Lost

Chapter 38

Belle’s POV

Would you believe that it’s already been a week since that girl was sent to-

I still have no idea what happened. Bethany refuses to talk about it. But thankfully, she’s not mad or whatever she was anymore because she started talking to me again. I remember it well…She offered to change the bandages on my hands, which are still bleeding by the way.

 I know she was never mad, just sad. But I vow to never let that happen again. I can’t stand it. The thought of making Bethany sad, after everything she’s done for me, is a thought that can’t be mine.

It was about time I did something for her.

~~~~~~~~~

“It’s Saturday ‘rug-rats’. You know what that means.” I’m second in line to use the bucket when I hear those words again.

No I really don’t. Ughh if only someone would tell me!

The line of people waiting to empty their bladders soon disperses and converges around the arrangement of worktables in the center of the room to await the blessed tray of food that is to be bestowed upon us.  The tray hits the table square in the middle and the usual gruel splashes all over. It’s a race to grab the bowl with the most  gruel, a race I choose not to partake in today. While the mob forms, I am too busy listening to the conversation that’s a mere 4 feet away.

“Umm…Girl! S.S.! That’s what’s on your jug, yeah. (whistles) Come on.” One man motions lazily for the girl to come forward, while another man fights his way through the mob to unlock the girl’s chain. The melodic sound of chains hitting the floor allows me the pleasure of knowing when the girl is freed.

“Come on you worthless-“ the man mutters in absolute loathing as he harshly grabs her wrist and shoves her through the crowd of selfish prisoners.

“No.” The girl whispers in protest, and consequently her feet refuse to move by force.

Is she rebelling?

“What did you say?” The ever more infuriated man grits his teeth and digs his nails into her skin harder at the refusal.

“NO!” She squeals in defiance and in the very next moment she is doing the bravest thing I have ever seen anyone here do-escaping.  

The brave victim manages to twist and flail her way out of the man’s grasp and before the two of them can do anything, she is at the far end of the room, just a foot away from me, as she makes her last stance. Her boldness is somewhat influenced by her insanity. Does she realize there’s no way of escape? What is the point in all this? Freedom by rebellion is a long shot. By this time, everyone in the room is fully aware of what’s going on, and I just happen to have front seats to this uprising. Being this close to them is too overwhelming, their fury is radiating from their bodies like the sun on a hot summer’s day, so I am relieved when Bethany pulls me back to the edge of the room.

“Just come with us and-“ The man, not the power-crazed violent one, tries to talk some sense to the girl, but she is too busy grabbing the first thing she sees on the table next to her-a pair of rusty scissors.

“Belle, close your eyes.” Bethany whispers gently in my ear, and like a good little sister I take her valued advice.

“Come one step closer and y-you’ll get it!” She aims the pair of scissors at the man’s head.

She’s lost it! I’ve been living with a crazy this whole time and I didn’t even know it!

“Put it down and-“ the man suggests with a great sense of urgency in his voice, when his colleague interrupts him.

“We can take her. Any rug-rat is no problem for us. Not like that little **** has any choice.” I can hear the man snicker evilly at the girl’s futile attempts at escape, but it’s the way he says these words that are most important. His demeaning attitude towards the her is what makes her snap.

I choose the wrong moment to open my eyes. My gaze lands on a set of hands whose grip on a pair of scissors tightens as the girl slowly moves them upwards until the tip of the shears are pointed directly at her neck. In a split second, the girl releases her final battle cry and ends it all in one single stab. I feel like my own neck’s been stabbed, and I can hardly breathe. I can’t imagine the feeling of being so desperate to end your own life. The other prisoners barely even show a flicker of sorrow-they’ve been in this prison for too long and now they’re hearts have turned to stone. But I’m not like them, and I couldn’t feel worse about the situation, so I stand there with Bethany and silently pray for her safe arrival into heaven. The agony of watching a girl, just a few years older than me, coughing out the blood that is flooding her mouth…

Not again…

I cover my eyes as I heard the horrific thud of her body hits the ground.

“Another one bites the dust. Now what? The boss is going to get mad…” The man nudges the girl’s blood-stained face, confirming his previous thoughts that the girl is once and for all dead.

“Ummm…What about her?” My heart stops beating when I see him point at Bethany. I feel her grip on me tighten when they both narrow their eyes right at her. There’s no denying it-she’s the next victim.

“Okay change of plans. You’re the new S.S. Come on.” It all happens so fast. The two men lunge for her and in a second they are dragging her away and I just stand there and let it happen.

They’re taking her away…to-to t-the….

“NO! WAIT!” Bethany! Come back!” I run after her and grab at her arm that isn’t being held captive. To me, it’s like a game of tug-of war-if I tug hard enough maybe they’ll bring her back to me and they won’t take her to who-knows-where. Meanwhile, the other man who’s in charge of opening the door and securing the blindfold on her, stops feeling into his pockets when he hears my gut-wrenching pleas.

“Hey! Get this girl off of her.” The man in possession of Bethany’s wrist, orders his partner irritably.

“I dunno. Hurting little kids is mainly your job.” He shrugs casually. Meanwhile, his partner and I are currently in the middle of tearing Bethany in half.

“Let her go!” I squeal in protest. I know what you’re thinking: What is wrong with me? I don’t know to be honest. But I can’t let them take her away to that awful place.

“Belle you’re going to get in trouble. It’s okay I’ll be fine.” Bethany hoarsely whispers to me in between groans.

“No (grunts) you won’t.” I fight the urge to let go, but I know I would never forgive myself if I didn’t try.

“Belle-“ Bethany cries to me one last time before I feel a large hand slap me across the face and compel me onto the floor.

“Was that so hard?” I faintly hear one of them say.

“…again.” Why can’t I hear?

“…kay…”

“….happens when you….rebel…”

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P.S. this chapter took me forever. The next chapter is REALLY important. FYI

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