Save each other // Joel Miller

Never letting go

***warning: mentions of attempted SA****

Sophie tucked her legs into her arms and let out a soft whimpered cry. As much as she was doomed, feeling hopeless, she couldn't help but feel a bit relieved. David was dead. And this was music to her soul. A part of her felt like it didn't matter what happened to her now, knowing David couldn't sweet talk anyone into a trap anymore. Utter and complete karma had took David exactly where he belonged, hell.

Although these feelings rushed over her, she also held her heavy heart under her legs, squeezed tight against her chest. Flashes of Tommy's laugh, Ellie's teasing smirk, and Barbs reassuring touch filled her mind. Tears poured down without control when her mind wondered to Joel. His strong, calloused hands holding her tight. His hard, etched stone face softening with a sigh and a light, feathered kiss on her lips. Every contradiction of Joel defined their relationship, and she so desperately wished she could have more time to enjoy it. But she didn't.

She forced herself to wipe the tears from her cheeks and thank whatever god that she was going to see her brother again, hopefully. That she be forgiven for her mistakes and sins. It was the first, and last time she would pray. She heard the door handle of the room click and she sat up in alert. They were back too soon for her liking.

"Hello doll!" Keith sung out. "Hope your ready!" He slapped his hands together and rubbed them fast. Sophie jumped at the sudden sound and light and braced herself. If they were going to open the cage, she sure as hell was going to try and escape.

Damian held a stone cold face as he strut past his partner and squatted by the door.

"Be a good girl and don't try anything stupid, Sophie." Her name sounded ugly coming out of his mouth and she shivered at the sight of him. He wasn't unkind to her when she was with her brother in their town, but he wasn't very friendly either. He followed David around like David was a god. He would stare at Sophie from time to time but she didn't think much of it. She had no idea he would one day help David lock her into a cage and make her watch as they chopped Finnik up like a butchers pig. His eyes looked the exact same as that day and she tried to feel fear.

Instead something else replaced the feeling in her chest, anger. Resentful rage that flowed throughout her veins, replacing the blood that pumped hard from her heart. She watched carefully as he pulled a small key out of his pocket and unlocked the first one, giving her a quick glance before removing the padlock and going to the next one. Sophie stilled her breath and the sound of the key was the only thing making noise in the room, regardless of the rowdy man behind him.

He snapped the second padlock off and right as he pulled the latches open she screamed out and kicked the door hard with both feet. She noticed for a split second she was still wearing the ill-fitting shoes she took from the body in the train car. Damian tumbled back and Keith let out a loud belly laugh, bending over and putting his hands on his knees. Damian glared at him slightly before turning his full attention towards Sophie.

She had been able to scoot half her body out of the kennel before Damian grabbed around her ankles, pulling her hard and causing her back to scrape against the rough metal bars that lined the bottom of the doors frame. She yelled out before thrashing her legs. Keith then nonchalantly made his way forward, grabbing Sophie's forearms and pulling her upright. Sophie's forehead slammed against the top of the kennel door frame and her vision turned white.

The men hauled her body out of the kennel while she thrashed and and screamed, and Damian cursed as she landed a kick on his chest.

"Stupid bitch!" He yelled out before they pinned her to the floor, and Damian climbed on top of her, pulling her dress up with him. Sophie cried out in terrified agony and struggled against Keith's firm grip on her wrists. Just then a loud banging sound came from the door. The men turned sharply, then another bang flew the door open. Sophies vision was blocked by Damian's frozen body siting on her. She wasn't sure what was happening but she continued trying to shy away to no avail, her strength was no match for the two grown men, even when their attentions weren't on her.