Contained by Love

Chapter 18 - Falling Out...and Down

  How times was it now? Four.

I have taken out the letter from the mattress and put them back in four times. There is seriously something wrong with me. And I couldn’t escape the fact that I was just stalling because I was nervous going back in the dance room. This was the most important part of the plan and everyone was counting on me.

  I know I missed everything after Gwen, but I knew they gave a good performance. I could only imagine the look on Madame’s face.

  For a minute, I wondered if everything was going alright with the plan. I couldn’t see why it wouldn’t work, but there was an unexplainable knot in my stomach that twisted and turned to my fears.

  Getting up and dusting myself, I run to the bathroom. I always followed my gut, and at the moment it was really annoying me. As I close the door softly, I wrap a towel from the rack around my arm. Walking over to the mirror, I could see myself clearly. The few specks of hair that fell astray. The beaded sweat around my brow. The bitten lips and the pale cheeks. I looked nothing short of death.

  Forcing all my strength into my arm, I punch the mirror as hard as I could, smashing it into a million pieces. After selecting a medium sized sharp shard of glass, I jam it into my pocket. I might need it for later.

  As I start sprinting out into the hallway, my mind wanders back to the subject of John and Eli.

I had really ended things on a bad note with Eli. I shouldn’t have called him out like that, especially if the plan didn’t work out. I wondered if he was thinking about me.

And then there was John. Who basically told me that he liked me back. A twinge in my heart forces me to realize that I didn’t want to hurt either of them. I couldn’t choose Eli completely because of how much I didn’t want to hurt John. And I couldn’t choose John completely because of how much I didn’t want to hurt Eli.

It was all so confusing, especially in the heat of this moment. Especially when I am trying to bust out forty kids from a crazy house.

I round the last corner and approach the dance room. As I passed the same spot where I practically interrogated Eli, I wince a little. Taking a deep breath and remembering to look cool in front of Eli, John, Gwen, and everyone else, I push the doors open and my jaw drops.

Where was everyone? It was completely empty. No sign of anyone going crazy or anyone being taken away. That was supposed to be the plan. Once Madame had taken Gwen away, I would have come back and we would’ve run because she was distracted. Everyone had something sharp in their pockets just in case the Fishermen came. And they would be out numbered either way. And once everyone was out I would have come back for Gwen.

And there was another part of the plan the group didn’t know about. I was going to kill Madame.

I lean against the door, wondering what to do next. A slight change in the shadows catches my glance. Near the locker rooms, in the corner. I walk over there to investigate.

Once I am ten feet away and see what it was, I purse my lips and regain my poker face.

Madame steps out of the shadows, looking poised and elegant, as usual. Not even a single hair had strayed from her bun.

“Where is everybody?” I cross my arms, feeling the weight of the glass burning a hole in my pocket.

“You know, Vivienne, I have given you so many chances.” Madame starts like she hadn’t even heard me. I roll my eyes.

“Where is everybody?” I repeat, through gritted teeth.

“You would have had a better life here. I took you in from nothing. And yet every chance you get, you try to convince your classmates that it is all my fault.” Madame’s saddened expression enrages me.

“See, this is where you are wrong. You didn’t take us in from nothing. Our parents gave us up. There’s a difference.” I respond icily.

Madame’s eyes widen for a split second, then revert to her cool stare.

“So I see you discovered the letters. Tsk, tsk. What have I taught you about snooping through other peoples belongings?”

I feel my face contort into fury, and I start breathing heavily.

“The only thing you have taught me is how far I’m willing to go to win.” I shout.

“Inside voices, Vivienne, please. You’ll wake up everybody.” The corner of Madame’s mouth raises up into a slight malicious grin.

“Wake them up?” My mind calculates the possibilities until it hits me.

“You drugged them.” I say in awe, and dumbfounded as well. Madame’s smile gives away that I’m right.

But if she were to drug them, that means she had to prepare everything in advance. Which means she knew what was going to happen.

“How did you know…” I trail off, trying to come up with the answer myself.

“Oh, Vivienne. This will only be hard for you because you did it to yourself. Just remember that, honey.”

I raise my green eyes to her blue.

“What do you mean?” My voice comes out as barely a whisper.

“As I told you before, I have tried so hard to make this easier for you. But this was just inexcusable. Trying to raise an army behind my back. Leaving the only place that would accept you…” Madame says sadly. “And to think if she hadn’t told me…” She mutters under her breath.

So it was a girl. Well that narrowed the suspects at least. Was it Gwen? Naomi? Charlotte? Maya?

I had no way of knowing.

“What are you going to do to me?” I force my lip not to quiver. This was bad. This was really, really bad. The plan didn’t just fail, it exploded.

“I know you are only fifteen. But you obviously have been paying attention to my fornication classes, so I know you are ready.” My breath catches in my throat, and I feel the color leave my face. No…

The red name on my file is the only thing I can see.

“Just trust that this is a punishment for me as well. You are too young for this. But going as far as your immaturity, maybe it is time to grow up. And become a woman.” Madame’s gaze lingers on me.

She really was crazy. And there was no way in hell I would be sleeping with Justin, out of all people.

“When?” I force out.

She responds instantly. “When everyone wakes up. They’ll have to see how I grade you.” Was I dreaming.

“You want me to sleep with Justin in front of everyone?”  I shriek, raising my hands to my face.

“No! You’re crazy! I won’t do this!” The room starts spinning and I feel lightheaded, but I keep screaming. As if it’s the only thing I know.

“You can’t make me do this. You are just a lonely, horny psycho bitch that enjoys manipulating people!” I yell in her face.

“You want some action? Go seduce Georgio and call it a day! You don’t just go around forcing fifteen-year-olds  to sleep with pigs in front of thirty five people!” I feel nauseous.

Madame doesn't say anything. Her face doesn't reveal anything either. She just looks at me with pity in her eyes and shakes her head slightly at my behaviour.

Forcing myself to stand straight up, I look her in the eye and spit in her face.

And then vomit all over her shoes.

And then pass out at the hands of the devil.

To say in the least, it really wasn’t a good day for me.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: I know, it's rushed and fast paced. But I wanted to get something up since it's been a couple of days.

And just to clear something up, once I am finished with this book, I am planning on going all the way back to the beginning and editting each chapter to perfection. So if you notice a not very descriptive paragraph or a spelling mistake, it will be changed. Thanks for reading! :)