Empty Corpse of a Hound

Chapter 6

We didn't escape that night.
August explains they had guests over that night, promising me we would escape soon.
I didn't talk to him the night after- or the next week after that.
Mostly everything was a blur, I had bruises blooming across my tightening skin that held me down, forcing me to stay when I could escape, float up into the stars and be free.
“Lena”
“Go away August” I growl, pulling the ragged “blanket” over my head, the corner of my eyes burning as I try to wipe off the dried tears off my cheeks.
“Lena please I'm sorry”  August pleads. “You promised, and you broke it, you promised again, and you broke it again” I growled.
“Tonight, I swear, if not then you can rat me out to Liam and Leah, they'll take care of it” As much as I hated him right now, I couldn't stand to hurt him that badly. “I'll give you one last chance”
I try to make it sound threatening, a scowl on my face and a bite in my voice. “Thank you Lena, you don't know how truly sorry I am” I turn away, tears threatening to spill once more.
“I need space now please” He opens his mouth to retort but closes it just as quickly. “Goodnight Lena, rest up for tonight”
…
“Lena, wake up” August stands in front of me, a smile on his face and his hand outstretched.
Anastazja has a blanket tied around her neck, Angelica grabbing onto the end of it.
“You can't leave” Maria tugs at my hand, brows furrowing.
“Where's Ela?” August steps in front of me, breaking the contact.
“She's staying with me” Ela appears from behind Maria, fingers looping through the older girl's belt loops.
“You can't force her to stay with you just because you're in love with one of the men raping you!” August says a little too loudly, Maria, stepping back with a shocked look on her face “What?” She pushes him towards the door. “Get out of my sight if you're going to spread lies like that”
Voices ring through my ear, a male and a female.
“Shit- we need to go!” August pulls me along, grabbing a bent piece of metal from his pocket and inserting it into the keyhole.
“C'mon!” August opens the door, rushing Anastazja and Angelica out. “What are you kids doing?!” Liam and Leah come out, both half dressed with Leah's hand down her brother's pants.
Gross.
“Let's go!” August grabs my hand, slamming the door in the siblings' faces.
We run, bare feet sore from scrap metal and rocks. August's hand leading me along through roads and sidewalks and narrow alleyways, screams ringing through my ears.
“Let's stop here, the screaming stopped” We collapse under a bridge, the only sound other than our own heavy breathing being skittering animals and hooting owls.
Then an hand grabs mine and I'm pulled away from August's comforting arms
“Get off her!” August lunges at the figure behind me, I close my eyes and try to think, breathing deep and slow.
And in the moment of peace where I feel as if my body is floating somewhere else, a hand grabs me and pulls me back down, my head meeting concrete.
…
I’m awoken with a burning slap, Liam standing before me. “Do you really think you could escape? You have nothing out there, you are nothing, we gave you food, water, blankets, a roof over your head- And you want to leave?!” Lia puts a comforting hand on her brother's shoulder.
“You tricked us!” August growls, struggling to stand.
“We said we would give you bare necessities for easy work, and that's what we gave you.” Liam slaps August, Anastazja doesn’t step forward, hand clutching Angelicas, eyes wide with a gash along her face as she hides the quivering Angelica behind her.
“Maria and Ela stayed” Lia states, taking a cautious step forward like we were dangerous zoo animals clawing at our muzzles with sharp teeth hidden underneath.
But we weren’t.
“Maria is in love with one of the men paying for her body! She forced Ela to stay- Ela doesn’t know any better! She’s a child!” August’s voice breaks.
“You are just a child, you don't know any better” August reaches for Lia, but is met with the fist of Liam bashing him into the wall.
I want to bash him into the wall next but my mind is like stone while my heart is pumping blood into my legs, waiting for that burst of energy.
It never comes.