Venture

Chapter 8: The Rats

Esther stood before the sixteen-year-old blonde. She was hugging her knees as tears dashed across her rosy cheeks. The fragile teen hadn't stopped crying ever since Esther had stepped into Christopher's tent. Here and there, the girl would scream, flinch, or wail loudly. It was a heart-breaking scene to watch, but Esther knew she had to do this.

      "Hi, I'm Esther," the warrior introduced, settling herself in front of the sobbing victim. "I-I know your brother, Christopher. He's a cool kid."

     The girl glanced at Esther at the sound of her brother's name. Her damaged azure eyes that reflected Christopher's glimmered in the darkness. Esther had to resist the urge to search for the rapists and murder them with her own dangerous hands.

     "What's your name?" the woman asked patiently, smiling softly.

     "Carolina," the victim choked out, staring at Esther with wide, frightened eyes. Her bottom dry lip quivered as more tears slipped.

      Esther bit her lip and hesitated, observing the frail one before her. Bruises and hickeys marked her body, along with dirt and muck. Carolina's nightgown had rips and missing buttons. Furthermore, her nightgown had a stitched patch that laid right above her breasts. It read: Property of Dextor Ruthless.

     The twenty-year-old had to look away, shutting her eyes. Her blood boiled at the sight. The Ruthless seemed to mark the women they assaulted.

     Her attention turned back to Carolina, who was still gaping at her. She smiled sympathetically. She wanted Carolina to know that she understood what it felt like to be harassed, though she didn't want to put it into words. It might scar the poor girl further.

     "Can I hug you?" the timid foster child whispered, tears brimming her round eyes.

     Carolina seemed to understand Esther. She nodded, trying to speak, but only whimpers left her mouth.

     Esther instantly engulfed the shivering girl. She cradled the blonde as Carolina bawled and bawled ceaselessly.

***

Alex, Scarlet, Amora, and Christopher looked up to see Esther walking out of the boy's tent. Her eyes were light red and puffy. Her burgundy top was stained. Tears, Amora guessed.

     She made her way back to the group and sat in between Alex and Scarlet. The warrior didn't speak a word. Scarlet shared a look with Alex. They both understood their friend's situation, while Amora sat cluelessly, her eyes going back and forth between them.

     "Esther, are you okay?" Amora interrupted the silence, concern written in her tone.

     She nodded and faced Christopher, "How often do they do this?"

     He looked at the campfire and muttered, "They come every morning to take them and they return them at night. Sometimes, they don't even come back for a night or two."

     Esther clenched her fists, the sound of leather rubbing against itself was heard. She glared hard at the campfire. The second oldest muttered to herself, "I'll kill them. I'll kill all of them."

     Scarlet wrapped her arm around her friend. She rested her head on her shoulder in attempt to soothe the raging warrior. It worked, of course. Amora observed quietly at the duo. Though they argued a lot, those two were much closer than she thought.

     "Does that mean they'll come at dawn?" Alex questioned further, sharing the same expression as Esther.

     The knowledgable boy nodded.