Torment

Doris

"Everybody sit down." The guard began, counting from one as he clicked the counter in his hand in time as the standing rows began to sit in front of us. "Six, seven, keep going." The man continued as he got to our row. I sat obediently, looking to the floor as our line was called. I could sense the rows behind us had also seated but as I went to look to Curtis, I was met by his legs, he was still standing. I looked up to his face, worriedly staring at him as he gazed forward daringly. "Hey you, sit down!" The guard ordered as I pathetically tugged on Curtis's trouser leg. 'Not today!' I thought to myself, we weren't ready. We couldn't take the front now!

Curtis was always making plans as to how we'd take the front, better our living conditions and better our lives. So, every time he did something rebellious, the whole tail section held their breath, never knowing if the time was now. "Curtis, sit down." Edgar whispered, his Irish voice cutting through the silence. His voice still surprised me, no-one knew where his accent had come from, but now wasn't the time to dwell on it. Curtis was still standing. "Sit down" The guard repeated, this time I followed Curtis's stare and I realised he was watching the gated doors on the other side. He was counting how long they stayed open. "I said sit down!" The guard repeated a final time, gritting his teeth and aiming his gun at Curtis. I sucked in a breath, pulling the bottom of his trousers again, I'd seen enough bullet wounds and deaths after years of rebellion, I wasn't ready for Curtis to be my next patient. He finally gave in, taking his seat between Edgar and I, still keeping his eye's forward. "What the fuck were you doing?" Edgar questioned, voicing my thoughts. "Counting." Curtis bluntly replied. "Can't you sit and count?" I whispered looking over his stern face, catching his eye momentarily. "You're gonna get shot. You're crazy!" Edgar added. "Shut up Edgar I'm thinking." Curtis deadpanned looking around the room, a clear plan processing in his head.

I kept my eyes up ahead intrigued to see what the guards were discussing. My thoughts were answered as one of the soldiers stepped forward. "Are there any experienced violinists here?" One asked I shook my head in disbelief, the front really was on a whole other planet. "Raise your hands" He finished as the cart of protein blocks was rolled into the carriage. "Violinists" He tried one more time, miming the instruments playing action. "Stand up. Come forward" One guard shouted. "Food come and get it" Another guard chimed in. I grimaced at the thought of eating another protein block. "Violinists, are they having a laugh?" I sighed as Curtis helped me to my feet. "Those bastards in the front sections think they own us. Eating their steak dinner and listening to string quartets."

"It will be different when we get there" Curtis replied pushing me forward, a hand hovering over the small of my back. I blushed before Edgar butt in. "I want steak." he spat, as the three of us walked towards the protein bar, hand-out station. I picked up one of the sticky, off-yellow slabs with my grubby hands as an elderly man spoke up to one of the guards. "Excuse me, sir, my wife and I played violin in the Boston Symphony Orchestra. I was first chair." He finished, looking to his wife as she held his hand nervously. I looked at them warily, hoping nothing would turn south. I briefly glanced at Curtis who was also watching the scene play out. "Can you still play?" the spitting soldier questioned. "Well, of course, you never forget." The man replied. "Show me your hands." The guard demanded. The soldier ignored the man's wife and looked at the elderly gentleman's hands before speaking. "You, follow me, leave your belonging's, we just need your hands." The elderly man looked fearful. "Not both?" The guard turned around. "Yes, both hands" He replied cuttingly, I furrowed my eyebrows. "My wife Doris plays beautifully. Better than me, even." The man desperately tried to reason. "They just need one person." The guard deadpanned. "Then I won't go." The old man defiantly informed, before turning away with his wife. I heard a woman calling Doris's name and watched as the guard stalked up behind the couple. As the man's wife turned around, the guard slammed her face with the butt of his gun, knocking her forcefully to the floor. I went to interject but Curtis placed a hand on my shoulder, stopping me abruptly. I hadn't realised he was still there.

A bystander screamed as the old man grabbed the guard, but this only fuelled the soldiers' rage, he lifted his boot and stamped it down onto Doris's hand. I gasped, desperately trying to wiggle out of Curtis's grip to aid her. "Not yet Hazel, wait!" Curtis whispered into my ear, sending shivers down my spine. I gulped knowing he was right, if I got involved, I could be hurt, and then I'd be no use to anyone. "Sit down, everyone." The guard demanded as the woman continued to scream in agony on the floor. I frowned, fighting back tears as I witnessed her pain. Curtis had removed his grip from my shoulder but held my upper arm gently, trying to comfort me. Edgar began to speak up, refusing to sit but Curtis also gave him a firm tug, instructing him to sit down. The rationing was being stopped and it was just all becoming too much.

"Those fucking bastards!" I seethed. "Now isn't the time," Curtis reassured looking straight on as Edgar stared at him. "Well when is the time?" I asked, still looking forward, planning mentally how I was going to aid that woman. "Soon." Curtis breathed, as I watched the old man call for his wife as he was dragged through the metal doors, that separated us from the front. After the guards dispersed and the protein blocks had been distributed, I rushed to Doris and sat her on the floor. The poor woman was clearly suffering from depression and now her husband had gone she wanted no help from me at all. Despite her refusal, I bandaged up her bruised hand and cleaned the blood from her obviously broken nose, hoping that a strategically placed dirtied plaster would reduce infection and boost a semi-quick recovery. As she left my side, nibbling on her protein block, I wiped my brow and stood shaking my head, as I counted my thinning supplies.

"You're doing all you can." A voice whispered from beside me. I looked up, smiling weakly as Curtis attempted to ease my mood. "I became a nurse because I wanted to help people, but now I have to decide who deserves treatment because the supplies are so low. I just don't understand how they can let us live like this." I ranted, a single angry tear rolling down my grubby cheek. Curtis leant forward, his thumb gingerly wiping the tear from my face. I closed my eye's relishing at the contact and frowning as he pulled away. "I know," he whispered. "Soon."