Breaking but not broken.

Chapter 7

Today, someone would be coming. Coming to reattach my belt and remove my muzzle. This would be the best chance I had of getting out. It would have to be quick, practical, and a surprise.

We all sat in a collected group in the middle of the floor. That was their favorite part of the room, though I haven't bothered to ask why. A small creek was carved out in the floor and lead from the waterfall to a circle were we sat. I was currently resting my feet in the refreshing water. It made me uncomfortable. Water was such a rare necessity and I was sticking my feet in it. I took my feet out. I was trying to keep myself from adapting to the conditions here, since I planned on leaving soon. It was turning out to be quite difficult. With the fresh food and the cold water and the shade. But I still ached for the outside world. That let me know I was still myself.

While ignoring the on going conversation I analyzed each object in the vault. The room held no obvious weapons, but with the right mindset the book rotting away in the corner could become one. The water wouldn't work as a weapon. That book could possibly work. I was starting to get frustrated and tired when a shimmer of something caught my eye. A glass pane hung against the far wall. The chain clamped onto the glass was maybe a foot or two in length and it had a fading red rose dead center. There was a silver border that was going to be cracked protecting the edge of the glass from dings and dents. I brought it off the wall and sat back down by the girls so I would look less suspicious. If they caught onto my plan they could try to stop me, and I couldn't have that.

"I think she likes that." Cheedo said. The innocence in her voice always did something to me. It chipped away at the walls I had built around myself. Not enough to break them. But I felt it nonetheless.

I smiled and they all softly giggled. It was a shame I was going to have to break a piece of artwork since they were a rare finding. This one even happened to be pretty. Now I had to wait for sunfall for a supposed war bar who was coming to reattach my belt and take of the muzzle. Horrific thoughts started to fill my mind and I shook my head to make them go away. I needed to succeed. It was cruel of me to leave the girls behind, but I... there was no noble cause for my escaping. I needed to get out of here I needed to be free. Of course I would take them if I could, but if Furiosa was coming to get them they eventually would get out. That would be better since it would most likely cover my tracks. I'm sorry I told them in my head. I'm sorry but I can't take you along with me.

I was dozing off, but the door started to tick. I stood up casually and thought, Here we go.

1.
2.
3.

He stepped into the room and I swung the glass pane upward.

Crack.

Whether it was the boys face that made the cracking sound or the metal frame breaking, I'll never know.

He hit the ground without further struggle giving me the chance to run. I stepped into the vault door, the cold steel making my toes curl. I could see the tunnel. I had one more step to go when another war boy stepped in. We both stopped and eyed each other, waiting for the other to move. He was the first to move. He wrapped his hand around my forearm and squeezed hard enough to break it. I yelled and instinctively swung my free arm into his face. Instead of my metal brace hitting him my arm did, but I still used enough force to break his nose. Unlike the first boy- who crumbled to the ground on impact- this one kept coming. He didn't go for a head shot since I was somewhat protected. He rammed his bare foot into my stomach knocking me down. I gasped for air as he grabbed me by the muzzle and dragged me back into vault. Gritting my teeth I fought with all my might. I can see it, the outside, it's to hot and the suns burning my skin. It's unsafe, but I have a the upper hand most of the time with my weapons and good aim. The car I called shelter from the blistering sun was probably being scrapped or detailed for someone else as we speak. The environment was harsh and unforgiving, just like me and I wanted to be back in its prickly embrace.

The vault door closed before me and the war boy let go of me. I dropped to the ground and the muzzle hit the floor, ramming the nose bridge into my head. I was disoriented but able to see the War Boy bend down over me. I slapped around the floor searching for something, anything I could use to get the upper hand. My hand slide across the jagged end of a glass shard cutting my finger. It was big enough to grip, so I picked it up and shoved it upwards. He screamed. I stabbed him right in the...shoulder? I would have rolled my eyes at myself if I was an on looker. Blood dropped from my hand, I had cut myself when I stabbed him. He spit at me and gripped my muzzle once more before shoving my head into the floor. My head was spinning and my heart was racing.

"You aren't getting that muzzle off!" The War boy seethed and shoved his finger in my face.

I gritted my teeth although it wasn't nearly as threatening with my muzzle on. The war boy merely laughed and lifted up my waist.

Snap.

The belt pressed into my already formed bruises making me bite my cheek. The boy snarled at the other girls before closing the vault door and sucking the outside air with it.

Click. Click. Click.

My plan failed.

Toast wrapped my hand up with some spare cloth and we all sat, legs crossed on the floor.

"Maybe you should have waited to do that after he got the muzzle off." The Dag told me.

They giggled and I smiled too. She was right I should have waited. What an idiot.

Toast shook her head. I could tell she was mad at me. "She shouldn't have done it at all."

I looked over at her as I flexed the wrap on my hand. It was good. Not to tight, not to loose.

"If we wanna leave we can't have you going around and fighting people."

"He won't do anything." I grumbled. "It's apart of his plan."

They scrunched up their noses. They were confused, but I liked confusing them.

"His plan? His plan for what?" Toast asked.

"To break me." I licked my lips tilted my head in her direction. "But you are right. I'll stop fighting people."

If we were going to get out of here I needed to...behave. We passed out on the floor in a big group together after all my wounds had been bandaged. The one on my head was healing already, and it would leave a nice scar. Then there was the fresh one on my hand, hopefully that wouldn't interfere with our escape. The rest of my body ached yet that was something I was used to by now.