DCF: Crimson Spirits

Chapter 5: Lillian (Lily's Perspective)

The screams... The screams are so loud, they're like bullets through my flesh. They won't shut up, won't end for miles. I try to make my way through the crowded halls, searching for some sign, any sign.

"Eloise?!" I shouted, desperately searching for her every which way I could. "Eloise?!!"

I pushed my way through the crowd, determined to find my sister. I pushed past short inmates and tall ones alike, not showing anything more than strengthened worry. The inmates stumbled left and right around me, cursing under their breaths before rising to their feet once again. I pushed and pulled and squeezed my way to the front of the group, only to stop dead in my tracks, once I found the source of the crowd.

The inmates vanished one by one, only leaving the two of us. I felt tears making their way down my face, as I stared down at her... and I screamed out in agony.

I felt myself jerk up, pulling air into my lungs at a rapid rate. Just a dream, I told myself. Not real... just a dream.

I gave myself a minute to look around, to observe my surroundings; normal, very red cell, normal, wooden desk, and...

Shit..., I muttered under my breath. That's the third time this week. My old pocket knife I smuggled from one of the doctors was laying next to my now, very cut-up arm. Luckily for me, the cuts were dried by now.

I carefully got up from the desk chair and walked over to the bed, taking a moment to check on Eloise. Luckily for the both of us, she could sleep through an earthquake, so she didn't so much as stir when I rubbed her head and lightly pressed a kiss to her brow. The most reaction I've ever gotten out of her while sleeping was a smile when she had a happy dream, or a falter in her faint snoring when something startled her. 

I figured it would probably be a smart idea to wrap my arm before she woke up, so she wouldn't worry. I've been pulling stunts like this for almost 5 months now, and she still hasn't noticed. At least, I hope she hasn't. I knelt down in front of the bed and looked under the bed and, fortunately, my smuggled med kit still set there. I smuggled it in a week or so into the endeavor, and the guards still haven't noticed, thankfully. I knew at some point they would, but I didn't let myself think about that very often.

I heard a soft, groggy mumble from the top bunk of the bed. Crap, I thought, I can't let her see this. What do I do??

"Sis..." Eloise groaned, "are you awake..?" 

I very softly, and quickly, snuck back onto my bunk. I didn't dare answer, because I knew if I did, it would be game over; she'd come down from her bunk, and see the mess my arm was in, and she'd kill me.

Thankfully, it wasn't long before she gave up, and her familiar soft snoring resumed once again. I let out a sigh of relief. Thank God... I very quietly leaned down and picked up the med kit, taking great care in making the least amount of noise possible, and removing a pack of antiseptic wipes and bandages from it, laying them onto the bed next to me. I quietly slid the box and it's remaining contents back under the bed, and set to work on taking care of my arm.

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I must have dozed off shortly after wrapping my arm, because one minute I was sitting on my bunk, staring at the wall like I do sometimes to calm my thoughts, and the next I feel someone shaking my shoulder. "Lillian, wake up..." 

I was facing the wall, but I knew that voice, and I immediately mentally freaked. Please don't ask. Pleeease don't notice and ask.

But, she did. "What happened to your arm?" Eloise breathed, obviously with concern flooding her senses, "Did they..?"

I knew what she meant. She didn't even have to finish the sentence. "No, Eloise, they didn't make me a battery again," I mumbled groggily, trying to hide the fact that I was very much freaking out. 

"Then what happened?" She asked, concern still prominent in her voice. I felt the bed shift as she sat next to me and put her hand on my shoulder. I willed myself to turn and look at her. Her hair was still ruffled with sleep, and her face had a groggy look, yet her eyes were focused wholly on me. I gave her a smile and moved, knowing what she wanted to do. 

She must have realized, too, because she was immediately snuggled into my side, hugging me tightly. I giggled a little, trying to lighten the mood at least a little, "If you hug me any tighter, I might explode." I put a hand on her head, willing her to not let go regardless. We'd had many nights like this since we were brought here. Even now, after 6 years, these nights are still an often occurrence. 

"I ran into one of the gates after experiments yesterday, and accidentally cut myself." I hated lying to her, but she didn't need to know. Not yet, anyway. "I'm fine, I promise."

"Okay..." she muttered as a response, allowing her guard to drop down again. I smiled a little again, rubbing her head again. 

"Have you been thinking about them again?" I allowed myself to ask her. I knew she knew who I was talking about, because the look on her face was way too obvious. I didn't even let her answer before I pulled her tighter. It didn't take long for the tears to start coming, and I didn't stop her as the sobs racked from her body. 

"I miss them, Lily..." she whimpered once she could manage to speak again. 

I struggled to keep my composure for her sake, as I shakily mumbled out the words, "I do too, sis."

And that was the last of the words exchanged between us, but we stayed like that, holding each other close, until sleep claimed us once again.