Breaking the Chains

Chapter Seven

The chains seemed to feel as if they had tightened around Riley's wrists. Her eyelids felt weak and it was hard to keep them open enough to glance around the room to see if anything changed. Alison was still not back, but there was screaming from her in Eli's room. What had she done to the poor boy this time? She'd already beat on him and gave him scars, so what was the point on going over there? To just yell? Riley felt nauseous, though more out of worry and anxiety than anything else. Her nerves began to spike as she heard a door open in the close distance before it slammed shut. Alison was coming back. Riley tried to keep her eyes open to prepare herself, but her energy seemed to be dulled down. Her muscles were screaming, her jaw ached and her body felt like melting rubber.

The footsteps kept drawing closer toward the door and her body seemed to spike with energy. As quickly as she could, she began to jerk as if to escape from the chains. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, but all that came out was a raspy whisper. And the second all the air got out of her, the footsteps stopped and she felt chills going up her spine. Alison was at the door. With a small, nearly silent click, the door flew open.

"Please don't hurt me," Riley began weakly as she dropped her head so her face turned to the ground underneath her. She began to beg as the footsteps drew closer toward her, and for the first time in a short while, tears stung her eyes. "Please, I've had enough. Please don't hurt me. Please." There was no answer as she continued to beg like a whimpering dog, tied against its will. But then, the footsteps came to a halt and there was silence for a while until something fell gently onto the ground, and ever so softly, arms were around her waist.

"I'm not going to hurt you," Eli whispered softly as he hugged her carefully. Riley opened her eyes slowly and tried to hug him back, but the restraints tugged her arms back which made her wince. Her body was shaking more than it did before, and she felt horrible. "We're getting out of here."

Eli helped Riley to her feet as the chains hit the ground. She was still shaking in his arms but now was able to have her's freely. They were free. Finally free to go. He would show her the sun, and the moon and the stars, but first he'd have to show her herself. Riley didn't know just how amazing she was, and Eli silently vowed to show her.

As they crossed the room on shaky feet, the boy realized he had no idea what to do now. Yes, get out of here, but where was here? And how?  He tried not to show his worry on his face, Riley had gone through enough already today. She'd gone through enough for years. It pulled at Eli's heart to think about own long she'd been stuck here.

He ran down the hallway pulling Riley by the hand. Her harsh breaths were loud and uneven  and her usual limited movement was apparent in the awkward and unnatural strides she made. It was clear she was uncomfortable and out of breath but Eli wasted no time stopping as a door came into view. It looked just like the rest of the doors lining the hallway but he was certain this one would get them out of here. He almost threw his body at it in his haste to get out of their prison but remembered the door handle at the last second. He pushed down the handle and felt a strong sense of relief rush over him when it turned. A sharp gasp came from Riley and then light flooded through the door as it pushed open, blinding them both.

Riley's breath was getting heavy and her legs felt wobbly, but the adreneline in her body made her keep running along with the boy holding tightly to her hand, which brought a smile to her face.  The spikes of grass spread through her toes everytime one of her feet landed in front of the other. Her eyes darted around everywhere that had something new that she hadn't seen for years. Her feet slowed and she didn't feel the same adreneline she did moments before.

"Eli," she whispered in a quiet voice as her eyes slowly made their way toward the back of his head. "I can't run anymore."

Though he slowed, he didn't stop immediately. He glanced back to her for a second, and then he slowed into a very slow walk until they both stopped. "We're not far enough," he spoke quietly though he didn't try to pull her along. Both of their hands dropped, but they still had their fingers wrapped around each other's hands.