Ch#26 Trapped in a Cage

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Ch#26 Trapped in a Cage

I turned around to find the three idiots smiling at me with sorrow in their eyes. Their words only made me cry harder. I began sobbing.

"Hey, stop wailing. If someone sees, it will be embarrassing for us", Ellis teased me. I tried to calm myself and wiped off my tears. I glared at him and hit him on his arm with a sulky pout.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"For making fun of me", I replied sticking out my tongue at him. In return, he flicked my forehead and he received a pinch from me. Both of us glared at each other having a stare down contest. Suddenly, I pulled his collar while he grabbed my hair.

"Leave my hair, Ellis. Dave is already on with the 'Bald Alana' project, don't you join him too", I hissed. Before he could reply, Yohan stopped our emerging fight.

Ugh! I could have taught him a lesson! Why did this baboon have to come in between!

"Why do I feel like I'll be having to look after these five year olds from now onwards?", he exclaimed. Worry was clearly visible in his eyes.

"Someone please tell me that they won't keep fighting like elementary kids everyday?"

He paused for a while. His eyes then widened and he slapped himself in realization, "Oh my god, oh my god! I can even visualize their future fights already! What do I do? Someone please-"

"Yohan?" Beth called him out in between his rant.

"Yes?"

"Shut up!", the three of us yelled in unison. He slightly flinched and replied, "Okay", in a tiny hushed voice. Ellis and I, then let go of each other at the count of three.

Elementary kids? Yeah, I agree.

Now, now. Jokes and fights apart, let's get business done. I awkwardly cleared my throat to get their attention.

"Guys, thank you. I was almost about to fall into the sea of depression there." I grabbed them in for a hug. While Yohan and Beth hugged me back, Ellis, the drama queen appeared. He kept tapping on my back, pretending to be choking out the words, "I can't breathe. I'm dying. I'm dying."

I squeezed him tighter and replied, "Then die, you asshole." Yohan and Beth just shook their head and laughed along. I then let go of them and Ellis coughed up.

"Stop being dramatic."

"Let me pull you into a death choke and you'll know." I knew he would keep on going, so I just rolled my eyes at him.

"Now let's go to sleep guys. It's been a long day", Beth uttered with a yawn.

"Wait", I stopped them.

"Ellis, I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier. I was just angry at Riley and ended up taking it out on you."

"I couldn't hear you. What did you say?"

Ugh! When will he stop pulling my leg?

"If you didn't hear, then forget it. I didn't say anything." I linked my arms with Yohan and Beth and marched towards the main room of the Base, leaving Ellis behind.

"What the-! Wait for me guys!", he rushed behind us and linked his arm onto Beth.

"So you just apologized to me, right?", he asked, clearing his throat awkwardly.

"Oh, so you really couldn't hear me? That's not what I said. I said 'fuck you, asshole'. But don't take it personally, love." I shot him the fakest smile I could muster and stuck out my tongue at him. Beth covered his mouth before another fight of the elementary kids could launch into the Base.

We bid our goodnights after collecting our comforters. I spread mine and lay down, trying to get a few hours of sleep. I sighed recapping the incidents that took place today. It was a long day. Yohan, Beth and Ellis opened up about their past and I shared mine with them. We walked upto Riley and heard her side of the story too.

Learned too many pasts in a single day, huh?

I pondered over Riley's words. She is regretting what she had done, wishing to undo the done. I had seen pain in her eyes before, and today I could see guilt. I don't know if I will ever be able to forgive her. I don't know if she deserves my forgiveness. But I do know that it will be difficult for me to get over my past.

I shook my head, in an attempt to clear off all the thoughts that were having a marathon in my head and tried to get some sleep.

I woke up from my sleep due to some banging noise. I rubbed my eyes and looked around. Everyone else was fast asleep. I tried to follow the sound and reached the cafeteria. I examined the cafeteria, but could find no one around. I could hear the banging noise loud and clear. I then went to the kitchen and found Riley. What surprised me was Emma who was standing beside her. She was holding a hammer and Riley held a huge steel platter. Both of them smirked at me and Emma continued banging louder and louder. The noise was making me numb. I couldn't think straight. I tried to shut my ears, but in vain. It couldn't block the noise. Suddenly, Riley let go of the platter and grabbed the hammer that Emma was holding. She walked towards me with an evil smile plastered on her face. I couldn't register what was happening. She swiftly lifted the hammer and aimed it to bang onto my head.

My eyes burst open and I found myself panting heavily. Stupid nightmare!

They are back again.

I sat myself up when the panting turned into hyperventilation. I cupped my trembling hands and breathed in and out. After a while, I felt at ease. My cheeks were wet. I brought my knees closer to my chest and hid my face within.

It had been over a month since I last had nightmares. I thought they were gone for good. I really thought I was healed. I thought I could start afresh soon. But I never realized that my trauma still held me in a leash. In the heat of trying to get these people out of the Base, I forgot that I was still trapped in a cage.

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