The Defias

Chapter 2

   Something was digging into my chest. I forced my eyes open and saw a girl lying next to me, her head on my chest. That's riiiiiiight..... The girl's nails were digging into my chest. I gently shook her awake and she awoke in a frantic, then saw that it was just me and clung to me. I sat up and she clung harder to me.

   "Hey!" She started shaking. I sighed and she looked up at me. She looked like she was about to cry. "Fiiiiiine......." She smiled weakly. "But I'm hungry..." I sighed again and unwrapped her arms from around me. She whimpered quietly and I glanced at her. I walked to a chest by the wall and opened it, rummaging around. I glanced at the girl again and pulled out a soft blue dress. She stared at the dress. I threw it at her and turned around so I couldn't see her. "Put that on." She obeyed and quickly put the dress on.

   "You can turn around now...." I turned and looked at her.

   "Come here." I smiled and adjusted the dress on her and she blushed. "Let's go." I grabbed her hand and started pulling her out of the room.

   "W-wait!" She pulled her hand away from mine and rushed back to where she had discarded her clothes. She pulled a necklace out of her pocket and I flinched.

   "Don't wear that here. It isn't a very good idea."

   "Why?"

   "We're a group of theives. That's not something you want to be seen wearing. Give it here, nobody touches our stuff."

   "Show me where you're putting it then." I sighed and pulled her over to Father's side of the room. I pulled out a hidden drawer that only I knew about.

   "In here. I'm the only person in the group that really knows about this drawer. It's safe in here." She nodded and gently set the necklace in the drawer. I closed it and she looked at me. "Can we go now?" She nodded and clung to my arm. I sighed. "Let's go..." We walked out of the room to the mess hall. As we neared the hall, loud voices were echoing out around us. The girl started shaking again.

   "Jake, dude!" Armon walked out drunkly.

   "Stay close to me," I whispered to the girl. She nodded and clung tighter to my arm. Armon saw the girl and his lip curled in interest.

   "And who is this lovely little lady?" Armon stepped closer. I could smell the booze on his breath.

   "Touch her and you'll regret it." I glared at him and he smirked.

   "What like this?" he asked innocently, reaching out to grab her breasts. She whimpered and I punched him.

   "I said not to touch her." He rubbed his jaw and glared at me.

   "She ain't yours. 'Sides, han't had no fun fer few years." He got up, staring at the girl. She started shaking uncontrollably and hid behind me. Armon reached for her and she yelped and wrapped her arms tightly around my waist. I punched Armon again and he fell to the ground. The girl was still shaking and whimpering, her face buried between my shoulders. I sighed.

   "You don't have to go in there if you don't want to." She clung to me more. "Get on my back." I knelt down and she wrapped her arms around my neck, climbing onto my back. I stood up and she wrapped her legs around my waist and put her chin on my head. I opened the door and walked in, a beer bottle smashing on the door frame next to me. Everything went quiet. The girl whimpered quietly and hid her head behind mine. The men all backed away from me, not wanting to anger me. I glanced at the mess on the ground. "Somebody had better clean this up." I stared at all the men, daring any of them to defy me. When none of them did I walked towards the kitchen. I felt the girl tense and she started whimpering. I heard one of the men chuckle and the girl pushed herself against me, burying her face on the back of my neck. I continued walking, then felt something tug on her. I whirled around and saw that one of the men had tugged on her leg. He looked at me sheepishly and backed away. I growled quietly and carried her into the kitchen. I knelt down and she quietly climbed off my back. I grabbed a loaf of bread and a small package of cheese and looked over at the girl. She was looking around the kitchen and playing with the spices.

   "Is this all you have here?" she asked, looking back at me. I smiled slightly.

   "No." She nodded. "Why?"

   "I could cook something for you all..." She looked back down at the spices.

   "I'd have to ask my father if it would be ok. We don't have much..." She smiled.

   "Well with how many people you have, not much lasts a pretty long time." She had a point. I put the bread and the cheese in a small bag and gave it to her.

   "Hold this." She took the bag. I stood up and offered her my hand. She reached up and grabbed my hand, allowing me to pull her up. She smiled and looked at the door, her smile fading. I sighed and picked her up. She wrapped her arm around my neck and held the bag tightly. I walked out of the room without a problem. We got back to my room and I set her on the bed. She smiled up at me and touched my cheek. She then stood up and wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me. I froze up and she giggled, kissing my cheek. She then sat back down on the bed and curled into a ball, falling asleep. I touched my cheek and looked down at her.