The Scarred

Chapter 12

"Penelope..." Her name invaded her sleep, mingling with her dream in a way that didn't make sense. "Penelope?" It continued. "Penelope!" Her head began to stir.

"Penelope!" She jolted awake to the sight of Liam standing over her, shaking her with what seemed to be a panicked expression. "Oi, ye need to wake up, we need to leave!" He urged, grabbing her arm and practically yanking her up out of bed. She shook her head, confused about whether or not she was still dreaming as he pulled her towards the front door.

"Liam! Liam, what's going on?" She tried to fight back, but he wouldn't budge.

"I'll explain in the car, alright? Get yer shoes on!"

She did as he said, slipping on a pair of canvas shoes as the sound of sirens wailing in the distance finally caught up to her, Liam cautiously keeping watch from the window. When she stood up, he snatched her again and they bolted out of the apartment, making their way to the back staircase opposite of how they would usually come home.

Penelope struggled to keep up with him - especially as they sped down the stairs - and worried she was going to fall flat on her already scarred face.

My face! The realization hit her. She didn't have her bandages anymore. She was bare. The cool breeze felt foreign to her, but it was relieving at the same time.

As she thought to herself, mindlessly following wherever Liam dragged her to, she caught the sight of a familiar van and her face contorted into confusion as the door slid open and she was pushed inside. Liam followed in directly behind her and pulled the door shut, tires burning out as they sped away from the sirens that quickly grew louder.

The van was notably more crowded. Four men tucked away in the back, one where Liam and herself sat, and two in the front. All armed and on alert.

"Liam, what's going on?" Penelope asked, everything catching up to her at once. Her breathing quickened as she tried to swallow the growing familiar sense of impending doom, heart beginning to beat irregularly. He finally turned to her.

"Someone snitched." He answered simply, but it only raised more questions.

"Snitched -?" She fell against Liam who caught her with ease as the van dramatically swerved.

"Aye. Yer not safe there anymore, Penny. I'm sorry." He spoke sympathetically, keeping her close to him as they continued to be jostled around.

"Why wouldn't I be safe there, who would snitch?" She urged, but Liam just shook his head and she kept quiet to her thoughts. The driver eventually became more controlled with his movements, everyone releasing a collective sigh of relief once the sirens eventually silenced.

The van rolled to a stop and everyone hopped out, Liam taking his time with Penelope who held onto him as if her life depended on it. Surrounded by the other men, he led them into a different abandoned warehouse, though more polished than the one she was in before. The stairs seemed endless as Penelope's heart raced, in her ears.

The climb inevitably ended and they entered a medium-sized room, darker as curtains were closed to block out the daylight. Men moved about with a purpose, some carrying heavier objects and rearranging, others hunched over a table where papers were scattered.

But what really caught her attention was the familiar purple coat that joined the men at the table.

"J...?"

His gaze immediately made its way to where they stood, eyeing between the two of them causing Liam to step away. He approached her with an exaggerated swagger, but his eyes were sharper, more calculating than usual as he scanned her form.