I squeaked. She shut her mouth and stayed quiet.

I was about to pass out. I was exhausted and being beat up by the Drum Major didn't help much. I tried to keep my eyes open as the Drum Major ordered her men to tie us up and feed us to the Wood Splits. I was carried over to where the girls were and dropped on the floor. They left me lying there for a moment to go and grab some more rope.

I looked up at the girls with a pained expression. Brittany was hysterical, and Cicile had tear stains everywhere.

"They've hurt you." she whimpered.

"I know, my dear." I replied. "I know."

Brittany was sobbing up a storm. If only I could stand up to try and comfort her.

I grabbed hold off the wall and lifted my weak body up onto the support of my trembling legs.

"Conductor! Stop!" Brittany screamed.

I looked at her with a sympathetic look and continued to stand up. I was almost there.

I felt very light-headed standing up there, and soon enough my shaky legs gave out and I fell to the floor once again with a yelp.

My gash was bleeding underneath the bandage now. I kept my eyes pried open and watched Cicile as she attempted to break free. I still looked at her, and inside my mind a gear clicked.

I still had my baton in my pocket.