The Gang

The Vipers

Tessa's POV
It's been about half a day since they've brought me here. I know the Vipers weren't the best people to tick off but they were pissing me off. Their boss, Rico, runs his gang with fear and I don't like the way he runs things, but I can't say he's dumb. That idiot took away my watch that I could've used to call for help. He also took away the trackers on my shoe, under my nail, and a the small one behind my ear. Then again, he and I go way back so we know each other pretty well.

"Take her back to the torture chamber," says Rico. Zane, the man he ordered, looks at me with pity. I just give him a small smile. I mean, this isn't anything new to me. I've been abuse, tortured, and beaten for years. It was before I escaped and started the gang. You see, Rico and I started this gang together. We were a family, but then, Rico changed. It was after an attack from the Bloody Moons. We lost many men that day and I was majorly injured. I almost didn't make it, but I miraculously did somehow. However, I was in a coma for three years. During those three years, Rico let the darkness consume him and he wasn't the man I used to know. So, I left. Clearly he hasn't forgiven me for it.

"Chain her up and get me the whip of nine-tails." I don't say anything. I know his ways and it's best saying nothing. It annoys the crap out of him, especially if you don't scream when he's torturing you. I know it's not the best move but it's not in my nature to submit to him and give him what he wants.

A moment later, I feel pain. He has begun the torture.

Hours. I wonder how many hours he's been at this. Truthfully, I'm surprised I'm not unconscious yet. I've lost so much blood and he's making it ten times worse because I'm not giving him the satisfaction of hearing my screams.

"You're so stubborn. Take her back to her cell." Once Rico leaves, Zane and Blake help me out. Blake unlocks the chains and Zane catches me when I fall.

"I'm so sorry, Tessa. Are you okay?" Zane asks.

"Don't worry. This is nothing. You know I've been through worse," I reply.

"That doesn't mean we enjoy watching you get tortured."

"Thank you, but it's fine. I rather have his wrath on my than on you guys."

"We wish you wouldn't. You should think about yourself more. Sometimes it's okay to be selfish," says Blake.

"But I wasn't taught to be selfish. I was taught to be selfless. Rico and I were the same. When we found each other that fateful day, he wanted to get drunk because of all the things he's been through. I happened to work at the bar he went to and he told me everything due to being drunk. I told him about my past and we decided we didn't want anyone else to go through what we went through, so we created this gang. We wanted to make it to be a family and it was until the day the Bloody Moons attacked. You guys know the story from there."

"Yeah. Things went downhill while you were in your coma. Boss wouldn't leave your side for months. He wouldn't eat, sleep, or take a shower. It was like one of those cliche stories. Anyway, when you didn't show signs of waking up, Boss lost it. He blamed the Bloody Moons for your condition, so he trained us hard. It was brutal."

"I'm sorry."

"There's nothing for you to be sorry about. We were all angry for what they did to you, so we didn't mind it much. It wasn't until after we defeated the Bloody Moons. Boos became obsessed with power. He loved all the blood that was shed. That's when he began to change. He became cold and cruel. He wanted us to be the strongest, most feared gang, and we are."

"We were so happy when you finally woke up, but Boss didn't even care anymore," says Zane. "He was so obsessed with power that he forgot all about you."

"He also forgot why we started this gang," I say. "He's doing exactly what we promised we would never do. When we started this gang, we made a promise that we would never treat our members like objects with no feelings. We promised that we would treat everyone like family. We truly wanted to make a place where people could feel at home. I never expected him to break his promise."

"Well, we're at our destination. I'm sorry you have to sleep in a cell, but they're Boss' orders."

"It's alright. You can't disobey a direct order from the leader. I hope, one day, this gang will be the family it once was."

"I'm really sorry about all of this."

"It's okay. I understand. Now, you guys should probably go. I don't want you to get in trouble with Rico."

"Alright. Goodbye, Tessa."

"Bye Blake. Bye Zane." They leave.

I really hope my gang is doing okay. I wonder if they're looking for me or they're giving the bidders a hard time. It's most likely the latter. Whatever. I should probably get some shut eye. I have a feeling something big will be going down soon.

Boom! A loud explosion goes off.

Well, so much for shut eye. I knew they were going to rescue me. I just didn't expect them to so soon. A hand reaches out to me.

"Let's go, Tessa," somebody says.