Escape the Walking Dead // h.s.

39

Jane's POV

I lined up in the hallway with shaking limbs. Kelsey was ahead of me in line as usual and I stared at the back of her head to focus on why I was here and where I was going. Soon the line was grabbing trays from the food counter and we sat together all at one table, completely silent.

Behind me and across the room, Christian sat with Eric. I turned my head around to look at him and he was staring at me while the rest of the men ate around their table. But then I saw Eric sitting head of the table; he was staring at me too. Did this mean he really wanted me to sit around the table for the feast of death? And why was Christian so hell-bent on me "claiming" him? Why did he care that Eric wanted to kill me?

I drank some of my water and felt my fingers tremble as I lifted it to my mouth. I needed this food or I was going to get sicker and sicker. But I was going to have to give it to Christian if I were to claim him.

Maybe I should let Eric kill me...

Kelsey spoke to me while she started eating, once again not looking at me but staring down at her tray.

"Who is it? Who are you claiming?" Kelsey mumbled for only the two of us to hear.

"Christian," I mumbled it so easily and then I felt like throwing up because saying it made it so much more real.

She halted for a second and then continued eating.

"What?" I questioned.

"Nothing. But know if he doesn't accept you, you will not be able to claim anyone else ever again," her voice softened and I felt the anxiety build deeper in my stomach and in my chest.

"I don't want to die, Kelsey," I mumbled and shifted in my seat. "Eric is trying to send me to the feast of death today. I have to make a move or I'll die."

"Dying might be the best thing to happen here," she looked at me this time instead of at her tray. I turned my head to look at her too and saw the look of complete misery on her face. I couldn't let myself get to that point here. I had to start making moves and if Christian denied me, I'd fight for my life in the feast of death. I'd fight all ten rounds.

"I have to save my brother and Harry. I have to save our people," the whisper of my voice wavered and I felt what I was saying resonate deep inside me.

"There's no one left, Jane. Everyone's dead except us. Will and Harry don't care about us either. I've seen them here, they're walking with the enemy. They're gone and so are we. We're all Mad Men now," her eyes were empty, angry, and unforgiving.

"I don't believe you," I commented and stood from the table to get away from her lies. "Best of luck, Kels."

She stared at me and so did all the other women as I lifted my tray. I took a deep breath and turned on my heel to see Christian and Eric both staring at me intensely. My stomach dropped as a clueless woman of the men brought Christian a ripe apple. He took it and twisted his head back to watch me walk over. The woman went back to standing along the wall with the other six women there and I wondered if that's where I would be standing come tomorrow.

Finally, I was close enough for my eyes to meet his and I sat my tray in front of his and kneeled on my knees and bowed my head down as if he were a king.

"I, Jane Duffy, would like to claim you, Christian. I have witnessed your testimony towards this place and have seen your dedication to your fellow men. You are of the upmost brave and strong here, and I find it completely enthralling. I wish to serve you and only you until you deem myself as unworthy. I haven't been the strongest whore in the rooms but with you I will always please and serve you."