THE PERFECT REVENGE

ONE

"Stop her!" The bald headed man exclaimed holding his stomach out of pain. I was surprised he felt anything, he looked like the type of man that could take a hit and then some, his stomach was solid and round. His was the type of stomach you got when you drank beer often, but also exercised just as much.

I let my feet carry me as fast as they could go, which was hopefully far far away from him. Ignoring the pain in my stomach and the weakness in my legs, I pushed forward. Calculating every step, maneuvering around this maze of hallways. I heard voices from somewhere behind me and I knew they were close.

But every left turn looked like a right turn, I felt like I was running in circles.

Suddenly, two large men popped out of a corridor snatching me up "Let me go!" I immediately fought against them trying to free myself from their hold.

"Shut up little girl" they sneered and despite the circumstances I wanted to snap back at them. Instead I twist and jab to the left, snatching the breath out the captor on my left and swing my foot back, aiming for the crotch on my right.  He crouched down but didn't release his hold in my arm so I ram my knee up into his nose, causing him to holler.

His grip loosened and I snatched my arm away fast enough for me to dodge a dust flying at me from my left. I catch his arm and twist it back.

"You'd hit a little girl?" I ask innocently as I release his arm and put him into a choke hold.  Quickly, with arm around the base of his neck and the other around his throat I twist harshly. There's a sickening pop as I snap his neck.

He sinks to the floor. "You! Argh!"
I back step and just barely move out of the way in time to miss the knife that's being jabbed at my face. I drop down and do a sweep kick causing the man to stumble but not fall. I lunge up aiming for his bearded face, but he blocks it and swipes the knife in the air. Before I know it there's blood trickling down the side of my arm.

He chuckles and I wonder what he thinks to be funny about this situation.
"Hm Congratulations" I say. He seems elated at the fact that he's been able to give me this little knick on my arm. It's hardly anything, but at least he was able to land a shot. That's more than I could say for his buddies.

I'm glad he's getting cocky. I love it when my opponent underestimates me,  it makes it all the more sweet when I'm looking down on them bleeding out on the floor, gasping for the life to be brought back into their lungs.

I jump at him, aiming for his middle, and even though I'm sure I won't be able to tackle him to the floor, I at least aim to knock the wind out of him. Throwing myself at him elbow first, I collide with his stomach knocking him back against the wall. He coughs, and his grip loosens on the knife. It gets tossed out of his hand, smacking against the wall and clatters to the floor a few feet away.

His eyes are still rolled back in his head as I throw a punch at his face. He moves his head out of the way just in time. I stop my fist before it can connect with the wall. That would've hurt.

He pushes me to the side but I
have my footing and I stand firm as he lunges for me.

At the last second I twist sideways and throw myself on his back. My added weight causes us both to fall and I'm quick to wrap my legs around his neck.

He grabs for me and claws at my legs with a red face but I lock his arms down and keep my hold on him until he turns purple. He gasps and grunts but it makes no difference. He stares at me the whole time. Face contorted in fear- fear of death, or of me I don't know- as I smile down at him. Waiting.

Soon his struggles stop. I get up off the floor brushing my hands on my cargo pants. It's oddly quiet now, the feeling of imminent danger is gone. No flashing lights. No heavy footsteps. No shouting.

There's nothing. I snatch the switchblade off the floor where henchman number two dropped it. I see a hole in the wall that looks allot like an exit. My ticket out of here. I step inside the doorframe and start walking forward, still on high alert.

It's dark, besides the light shining in from the hallway. From what I could tell this looks like a long, straight path.  I keep walking. Suddenly I bump into something. Ow I rub my forehead gently.

A dead end. I feel around the wall for a soft spot or something obvious like a handle. I strain my eyes trying to pick up any sort of light. The light from the hallways long since faded. Suddenly, my hand catches on something. I push.

The wall starts to rumble and I step back, unsure. Before I can decide what to do next, something starts pushing me forward. The wall is rotating. I turn around just to be met by the wall. But now I can see. My surroundings are illuminated by a soft glow. I notice what looks to be a light at the end of the tunnel. And you know what they say.

Follow the light at the end of the tunnel.

So I start running.

***********************
The moon shone bright through the forest, casting ominous shadows on the crumpled leaves and uneven shards of grass. The light at the end of the tunnel led me outside as I knew it would. I looked back at the dark looming figure behind me. A secluded mansion, built for torture, a place reserved for only the most vile, the most sinister and ill minded individuals.

And I'd been forced to live among them. For seven months I suffered, but it felt more like seven years.

And I'd finally escaped. I wouldn't need that much time to exact my revenge on the bastards who put me there. If anything, my stay at Hemlock Hill just gave me a better purpose in life.

I was given more than enough time for me to mull over everything that happened; to triple count the number of people on my hitlist, just to make sure I got it right.

I wouldn't want to leave anyone out.

Time for my rage to build to the very poison that fueled my will to live.

At first I wished for death. Naturally I wanted the easy way out.

For the next inmate to beat me good enough to kill me, not just cause me to ache. For the slow, deliberate cuts on my skin to cut into a major artery, causing me to bleed out. For the next session in the red room- which adopted its name in light of everything in there becoming stained with blood- to put an end to my pain forever.

But they were clever, and their torture was extensive, but it was never great enough to kill. They did it in a way that pushed the inmates to the brink, just to pull them back and start the process over again the next day.

It was sick and twisted. All operations were carried out by a man given the alias of headmaster. I'm glad he kept me around.  Because I'd be sure to return his favors towards me.

My stay at Hemlock gave me the time I needed to formulate the plan that would allow me carry out the perfect revenge. And I would make sure that it was slow and painful.