Refuge

Chapter 8

I took three anger-filled steps toward him that seemed to last forever. I had almost reached his position next to the cabin entrance when another guard came racing over to him yelling, "Code G, Code G"

"Yes sir!" My target yelled, saluting the other man before he did the same and ran back the way he came. I was feet from him when he yelled, "Greens too!"

I stopped dead in my tracks from surprise. I can't believe it! I'll save him from my dead %#$* pummeling for now I suppose. Handcuffed arms flew around me and I spun around to throw a punch. My arm swung around but I forced myself to stop in mid-air once I realized who it was. "Katie! You stupid $#&* idiot!"

"Hey! Is there a problem?!"

"No sir!" Katie was quick to yell. He seemed to believe her and he walked away without another glance. She quickly released me from her handcuffed grasp. I grabbed the steel chain between her wrists and dragged her to the entrance. I had to pick up the weight on my ankle and carry it up the three stairs. It was heavy even for me but I managed to get it up the stairs without too much strain. It was easily 81 pounds if not a little more. I kept her chain in my hand as I walked up the stairs.
into the room filled with new bunk bed-style loft beds.

As soon as I was inside on the clay floor I dropped my dead weight angrily. I then locked eyes with Katie and sent her off into the crowded room to find us a bunk couple next to each other. I followed her less gracefully through the crowd due to there being too many people and my new anklet.

Many people tripped over my weight on my way through but I resisted the urge to turn around and punch them. I pushed through the crowd and finally made it through to where people had backed away a few feet from a 17-year-old-looking man sitting on a bed with a smirk on his face. Katie was lying, bruised on the floor and I knew immediately he was the guilty one. I stood there and locked my eyes with him; he immediately noticed. I cracked my knuckles and rhetorically asked him, "Didn't your mother tell you not to fight girls?"

"You better step back miss $#&* before things get &$@* ugly. Take the dish rag with you" I was beyond &$#*. I stood my ground and he planted his feet on the ground, one of his legs also had an iron ball and chain. He cracked his knuckles as well and challenged me, "You want it, come 'n get it"

I carefully considered my surroundings and considered everything. I could try a punch but with my handcuffs, I'd only make a fool of myself. A double-handed punch could work, but they're much harder to pull off. Although if I get a good opportunity it's an option. I looked down and discovered a plan.

This could either be a great move or kill my chances at this fight. It's so good it's worth a shot. I stepped forward and threw a purposely bad double punch. He easily dodged and landed his own against my cheek. Unbeknownst to him though, it was all a distraction. I put all my strength into my leg and in his distraction I whipped it forward towards him.

The large iron ball whipped across the floor in a moment and slammed into his left shin. He yelped in pain and threw his injured leg into the air. The ball rocketed back toward my leg and I slung my non-shackled leg into the air and I propelled the iron ball into a circular motion. It returned and crushed his right foot and with his other leg in the air and no balance, he fell to the ground.

I slung the ball around me, once more dodging my attack. I suppose all that skip-it practice as a kid has paid off. I forced the ball to slow before it could easily come into contact with his head. I would have loved to end him on the spot for beating my sister and landing a blow to my face but I couldn't do it in front of Katie.

He curled into a ball on the cold hard floor and I could see a glossy layer of tears covering his red face. I turned around boldly and asked if anyone else wanted my bed. The crowd took a wary step back silently and eventually dispersed into their own beds. Those that didn't have one settled for the clay floor. A few shared a bed but could barely fit with them both lying on their side.

Two men then came over to get my victim to carry him off to a place on the floor where I doubt he'll be able to sleep on account of his pain. The entire time they were doing so the men stared at me as if I'd attacked unprovoked. If they're trying to gilt trip me though they'll have to try harder.

I helped Katie up and decided that her lecture on surprising me could wait. I let her into her hard-owned bed and I discovered that we'd have to share. I was not fighting the buff man on the top bunk who had dragged his iron ball up there with him. I crawled in with one foot and both arms hanging off of the rim. I'm definitely going to have to find a way to pick the locks on these handcuffs soon or I might just go crazy.