Stolen (COMPLETED)

Ashy Remains

Dried blood stained my hands and arms, stained my white hoodie and the overpowering metallic smell hung in the air.

Touching, holding their lifeless bodies.

I brushed Maya's hair gently, wiped away all the blood from her cold body and cleaned her clothes the best I could, I didn't have anything to change her into. I didn't do a good job of protecting her, like the little spineless shit that I am. She looked so beautiful, she looked as if she was sleeping but I knew she would never open her eyes again.

Juliet, her clothes were not as bad, I had to style her hair in a way to cover....

I held her hands in mine and cried into her chest, I missed her warmth, her smile.

"Juliet, I want you to know" I sobbed quietly "I love you so much, and I miss you so much, please please forgive me for not saving you" I felt sick, I wanted to throw up. The guilt. It was eating me alive. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't eat. I couldn't even talk about anything because of how guilty I feel.

I remember when Juliet first came here, her hair was so blonde and bright. Over time her hair lost its colour and became so dull, so little and wispy.

I plaited her hair, like she taught me, and closed her eyes, when she died they were still open and it was so rude, so disrespectful in a way, to me. It scared Aaliyah, she said how she couldn't sleep because Juliet's eyes were open so I closed them, but it scared me just as much to touch her at the time.

I cleaned up the floors with help from Bronte and Flavia.

I lay her body next to Maya's and sucked in a deep breath before going to talk to Richard.

"Please Richard, it's so, they, please!"

"No!"

"Oh for gods sakes!" I was getting annoyed at the sadness inside me turned to anger. My ears felt hot. "You kill them first! Then what? Expect us to leave them there?!" He huffed and turned his back but I grabbed his shoulder and pulled him to face me.

"Touch me again bitch"

He slapped me across my face. I winced out in pain but he didn't care and threw me against the wall, his hand around my throat, choking me and limiting my breathing. I started coughing and my palms started sweating.

"I'll get them moved by today night. I won't take this shit anymore. I own you. You show me some goddamn respect around here or I'll put a bullet between your eyes. CLEAR?"

A knot formed in my stomach and I couldn't talk, I was terrified.

"Y-yes"

He grinned. "Good, off you go" he kissed my cheek and pushed me down the stairs.

I walked down the stairs slowly, as if every step was on broken glass, and collapsed into Bronte's arms, I cried.

Because I was scared of Richard.

Because I had no fight left in me.

Because I lost my two best friends in one day.

Because I have to live this hell.

I don't know how long I cried for but I fell asleep and when I woke up I was still in Bronte's arms, with a blanket draped over me.

Flavia helped me to my feet and hugged me. Aaliyah came over and held Bronte's hand and Martha, a girl from South Africa and a new girl called Lidia from Poland all came to me and we sat together, holding hands.

"Aubrey -" Bronte said.

"Where are they gone?"

"They, they've gone"

My eyes scanned the room and I smiled at Bronte. "Were they okay?" I asked, realising my voice was weak and shaky.

"Yes they were" she whispered.

I cleared my throat and squeezed Aaliyah's hand.

Lidia stood up to bring the blanket and we told stories of our lives.

I told them about what Richard told me and we slept, fearful of what tomorrow would bring for us.