dog days are over by florence + the machine
CARL
Red.
That's all I can see as Cage's brain loses oxygen.
The more he struggles, the tighter I squeeze.
I imagine myself squeezing so tight I draw blood, digging my fingers straight down into the bone.
But the best my drugged body can do right now is make him pass out.
Once my hands let go, and his loose body falls to the ground, I'm left with the question thats been going through everyone's head but mine: how did I get out?
My head flings around to my chair, now occupied.
Juniper sits there; bolt cutters in her hands, two guns tucked into her high-waisted shorts and a backpack strung around her back. To top it all off a smirk is spread across her pale, dirt-covered face.
I'm shocked. I stand still. I don't know what to say or do.
But before I can make a move towards her, she's up, moving from chair to chair unbuckling the hands and feet of all the twenty-something kids in here with me.
"Is this her?" A voice says from beside me.
"Carl, is that Juniper?" Cassi asks as she walks toward me with wobbly legs.
I barely register the question, the most of an answer I can give her is a subtle nod.
"Keep her." Cassi whispers in my ear before walking off.
but will she keep me?
I turn from my daze and shock of what just happened. The room is filled with kids walking around for the first time in months, Juniper letting people free of their drugged pain, and Cage lying unconscious at my feet.
Blood drips on his face, I look to see its coming from my wrists. They're raw, and sore from the shackles, bleeding at the slightest movement.
The walkers trapped in the boxes growl at the sight and smell of my blood, begging for it.
whats the point?
"Carl," Junipers voice gently rings in my ear.
I look into her blue eyes and the smile on her face.
"we have to go." She continues as her smile fades.
"Someones going to notice what I did." She adds as she notices my blank reply.
"What did you do?" I ask in a hushed voice, careful not to strain my throat.
"Nothing yet." She whispers back into my ear.
I look at her with wide eyes, her expression and posture signals she has something planned. She pulls a knife and gently sets it in my hand.
"Him." She points to the man on the ground.
She doesn't have to say anything else, I'm on my hands and knees in front of Cage as I plunge Junipers rusted blade into his right eye.
I stand back up, blood drips from the knife and my raw hands as Juniper gives me a concerning look.
"Easiest way to the brain." I say shrugging, knowing exactly what she's thinking.
"Come on, we gotta go." She says grabbing my hand.
"Wait," I say while lifting a hand to her.
The pain is too much, everything is too much. I can't leave without a way to deal.
"you go ahead, get everyone rounded up." I assure her.
"Okay..." Juniper nods with obvious hidden concern.
I turn to Cage's body, blood dripping from his eye and soft bruises around his neck.
My desperate fingers reach into his pockets. I search through the first few pockets unsatisfied until I hear the clinking, I grab everything from inside, and shove it into my own pockets, standing up and twirling around to go meet Juniper.
"Carl," June motions for me to hurry. I catch up to her side and look at her, she seems flustered, sweaty.
"Whats the rush?" I ask.
"We gotta go,"
Juniper grabs my hand and runs up the stairs, passing everyone else in the process. My legs are dwindling behind me as my head pulses and my heart beats harder.
My world seems to slow as we pass the infirmary, the dead bodies of Janice, Dallas and the nurse that "cared for me"
"Did you do this?" I ask Juniper,
"No. She did." She says as she motions to a body in the corner, a gun in her hand and a hole in her temple. Devon. "She wanted to do it."
"You helped her..." I ask shyly, I can feel tears welling up in my eye at the death of a girl I barely knew.
"Yeah." Juniper replies.
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i cut this chapter short so i can fuckin update haha have a nice day
