Salvation 2035

Chapter 13- A Coward Who Pretends to be Tough

『Tsuki』

     Why am I here again? I thought I left it all behind me, back in that horrible jail. But no, here I am being forced to relieve this terrible moment again― this moment that never happened. I hate the way she looks at me. God, I can't believe I trusted her for a second. Any idiot could have figured out that you can't substitute work for prison, but I fell for it because I was so stupid and blind.

     "You should be thanking me that I'm giving you any attention," her revolting voice mocks me. The cold floor of the prison stabs into my bare skin, and her sickening hands grip onto my body. Why didn't I fight back harder?

     "You know, any compassion that is shown to you is fake. Nobody will ever care about you," she sneers, "you're disgusting!" Her palm smacks the side of my face, leaving a throbbing red mark on my already damaged skin. My body heaves as I try to get up, but is met with violent shoves back to the floor.

     But she is nothing compared to him. He is much worse. I am such a fucking idiot. Here I am, again, in a situation I willingly put myself in. Unlike the one before, this one was real. Why would anyone go with a stranger? What kid trusts a middle-aged man so much that he'd willingly go with him? I'm there, again, in that room with that camera with him. No! I don't want to be here ever again! Never!

     I jolt back up in my bed to be greeted by the familiar sight of the spare room in David's house, and my belongings piled in the corner. Hyperventilating, I grab the pillow and bury my face in it. I know it was just a dream, but every time it feels too real. Every time I was with Cromwell, I thought I was going to die. I seriously did. But why... Why did she hurt me so much? Because she thought that I was to blame for her marriage falling apart? Because I didn't want to be used anymore?

      And Thomas Batts, Cromwell's disgusting ex-husband. Why the hell would I remember him? It's been so long since I last saw that piece of shit. All that asshole did was take advantage of my trust and use me like all of the rest. I don't ever want to remember him. I don't want to see him ever again.

     I need some air.

『Keisha』

     "Umm, Keisha?" I hear Abel, who is supposed to be sleeping on the air mattress.

     "What is it?" I groan, sitting up. This better be good, I'm seriously beat!

     "I think I heard a noise," he whispers, sounding concerned.

     "Did you now?" I question, "I'm sure it was nothing―"

     Just then, I hear the sound of a door from the main level.

     "What if it's an intruder?" Abel unfortunately suggests, "I mean, we are fugitives."

     "Well, then I'll..." I stand up and look around the room. Oh! That's perfect! "I'll club them with this bat!"

     "I'll just wait here, I guess," he determines. I knew I'd end up having to protect him. Ah well, it's probably for the best.

     I exit our room and notice that both David and Tsuki's doors are shut. Looks like I'm lone wolfing this one. Well, there's no need to drag them into this. Let's just hope it isn't anyone too tough.

     I slowly creep down the stairs and don't see anything particularly out of place in the entranceway. Nor are there any other sounds. However, I do notice a bit of a draft. There's a door leading from the dining room to the backyard, so that could be it. Or someone left a window open for whatever reason. Don't know why they'd do that; it's pretty chilly out there.