fallen | ✓

Chapter 29: "Enslaved"

My eyes slowly opened, dazed. "She's worth nothing. Just give me thirty for her and piss off." I heard an angry voice.

"Thirty?" Another voice sputtered, shocked. "She's wounded and weak. Why would I want to pay thirty PWD of my money for that?"

"Fine." The angry voice growled. "Fifteen."

"Deal." I heard some shuffling as I tried to move, only to find my hands and feet were bound by zip-ties. I peered and saw the mow-hawk man glance at me.

"Oh look at that. She's finally awake." He glanced at the other man. Or.. Kid?

"Cool." He said, rolling me over and cutting my feet ties, lifting me into a sitting position. Then my gut tightened.

"Where's the guy?" I asked. The man with the mow-hawk slid down the side of the boat, to the sand. The kid shrugged.

"Why, want me to buy him too?" He asked.

"You bought me?" I stuttered.

"Yeah, you're a slave right?" He smirked. I scowled. He turned, looking down. "Mow-Hawk!" He yelled. I heard a fist collide with skin, cringing. Then silence. "Can I buy him too?" I heard a muffled voice and the boy smiled. "It's a yes." He informed me. Mow-hawk dragged Connor up the side of the boat, letting him lay half conscious on the deck.

"You can have him. He ain't worth nothing either." He growled. The boy nodded, cutting the binds at his feet as well, lifting him up.

"Both of you walk." He ordered, smacking my spine with his shotgun. I winced, scowling at him, walking forward.

"Don't touch her. I don't care what you do to me just don't touch her." Connor growled.

"How old are you?" I asked the kid, frowning.

"Twelve." He smiled. Mow-hawk man trailed behind.

"I'm coming." He said, staring down at the boy.

"Why???" The boy whined.

"I don't trust you." He scowled. "You'll just let them go." The little boy opened his mouth. "I know you. Don't lie." I faced forward, blocking out their bickering. The kid eventually sat us in some shade and walked back some to yell at Mow-Hawk guy some more about leaving us alone. Connor and I sat there for a long time in silence.

"What happened to your friends?" I asked, turning to him. He shrugged.

"They ran." He frowned slightly. "Bailed." I nodded slowly. "Pansies.." He grumbled, glancing at the boy and mow-hawk man, yelling at each other quite a bit away from us. Another man walked up to them, talking. "Damn.." Connor's voice broke into my thoughts. "A fifth." He chuckled.

"Great," I grumbled. "Just what I need today." They all started walking back. I began to squirm. Connor just stared. Like a rock.

"Let's get going again." The child ordered. "Up!" He growled, smacking Connor's arm with his shotgun. We both got up and started walking. The new man followed after, grabbing my arm and forcing me forward. "Yo. Don't touch that one, Harrison." The little boy growled. I jerked my arm away as he eyed me carefully.

"She's a feisty little thing isn't she?" He chuckled.

"Go away, now." The little boy stared. He shrugged and stopped, letting us go ahead. Then he walked beside the mow-hawk man, mumbling in his ear. Mow-hawk nodded, glancing at the child. The mall came in sight and I tensed. I hated that place. The kid shoved us inside, up the stairs, to the top of the building where there was a small house.

We all stepped inside. The child forced us to sit down in front of the two beds in the second room. "What now?" I grumbled. "Kill us? Beat us senseless? Oh, but it doesn't matter because you stole us and sold us like trash." I growled. I was beyond pissed. Then I turned to Mow-hawk. He had a fire in his eyes.

He grabbed a chunk of my hair, punching me square in the face. "Hey!-" The little boy squeaked in protest. I felt a warm liquid come from my nose. Blood. He slammed my head back on a shelf, making me look at the ceiling. The blood trickled into my throat and I started to suffocate.

"LET GO OF HER!" Connor screamed at him. "You said you'd lay off! Beat my ass instead!" Mow-hawk let go as my head flew forward. The blood from my nose let out in streams, pouring on the floor. I gasped for breath, coughing and sputtering. I coughed out more blood, letting out a sob.

"Fuck you," I growled, gritting my teeth. But all of a sudden, the door flew open and a figure entered the room, ramming into the man with the mow-hawk, slamming him on the ground. Connor pulled me over to him with his feet, taking me from the fight. The figure continued to beat on him, grabbing its gun. Mow-hawk growled, kicking him back and grabbing me, tossing my body in front of him. He was using me as a god damn meat shield.

Then the figure froze, tensing. I tried to keep a solid stance, but the blood was still running from my nose. Mow-hawk aimed over my shoulder, shooting at the figure. My vision finally adjusted. It was a man. The bullet skimmed his shoulder as he released a yelp. He fell, rolling to cover. Mow-hawk moved me with him as he slid beside a shelf.

As soon as the man recovered, he ran out, throwing me out of the way, stabbing Mow-hawk straight through the throat. I skidded across the ground, stopping when I hit Connor. Mow-hawk gurgled up blood, twitching and falling in his own mess.
However, the only thing I felt right now was satisfaction.

~~~

The man walked over to me, turning me around, snapping off the zip ties. I sighed, rubbing my wrists. The boy that brought us surprisingly took off Connor's too. I cut my own feet ties, stumbling into a standing position. "Thank you," I said, glancing at the man.

He smiled, nodding. "I am Andrew. May I ask who you are?" I hesitated.
"Carmen," I said. He nodded, taking a breath.

"I bid both of you good luck. I hope you two are alright.." He frowned slightly.

"Neither of us got shot." I nodded. "We're fine now," I explained. Andrew nodded.

"Then I'll see you both around." He grinned, turning on his heel and walking outside, jumping off to another building. I glanced at the kid. He shifted slightly.

"You two are free. Have a good time." He said, walking out of the building as well. I looked to Connor, giggling quietly.

"Want to get a drink?"