Rebuilt

Chapter 8

Morris looks down at me while I do my best to catch my breath.  My chest feels tight after running.  The fact that Morris was standing right in front of my made my heart contract in fear.  A horrid smile played across his lips. 

"Found ya," was all he said before he grabbed both of my wrists before I tried to escape.  Restraining my wrists behind my back I hiss in pain from the tenderness of my right wrist.  I squirmed against his grasp as he led me farther into the dark alley.

The farther he walked me, the worst it started to smell, the darker it got, and the more hope I lost.  He kept his head close to my ear, hissing at me to stop squirming.  Morris tossed me against the hard brick wall, placing a foot on my chest to keep me from moving.

"That little friend of you's is stupid.  You'se ain't got no broken wrist.  Just sore, thats all." At first it sounded like he cared, but then he leaned to the side and picked up a coil of white rope.  Morris bent down in front of me and started to tie my ankles together.

I kept my mouth in a thin line.  Willing myself not to give him the satisfaction of hearing my voice.  He grabs the collar of my shirt and twists me against the wall, chest first.  Roping my wrists together he leans over me and whispers in my ear, "I want to hear your pretty little voice."  Morris croons in my ear.

I cringe but keep my mouth shut.  Morris leans forward and tugs at the shirt Race gave me.  "Fine.  I'se just 'ave to force it outa you'se."  Gripping the hem of my shirt he tears it off.  Ripping it at the back said for it to get past my wrists.  "The sooner you'se speak.  The less damage I'll do."

I still refused to speak.

A slap cracks across my face causing my head to lull backwards against the wall.  "Street rat," Morris spits.  "Maybe you'se deaf and I'se just don't know it."

I spit at his shoes, missing by just a hair. 

Morris pins my neck against the brick wall.  "You'se just keep making the same mistake over 'nd ova again don't ya doll."  He punches me in my frail gut.  Seeing that I made no sound the first two blows.  He goes for a third.  I exhale through my teeth as I he lands the blow hard in between my ribs. 

Gripping my shoulder, Morris pulled me against the wall.  He pulled at my shirt until he heard a satisfying rip.  We both looked down to see that the rip was right across my stomach.

"Perfect," he lets out a low growl.  Pulling me in at the waist, he rips off my shirt completely and leaves my torso exposed to the cold.

As an impulse I drop to the ground and pull my tied ankles to my chest.  Pushing them forward with all the force I have, I aim directly at Morris's gut.  He laughs and stops my plow with the palms of his hands.

I've never really been the strongest fighter.

Laughing, he unties the rope binding my feet and pins my legs.

I close my eyes after he removes his suspenders and leaves them dangling around his waist.  I hear the clinking of metal.  I snap my eyes open as I see Morris standing above me with a belt slack in his hand.

Memories flash inside my head as I hear myself screaming and crying in my head.  Black and white mirages of parts of my life start to fly by.  Blood, pain, loss, all hitting me.  Getting stronger and stronger.

"ELMER!" I scream as best as I can.  Morris brought the belt down against my stomach.  Tears roll down my face as I sob, I take a deep breath in.  "ELMER!" I scream again, my voice already straining I feel it start to close up.  "ELMER! PLEASE, ELMER!" my voice is cut off as the metal buckle of the belt is reared towards me and impacts my chest.  "Help," I wheeze out.

"SOMEONE!" I scream.  "RACE! ALBERT!"

Morris cracks the belt against my chest again, and again.  I give up screaming for help.  Each blow makes me cough and wheeze.  Almost to Morris' enjoyment.

I look at Morris in the eyes.  They are painted with pure pleasure.  "Please," I rasp.  "Please, stop."

Morris just laughed, and brought the belt down again and again.  I didn't even have to look down to know that their was blood dripping down my bare stomach. I could feel it, thick and sticky.  "Looks like I found you'se weak spot," he chuckles.  "I better keep that in mind."

And with that, he shouldered his suspenders back on, and walked down the mouth of the alley.  Disappearing into the early glow of the morning sun.

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I have no idea how much time passed. All I know is that my whole body hurt like hell, Elmer hadn't heard my pleas of help, nor did any one else, and that I finally shimmied my wrists out of the rope Morris had used to tie me up.

Once free from the rope I threw on my shredded up clothes and staggered to the mouth the the alley.

Squinting against the suns brightness I kept my eyes peeled for the boys.

Not even three hours inta da day, and I'se alreay got soaked, I say to myself.

Every step I took felt like the lashes on my stomach tore wider and wider. Every time I blinked I could open my right eye significantly less. And I was pretty sure that Morris had left a mark on my face after slapping me.

I was just about to turn around and try and fine my way back to the lodge when I heard a gasp from behind me. Turning I saw Elmer. His dark eyes frantic, and no more papers in his hand. I got half his papes stolen too, I scald myself. Before I could say anything he runs towards me and puts a protective hand against me cheek.

"Who'se did this to ya? Was it da Delanceys? If it was da Delanceys, Streets I swea-"

"Elmer," I decide to regard the fact that he called me "Streets" later. Tears well up in my eyes. "I ain't goin' to bullshit you." I sign and look at him deeply in the eyes. "Can you'se just show me back to the lodge?"

Elmer smiled a sad smile, which was unusual for his always perky face. "Of course."