No Escape

The Price of Innocence

I woke up to find Silent beside me, his steady breathing a calming presence amid the chaos of my thoughts. But yesterday's events crashed back in like a relentless tide—blood pooling on the floor, the lingering echoes of screams. A knock at the door startled me, and I pressed the touch screen to let Jake in, my heart racing.

"Hey! I've got an idea!" Jake burst in, his energy palpable. "What if we make a sacrifice to get rid of the zombies? Lissa would be the perfect choice since she's still a virgin."

I stared at him, disbelief washing over me. "You've got to be kidding! That's ridiculous!"

He smirked, the corners of his mouth lifting mischievously. "Think about it. She's innocent. That makes her the best offering we could have."

The moment I glanced down the hallway, my stomach twisted. There was Lissa, laughing and flirting with Luke, completely unaware of the danger looming over us. I felt my heart drop, jealousy clawing at me as I marched back toward Jake. "So how exactly do you plan to pull this off?"

"Simple. She's naïve. Just one boy to lead her on, and it'll all fall into place." My heart sank at his next words.

"Please don't say Luke," I groaned, panic creeping in.

"Why not? You two are over, right?" His casual tone stung more than I expected.

I hesitated. Silent had been so kind, so gentle, but seeing him punch Luke had ignited a mixture of fear and something else—something confusingly thrilling. Luke had walked away without even looking back, leaving me feeling hollow and abandoned. Jake must have noticed my expression because he leaned in closer, his grin widening. "Oh, come on, don't be sad, beautiful. Lissa doesn't stand a chance with him. He's not her type."

"I doubt that. You should've seen his last girlfriend—scrawny and ugly."

Jake raised an eyebrow, clearly reveling in my jealousy. "So, you are the jealous type? That gives me ideas..."

"Don't even think about it!" I snapped, but Jake was already running off, leaving me with a tumult of anger and dread as I headed toward where I last saw Lissa and Luke.

Days passed, and I tried to ignore the tension simmering between Lissa and Luke. I was slowly coming to terms with the reality of our situation. Then I heard Lissa's voice echoing down the hall. "Sacrifice? You people are insane!"

"I'm sorry, but you're a virgin," Jake replied, shockingly relaxed. "That makes you the perfect choice for us."

"Luke is in agreement," he added, his tone casual as if he were discussing the weather.

"Stop saying it like I'm okay with this! I'll be dead!" I could almost hear the tears in her voice. Did she really think she had a chance with Luke? My anger boiled over. How dare she think she was good enough for him? Why was I even thinking like this? I had Silent.

"Lissa, don't cry. Bruzer will be fine, and Luke is willing to pray for you," Jake said, his tone almost mockingly soothing.

"Praying won't bring me back! I know what I'm doing!" Lissa shouted, her voice rising.

Jake, ever the provocateur, said, "I bet you don't know how much Luke is in love with Alice."

That struck a nerve. "Don't bring up that shit!" I shot back, my voice sharper than I intended.

"What? That makes me a bitch?" Lissa spat, her eyes blazing with fury. Before I could stop myself, I was across the room, ready to confront her. She swung at me, but I dodged easily, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

I lunged, landing a punch squarely on her jaw. Blood spilled from her nose as she wiped it away, looking ready for more. I pulled her hair—maybe a cheap trick, but I didn't care. I was done playing nice.

We were caught in a whirlwind of fists and fury, my punches landing harder with each blow. Soon, she was on the floor, breathing heavily but unconscious, her once-pretty face bruised and bloodied.

What have I done? A wave of guilt crashed over me, and I sank to the floor, hugging my knees, the reality of my actions suffocating. I couldn't believe I'd lost control like that. I looked down at my hands, trembling at the realization of what I had done. I was supposed to be the hero, not the monster.

"I'll take it from here," Jake said softly, and I nodded numbly, unable to meet his gaze. My mind spiraled, haunted by the image of Lissa's battered body.

----------------------------------*******------------------------------------------

It was time for the ceremony. I spotted Silent, his expression a mask of indifference. Lissa was no longer unconscious; she was struggling against the ropes binding her, gasping for breath. I wanted to look away, but I couldn't. We needed to hurry this along; I couldn't stand to watch her suffer any longer. If this was going to help the zombies, I had to believe it would work.

Jake stepped forward, dagger glinting ominously in the dim light. He scraped it against Lissa's skin, a sharp reminder of the stakes involved. She began to go limp as Jake recited the incantation, and my heart sank further with every word he spoke.

Next thing I knew, Lissa wasn't moving at all. She lay there, lifeless. The Devil had accepted her. "Goodbye, Lissa. I'll pray for you," I whispered, even though I knew it wouldn't change anything.

What had we done?