Safe With Me

Chap. 24: I Killed A Man

               The mess hall is more quiet than usual. Jake glares daggers through Elle's head as she sits next to Brody as they eat dinner. Jaelynn stands behind him.

                  "Please teach me!" Jaelynn begs, "I want to be a Snake King like Elle! Please Jake, please!"

                    Elle gives her a look. "Jaelynn,  I told you, you don't want to be a Snake King. It's not worth it."

                      Jaelynn glares at her. "Shut up, Elle. No one asked you."

                      The guys all laugh at Jaelynn's clap back. Elle shakes her head at her friend, shifting uncomfortably under Jake's death stare. Brody stares back at the short man with a blonde goatee, his eyes stormy.

                      "Look at your own girl, Jake." Brody warns, his voice heated. "Don't be stupid."

                    "Jake!" Jaelynn grabs at his shirt.

                    The short man with a blonde goatee swats her hands away in annoyance. "Stop it, Jaelynn!"

                    "Jaelynn." Elle looks up at her friend, "Please drop it. It's not worth it!"

                    Jaelynn stomps her foot and begins to scream. "I want to be a Snake King!"

                      The guys all roll their eyes at the young brunette who continues to shout. Jake begins to stand to take Jaelynn away but a chilling sight makes him freeze.

                         "So you want to become a Snake King?" Ira's voice booms into the room.

                      Everyone turns to him, Frozen in place. Jaelynn trembles under Ira's stare. When the young brunette doesn't answer, Elle decides to step in.

                      "No, she doesn't." Elle answers, Brody grabs her thigh.

                    "Did I ask you, Bradley? No? Then shut up!" Everyone flinches at his heated words, "You there, Snowball..."

                    Jaelynn stands there frozen, unresponsive. Elle fears for her friend.

                  "He's talking to you, Jaelynn!" Brody grips Elle's thigh as a sign to remain silence

                  Jaelynn blinks, seeing spots. "Me?"

                    "Answer me!" Ira shouts at Jaelynn, making her cry. "Do you want to be a Snake King?"

                    The young brunette nods. "Yes, s-sir."

                    Ira nods. "Alright then."

                   The gang leader then nods and walks out. Elle looks back to see Jake holding his butter knife tight in his hands. Fear fills her at what Jake has told her

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Since Ira had appeared at dinner, Elle had been worried for her younger friend. But also, for herself. The blonde steps out of the showers with Riley. The two begin to walk towards their sleeping quarters.

"Will you have to shower with the guys too if you become apart of their gang?" Riley wrinkles her nose, "I wouldn't want to shower again."

Elle laughs at her friends humorous remark. "Maybe I'd become a lesbian, seeing so much dick all the time."

As they pass the kitchen, a figure blindsides the girls. Hands grab Elle's neck and her body is dragged into the kitchen. Riley drops her dirty clothes and towels, running to the sleeping quarters.