Survivor

Chapter 8 - Getting To Know The Girls

Sorry it took me so long to update. Not that any of y'all are even waiting for me to update. I hope y'all are liking the book and will be patient enough to read all of it. -Lynne

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    When I had woken up there was something wet on my back and a person next to me. I was still shirtless and feared it was Artemis licking my blood. I turned around as quick as I could to see who it was. I had only gotten to see a flash of the person before pain seared through my back causing me to lay back down. The flash of blonde hair I saw indicated that it was a girl, Linda if I remember correctly. There was a big metal bowl on the end table to the right of me and my bed with water in it.

    "Relax Nev, I'm cleaning your back. It's the least I could do for you," Linda said nicely.

    "Way to state the obvious Lin." Rene retaliated from the end of my bed. I was shocked that she was in here as well. "Edna would be here but she is busy taking care of Ariel." I didn't really mind that since I don't really know her, although she seems fairly nice. 

    "Oh, hush it Rene. Thank you for sticking up for me Nevaeh. That kid always means trouble but no one has been around to stick up for us." Although I was looking at the bowl of water but I know Linda was truly thankful.

    "Your welcome. I don't like it when people get blamed for something they didn't do and get punished for it." It was silent for a few minutes after I said that. The sound of Linda rinsing out the cloth and putting it back on my back is pretty much the only thing that can be heard.

    Rene was the one to strike up another conversation. "Well I'm Rene, in case I haven't told you and you know Linda. I'm 27, Linda is 18. How old are you Nev? You seem fairly young."

    "I just turned 16 a couple weeks ago." I've been here for 3 days and already so much has happened. Well at least I think it's been 3 days. My stomach decided to growl very loudly at this time reminding me that I have not ate since before I was kidnapped. The girls giggled while I had a light blush.

    Rene came around the bed in front of me and said, "It's not much, but it's enough to keep you alive," while handing me a cookie, some water and bread. I had no idea she had them with her. But I took them gratefully and ate them while laying on my stomach. Drinking the water was kind of hard since it hurt to move my back but I managed to drink it all with little to no spilling.

    While my stomach was settling from the food I decided to take the risk and asked them, "How did y'all end up here?" I heard them take a breath of air and what I guessed was thinking. I played with the pillow rethinking if I should have asked that or not.

    After a couple of minutes Rene said her story, "I lived on my own a few miles from where I worked. I worked at a small diner at the edge of town. There wasn't a whole lot of traffic but we made some good money. One day a guy walked in, Artmis, and sat down at a booth. He didn't sit at one of my tables so I didn't bother looking at him for long before I went back to work. I could feel him watching me the whole time he was there. I didn't know if he ate or drank anything since I was busy. I had a strong feeling that he wasn't human which made me question why he was even here. I had never seen him before which was strange since our town was so small. He had left an hour before we closed but I still had the feeling that he was watching me. After the hour had passed and everyone had left I locked up and walked to my car which I had parked at the back of the diner along with the rest of the workers. While I was putting my key in the lock to unlock my car I looked around still feeling like I was being watched. I shook it off and opened my door. I popped open my trunk and walked to the back so I could put my purse and work bag in there. I though I'd heard footsteps but when I looked around there was no one in sight. I was more than creeped out at this time so I quickly shut the trunk and started walking to the driver door which I'd left open. Two steps from the door I was grabbed from behind. The person had put his hand over my mouth before I could scream. Then everything went blank. When I awoke I was here." Her voice was shaking a little when she had said the last sentence. I felt a dip on the end of my bed and guessed that she'd sat down. There was another silence after that, her breathing slightly heavy like she was trying to control her tears and try to get the memory out of her head.

    "Was any of your family hurt?" I dared to ask but in a small voice.

    "No. As soon as I turned 18 I moved out of my parents' house. We were never close and I hadn't talked to them ever since graduation day."

    "At least they weren't hurt." With that being said we went back into silence.

    Linda took slightly longer to start saying her story but no one said anything and waited for her to start. "I was only here for a month before you came. I was at my friends 18th birthday party, it was one of the biggest parties of the year and the whole school would be there. When I had gotten there I immediately went to the alcohol table and grabbed a red cup, I didn't know what was in it and I didn't really care. When I turned around my eyes met Artemis' red eyes, I thought he was just wearing contacts so I just shrugged it off and went to the living which also happened to be the dance floor. I had a funny feeling after looking into his eyes but I ignored it that too. About half an hour later I was wasted and grinding against some guy. He was cold and in my drunken state I didn't comprehend it as weird. It felt nice and that's all I cared about. He had his hands on my waste after a minute or so his hands started to get tighter and tighter. I started wiggling and trying to get out of his grasp but he wasn't having it. He started dragging me up the stairs and to the last room on the right. When we had gotten in there his eyes were glowing, all this sobered me up, but not a whole lot. Just enough to know that he wasn't normal. I looked at his mouth to see his fangs and then before I knew it he punctured my neck and started sucking. I screamed and kept on screaming but the music was so loud and we were too far away from anyone for somebody to hear and help me. I started to become dizzy and my throat was scorching with pain. My screams were fading and before it I was seeing black dots and then passed out. That's the last thing I remembered before waking up here. I didn't get to say bye to anybody. I don't know if any of my family or friends were hurt or if they still care and miss me. Or even realize I am gone." Her voice held so much pain at the end that made me think there was a little more to it but I still felt bad for her.

    I know how they feel and I feel bad for them. But I'm curious, "How did Edna get here?" It came out timidly. I didn't know if I could even ask that or what they would say but it was to late now.

    Linda must still be thinking of what happened since Rene answered, "She has known Artemis for years. She was here before I came and by the knowledge she told me she must have known him since she was about my age. How she knows him we don't know." She does look very wise so yeah, it does make sense.

    When Linda talked again her voice almost back to normal, "After we get whipped we are usually left alone and are able to stay in our rooms until the wounds have scabbed over." I saw her put the cloth in the bowl and pick it up. "We are going to leave now. You need your rest, don't move to much or else they will re-open and take more time to heal." With that Rene got off the bed and went to the door. She gave a small smile and closed the door slowly and with a soft click of the knob they were gone and it was quiet.

    With their stories I realized how much I miss my family. I can't believe they are gone and even when I'm free I still won't be able to see them. They won't be able to hug me and tell me how much they miss and love me. I won't see their smiles ever again. Why did he have to murder them before he took me? That doesn't make sense and it's not fair. Not fair at all. I just want my family back and be able to see them. After a few minutes of thinking about my family and friends I fell asleep, tears streaming down my face.