Lace

21.

Lacey POV

I looked down at the bloody, bruised pile of skin and bones on the floor. He was so close yet she never felt so far from him. I could barely recognise him.

He limped more like a scarecrow than a man, no even more skewed than that. The sight made my heartache. His skin was more purple and bluer than brown, his dark curls was a stubborn knot. His lips were bust, left eye swollen shut and his arms were wrapped around his gut as if he was keeping it from spilling. And truth be told, maybe it would. He looked beaten enough for just anything to happen.

A warm tear slid down my cheek before I would even register that I was crying. My heart felt the way he looked as it drowned in an unhealthy concoction of guilt and sorrow.

How could I have been so selfish? I drown myself in luxury and allow myself to feel content while my best friend... my brother was being treated like an animal on the chopping block, facing the worst of mankind and not a drop of humanity.

I tried to shout, to demand justice for what they have done to my best friend, the most pure and wholehearted human I've ever come across but instead of a war cry, my lips betrayed me and let out a cry of desperation. A whimper of pain. But that was enough to catch his attention.

He looked up from the floor for the first time, so fast that I was afraid he'd heart himself. His bloodshot eyes met mine with the most delighted bloody eyes in the world. He looked relived when he saw my unscarred face but a flash of worry and realisation shot through him when he noticed my bound hands.

He opened his mouth, but it took a few moments for words to actually form. When he eventually spoke his voice was nothing like I remember. I knew it was him, but his voice was all wrong. Like his mouth burned with each letter. "lacey..." he choked out. One word, my name and that was enough to make me go ballistic.

I looked at Tod who watched us with calculated eyes. "what did you do to him?" I glared at the man. His lips twitched with amusement. It made me sick to my stomach when he answered, "I'm sure that its rather self-explanatory." But then felt myself start to ease when he turned to the rest of the audience and said, "Let's leave the kids alone." The damn cretinous man enjoyed this.

He stayed till the room was cleared then faced lace with a genuinely curious semi smile and said, "Lacey, don't do anything I wouldn't do. Okay?" then left.

I counted to thirty in my heard then began freeing myself from the roped. It was nothing difficult for me, not since the beast and his sidekick had me tied and trained to break free more times than I could count. I thought it was futile, until now.

"Lace, wh-what a- "a burning voice spoke through coughs.

"Riley, no. please. Just wait, I'll be there in a moment. "my voice was broken but somehow came out stronger than I thought it would.

My hands were shaking, making my untimely escape take even longer. Even in the debts of my pain I wouldn't help picture what Erebus would think... seeing me shivering in fear and worry.

But it helped me get my head in the game. I was more focused now, having his thought in my head.

Finally making it out, I dashed to Riley then took him in my longing arms with as little strength as possible. I was afraid I'd hurt him.

"Riley, "seeing him up close made my emotions a storm. His lips were dry and cracked. His skin was flakes and even his fingers were battered and bruised. He was fragile.

"Lacey, "he coughed and through panting words he cried out, "they were looking for you."

I realise that I mistakenly changed Tom's name with Tod but we're just gonna roll with it.

Question: any movie suggestions?
Or would anyone wanna peer pressure me into studying?

Till next time

Make good choices

~Virgo