Singer's City (Original text)

Tight Lips

"Hey Epril. How was school?" Jinxx's voice drifts off as I ignore him and instead walk straight to my bed. As I collapse on it, I feel guilty. I haven't spoken out loud to anyone in a month, the month that started a bit before my last chapter. The boys haven't done anything to deserve my cold shoulder. My teachers have to suffer awkward silences when they accidentally call on me and I don't answer.

I wish I could speak.

After a while I sit up and start doing homework, checking the clock constantly. I need to leave in exactly 43 minutes. Jimmy's visiting today. There's going to be a meeting between our top dogs and Suburbia's. I can't be late.

A small boy walks up to me holding up a book, but all I can do it look at him helplessly.

I wish I could speak.

I'm hungry, but I know I can't eat, only at the Kingdom. The guys see that I'm not eating. My ribs are visible. Only Ashley knows why because he's my counselor, and he's sworn not to tell anyone. All he can do is tell the rest to leave me alone. I got taken out of orchestra in school. I wish I didn't have to, but it was necessary. I know I'm under fire, but this is ending soon. It has to be. Either this torture ends, I die, or I turn 18 and leave for freedom. I'm not sure how I'll move, considering my lack of funds. I've sold a few art commissions, but that got me barely $100. Enough for a sucky plane ticket, but what about living areas? I have no idea.

I wish I could speak.

It's finally time to leave. I pack my stuff away and grab my readied bag. Hood pulled down over my eyes, I walk out of the building. CC calls a goodbye after me.

I wish I could speak.

I weave through a forest and make my way to our base. A table is set in the middle today: a foldable one made of black metal. I know it wouldn't be used as a table at first.

I wish I could speak.

I walk up to Davey, who's busy on his phone. I tap his shoulder.

I wish I could speak.

He looks up and chuckles. "Glad you made it. Early, too."

I wish I could speak.

"You know the drill."

I wish I could speak.

Get on the table.

I wish I could speak.

Scissors lift.

I wish I could speak.

Snip, pain, snip.

I could speak.

I rubbed my lips, trying to ease the stinging and stop the bleeding.

"Can we please stop stitching my lips together?"

"We can't have you spilling the beans or being poisoned."

"Oh sorry, I almost forgot that I'm in fact the Queen that got the Kingdom running as the King sat by and wept. Of course I would be stupid enough to eat a stranger's food and tell everyone all about Kingdoms! If anything, you're the ones I shouldn't trust because i KNOW you drugged my food. But I know it's either that, or have to be knocked out. Freaking pricks." During this rant, i caught Davey's wrists several times as he went to strike me. I punctuated the last two words with a knee to his treasures.

"Everyone... makes... mistakes," Davey wheezed out.

"So then why should we see you up, eh, pretty boy? Sew you up nice and well. I know you go to those clubs. You know that one guy that always helps you away before you do something stupid? Oh, don't look confused, or do you really not know my life at all? Surely you should know something about how your Queen lives if you feel so strongly about keeping her starved and silent. Doesn't it tire you? Every day: unstitch, careful, careful. Stitch back up, on the inside of the mouth, careful. Can't be visible or the bomb goes off. Tick, tick-"

"Tock. Like a clock the bomb ticks and you know it'll be all tricks," a familiar voice rasps from behind me. "The hand is an arrow, swifter than a sparrow."

"Pointing to your death, timing your last breath," we finish together. It was a popular rhyme in our home neighborhood. A bit cynical, sure, but it worked, considering the fact that Davey's face looked like the pits of my dad's ashtray and Jade was frozen in his tracks.

Jimmy sidled up beside me and a chill ran through me as I remembered standing beside his as we said the rhyme so many times before. Places from my past rotate around me. Flashes of color and darkness. Ten thousand moments relived in one while my body stayed numb and still. Oh, the memories. So many terrible, so much pain. But also so much joy. Spring days spent with nothing but each other and a pack of cigarettes, the breeze smelling of happiness as it passed over us, who lay on our backs just laughing together. Simple joy. I missed it. I never experienced it before or after being with Suburbia. But those were terrible years, years one shouldn't live through as a mere child, as I was.

Snap. Flashbacks over. Back to the present. Back to the fear of today.

Pursed lips.

Stained cheeks.

So much hatred.

So much love.

4 people.

3 men. And me.

So much love.

So much hatred.

Self hatred and self obsession raging in 4 bodies, all separate yet so closely intertwined.

And I ran.

I ran quickly. Everything a blur. I forgot everything else existed. A forgotten rush brought me to the doorsteps of the orphanage. Blurred lines. Fluid timeline of events. In the nursery. My brother. God, my beautiful brother. I don't deserve him. I deserted him. He doesn't need a sister like me: always making stupid decisions. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Damn it, he woke up. Standing up. Watching me solemnly.

Footsteps. Downstairs. Familiar. Too familiar. Oh god no. He was rushed. He was angry. Oh no.

Closer. Hushed cursing. A swing of the door. Blue eyes in the moonlight. A black holster. Empty. In his hands. Black. Shiny. Raised. Pointed. My chest. Tears dripping.

BLAST.

A/N: So that's the end of that. I know I cut it off quite abruptly but I had no idea how to continue it anymore. I'm still writing an Epilogue for this story, then I'll start the rewrite and the sequel (Her Revenge). See you then!

As always, please like and comment, I'll adore you for it.