Red Spider Lilies [TPN]

Chapter 11

"Ray, how much did you sleep last night?" I ask.

"Bold of you to assume I slept."

I scrunch my face in frustration, what's wrong with him? Ever since Norman was taken we've all been unhinged but suddenly Ray just became distant. Well, more than usual.

"Ray, go to bed. You don't look okay."

I take a step in his room. This room used to be shared between Norman and him, though that isn't the case anymore. His bed is still done tidy and so is his desk and side of the closet, but Ray's side no longer looks like his.

All the books are scattered on the floor or out of order on his shelf, the bed hasn't been made in about 2 weeks, the desk is covered in paper and pens while the floor of the closet is no longer visible.

Ray yawned and waved me off. "I'm fine. I need to think."

"Think about what? There isn't much to think about."

He turns his body with the swivel chair and stared me down. "Emma, I need to think. Can you please leave?"

"Leave? And who's going to make me?" I say trying to lighten the mood. But his silence said it all; he wasn't in the mood.

"You should go to bed." He says turning to his desk. "Night."

I close the door behind me and sit on Norman's bed, it feels so cold.

Ray sighs and digs his hands into his hands before taking a deep breath to face me.

"You should go to bed." He repeats.

"I won't until you do. I'll stay up with you all night if I have to."

Ray clearly looks annoyed with his situation. He stands up and looms over me, like he's trying to threaten me.

"That's awfully stupid of you, isn't it? You need to go to sleep, get some rest."

I stand but it doesn't make much of a difference intimidation wise. I'm barely 157 cm, and compared to ray I look like a child. What was he? 175?

"So do you?" I grab his sleeve and push him onto his bed. "Look, I'll even tuck you in." He tried to get up but I push him back down.

"No." I say sternly.

He grumbles and finally lays down, closing his eyes. Ray's eyebrows are burrowed in frustration as I go turn off the lights, leaving the lamp's dim light to illuminate the room. I take a seat by his side.

"Why are you still here? I'm laying down and clearly ready to sleep, what's the problem?"

I pet his hair and his face cringes, yet he doesn't open his eyes. He looks so tired. The bags under his eyes look so prominent; he seems so angry.

"Ray, you know you can trust me, right?" I say, almost whispering. "You don't have to worry about everything yourself."

Ray grabs my hand and takes my hand off of his head, but he doesn't let go. His breathing is slowing down as he's about to go to sleep.

"I know, but I just want you to be happy and not worry about anything." He loosens his grip. "That's all."

—-

"Hey, kid, this doesn't have to be hard. You can just come on out and we can help you. Are you hurt? We can give get you medical care for your injuries. I'm sorry my friend shot you, he's still rather new."

My heart is racing and I'm in a cold sweat. What do I do?

"Well, a few months, but he isn't the best soldier. But don't worry, he's a good guy." He takes a step closer and I feel chills going up my spine. "He even has a good guy name."

What's his name? I want to know if it's Norman but he shouldn't tell me, he can't trust me yet. No soldier is that stupid.

"His name is Norman."

No soldier should be, anyway.

I shake my head, this isn't the time for jokes. Right now I'm alone and injured, there is an armed, though polite, man trying to coerce me to join him.

And they have Norman.

"What's you're name?" He asks.

I have an idea. And I grip into that idea with dear life.

"What's yours?" I say.

He quickly walks towards me and looks so positive, even though he's wearing a mask.

"That's secret. Can you tell me your name now?"

"It's Anne." I lie.

I wait for his response in what feels like slow motion. He extends a hand, my chance.

"What a beautiful na-"

Before he can finish his sentence I punch him straight on the nose (natures instant pain button) and he yelps in pain. It doesn't take long for him to recover so I have to keep going.

I throw another punch. This is an immediate regret as he grabs my hand and throws me over his shoulder. Dispite the pain I manage to roll over quickly and get a kick in.

I start to run but my body hurts, my leg more than the rest. He uses this as a chance to pin me down.

"You had a chance kid! But I'm afraid that this is treason for refusing to cooperate!" He gasps for air. "You should know the penalty for that."

This isn't good. I look around and there's nothing, no one. I start backing away with nothing but adrenaline fueling me and my injured leg. What's is like to hurt a person for real?

"I do like being a nice person but you punched me, little lady. So I'm afraid I'm going to take you with me."

I wiggle and squirm but he just pushes my face harder into the ground.

"Where too?" I say as he squishes me even harder to the ground.

"You'll know when we get there."

Fuck. Where the hell is Ray? He chose quite the time to leave me alone, didn't he? He would help me.

I scrunch my face up. No, this isn't the time to think about what he could do if he was here. He isn't here. I'm here and I'm in danger.

I grunt and kick everywhere. This guy isn't the smartest and let's go of my head and this gives me the chance to head butt him. I fumble and grab a stick of fire wood to knock him away.

This right now is a pure feeling of adrenaline as I keep hitting him with the wood piece. Truly, I never imagined myself in this kind of situation where I would beat a man, a soldier at that, to a bloody pulp.

Finally, I come to a halt. I'm pretty sure he's out cold, if not dead.

Oh god, what if he's dead?

I wipe the seat off my forehead, shaking, as I feel his pulse. He's still alive, although very unwell.

"Okay, what now?"