Stripped to the Heart

Chapter 14 - Not A Perfect Heaven

I laid there for a while just looking upwards, the more I thought I could see flaky pieces. The scene was of angels dancing and clouds and halos "Did you want pancakes?" Joy's voice broke through the trance. Oh, now I remember the past week, I had been resting and today was my first day back. But I had been staying at Joy's place, why? Because apparently my brother is coming home for two weeks so I am staying here for two weeks. To keep me safe, both me and my parents agreed this was smart so now I wake up to see this every morning.

Wait did I mention it was my first day back at school! Oh. My. Gosh!

I scrambled to get ready and Joy appeared at the door "Would you like scrambled eggs? Or pancakes?" uhhmm was there actually scrambled eggs, no that was a dumb joke of hers. "Pancakes, and I don't believe I had a choice, did I?" She just stands there and shakes her head and laughs when I trip over my own foot. I just scream as it hits the still, very tender rib and my aching body slams to the ground, comforted only by the soft carpet.

After Joy helps me up me sit on the bed and begin to talk about boys. "So with you and Charlie... how did it happen?" Joy asked. "He initiated it!" I blurted out "Charlie pulled me towards him and then kissed me, then he asked me out" she looked relieved, even if I knew I had just lied to her.

Downstairs we were seated at the table, eating pancakes when I saw Riley bounce down the stairs and come over to the table. "Hey Joy-Joy" he greeted her warmly "can you bring Charlie round?" I saw the tears in her eyes then and I gave a reassuring hug and quickly said "Riles, Charlie was naughty and now Joy doesn't like him" Riley looked confused but then I saw something register in his 10 year old brain.

We contemplated walking to school but in the end I backed out, yes that truck scared me alright! The car ride was silent and I shuddered every time I saw a truck "Haha relax Anna the odds are really small" Joy was laughing at my fear of passing trucks. I was getting annoyed but I kept it hidden by instead looking out the window.

Everyone at school was concerned but I brushed them off with "Just a broken rib and internal bleeding I'll be fine" all through maths and english I stared out the window and when the teacher asked why I wasn't doing work I'd just reply "my rib hurts and my arms are sore" my maths teacher, Mr Goodman let me off, same with Mrs Willis my English Lit. teacher. the other subjects were a bit better anyway so I worked hard to make up for my absence.

Lunch wasn't easy, every mouthful hurt but I knew I had to eat. Then my thoughts drifted to Josh and Charlie, what about my game? Did I really want to finish it, I would probably end up coming back to my old habits.

Speak of the devil, here they both are. Sitting at my table, waiting for me to stop daydreaming. I turn to face Joy but realise she isn't there, I will so murder her after this I thought. But by then they had already figured I was awake and they both talked together "Who is your boyfriend Anna" they were saying it in unison and were now causing quite a commotion. Everyone was looking this way, I didn't return eye contact for a while and instead I studied the room.

The cafeteria looked exactly like what you would see in the movies, except for the peeling walls and stain-riddled floor. Next I searched the mob of heads until I spotted a strangely familiar one, a boy definitely, dirty blonde hair and it's Leo, the moment he turns his head and I can stare into his eyes I know it is him. I urge him to come to me and he seems to understand, he walks over and I think he knows what I want.

"She's mine" he says slowly, pleading my eyes for an answer "Yes I'm his" I purr at them, floating in a blissful bath of happiness at that time. "Awwww" everyone cooed, I wasn't sure where but I definitely heard it.

What happened next was odd, I didn't know either of Charlie or Josh like me so when they both stood up and braced themselves I was unsure. Then realisation hit me, they were going to hit me. I braced myself in defence stature but I needn't have because the punch that Josh threw smashed to my right hand side, wait was that where Leo was?

Yes, it was. I could see now the blood dripping from his nose, steady but strong and then I heard an oof and then looked between the three. Neither was hurt just confused, so was I. Where did that come from? Then there was another oof and I saw two juniors lying on the ground ten metres or so from us. I looked up and saw a man, dressed head to toe in black with the biggest beer belly ever. I had to bite my tongue to keep in my laughter, he seemed to sense the eyes on him and instantly hit two other people. Their bodies sagged and they were out cold and I saw him inch closer.

Then I ran until my ribs hurt and I couldn't move but thankfully Leo was there to pick me up and let me nuzzle into his neck. He laughed and I didn't know why, then I saw why. The man was there, huffing and puffing but looking towards me pleadingly. I don't know why but when I saw Joy there I couldn't resist the urge, I ran straight towards him with the intentions of kicking him senseless.

Except I never got the chance, he gripped my arms and then two other men came out and pulled me towards a truck, I struggled and wriggled but they held on to me. I saw six other people either lying or sitting in the truck, one was Joy and the others were either sophomores or juniors. I hopped in unwillingly after they tied my hands behind my back and my legs together. I rolled over to Joy and leaned against the side of the truck, wondering about what would happen when they had captured enough of us.

We didn't wait long, we waited for ten of us to be captured then we set out. It was a very short drive and we were blindfolded immediately and then led into a room where our blindfolds were removed. I saw 5 double beds and a bathroom. This was definitely a house, but I wasn't sure where except for the fact it was next to a busy road.

Whatever they had set up here was recent, probably one week old and I instantly retracted from the thoughts. "Get some sleep and we'll have a meeting tomorrow" a voice boomed through the old room. We all found a bed, I was sharing with Joy but when we finally hopped into bed I couldn't sleep. I thought back to today, I had made both Charlie and Josh jealous, at least one thing was going to plan I thought.

That was when I closed my eyes and dreamt.

A/N

oh my!!

keep reading, it gets better.