The Lost And The Wicked

Chapter 9

Author Notes: Finally after a 5 year hiatus, I'm back!!!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHAPTER 9

Now that I know what they're planning to do with me, I'm more inspired than ever to find a way out.

I stare at the towels dangling by the sink as the idea enters my head. It's a long shot, but I have to try something. Otherwise I'm done for, along with everyone else on the Driftwood. I untangle my ponytail and stick my head under the faucet. The freezing water runs through my hair. A shiver runs through my body, but I ignore it—I can't exactly afford to be picky right now. I don't have a comb, so I run my nails through my hair, untangling it as best I can.

"What in the blazes are you doing?" asks Cole. "You know what, darling? Don't bother telling me. You're crazy. No use dealing with someone who has gone mad." He turns around and throws himself on the bed, whistling softly to himself.

Good. I don't need his judgmental eyes on me.

I let my hair down. It falls a little past my shoulder blades. I grab both small towels and run them through the water. Once they're damp enough, I wipe my face, ears, and arms. After a minute of my handiwork, most of the grime and dirt are gone. I take off my jacket and throw it on the bed. Now I just sit and wait to put my plan into play.

Five minutes later, Clyde struts down the hallway. I think back to the beautiful women in those western movies I used to see with my dad. I recall how they moved and talked when they were being flirtatious.

"Hey, Clyde," I say in a low voice. "Can you come over here a sec?"

He walks up to me. "What yer want, woman?"

I glimpse the keys dangling by his pocket, but I quickly look away and bat my eyelashes.

He holds his hands up. "It best be something important. I got a poker game to win."

"I'm going to die. I can see that now." I frown. "And I never even had a real kiss."

Clyde's eyes widen.

I inch closer to the bars. "I was hoping you could come in here and give me a kiss, as a last request."

"You, you, you think I be stupid." He swallows hard.

"You're not stupid, Clyde. I saw the way you ordered everyone else around. They all respect you." I lean my head on the bars as I bite my lower lip.

"That's right!" Clyde exclaims. He seems to have gotten some of his confidence back. "Once Pops is gone, I be the one in charge."

"That's why I want a kiss from you, and not from any of those other losers," I say in a hushed whisper. "You're strong, smart, and irresistible." I reach out my hand and run it through his hair. A wave of dust flows from it. When was the last time this guy showered? Focus, Mandy.

"I guess it could do no harm, and it be unfair to let you die without a kiss from a real man." He puckers his dry lips and inches toward me. "It's my first kiss too."

My stomach roils at the scent emanating from his mouth. It's something between the stench of animal carcass and rotten egg. Ignoring my natural reflex to gag, I pull Clyde close. Our lips are now millimeters from each other. That's when I grab the back of his head and slam it into the bars. He whimpers and teeters on his feet, pushing away from me. I pull him back in a chokehold and cover his mouth. I slam his head into the bars again. His body crashes to the ground.