The Woman With No Heart

Wake Up Calls

◈K E A G A N

I was used to being shoved out of bed in the morning. What I wasn't used to was an earsplitting noise that echoed around the cement room. A man yelled,

"Alright! Get your lazy asses out of bed and line up!"

Without looking I stood up and started walking.

It wasn't long before I ran into someone. Managing to actually lift my head up, I rubbed my eyes.

"Watch where you're going!" The boy snapped.

"Sorry," I replied, looking up. I was surprised to see a very familiar face in front of me - one that still had an array of scars on it from the month before.

"Brian?" I asked.

The boy's eyes widened.

"Keagan!" He said, hugging me. He pulled away after a second and wrung his hands. "Aidan and Ella are here too. They were kidnapped."

My stomach dropped.

"What about Trevor and Lia?"

"They couldn't make it out. " Brian pursed his lips grimly. He knew what that meant. Lia, the only family I had left, had been left behind in the horrible prison we'd been in for two years. She had known I was leaving - I'd offered to take her, but she'd refused, insisting that she stayed and helped Brian and Trevor. Now that Brian was gone too, there were only two of them left. And two bodies were much easier to dispose of than four.

"What happened to you, anyway?" He asked. I sighed.

"Look, I can't explain right now. Meet me somewhere and I'll explain then, just stick to your normal schedule. It changes every day, but it's pretty predictable. Do anything unusual and they'll become suspicious. I'll figure a way out."

He nodded and mock saluted me.

"Okay."

***

▶B R I A N

When I came into the breakfast room a little too late, everyone stared at me. Trying not to look too suspicious, I grabbed a tray and headed to the counter. The lunch lady - a grumpy looking middle aged woman who looked stronger than both Keagan and I combined - was waiting.

"I'm sorry I'm late," I said, attempting to look as sorry as possible. She scowled.

"Apology not accepted. This is not acceptable. You will not receive breakfast today. You can get a drink, but no food."

"Yes, ma'am," I sighed. I walked over to the fridge, slouching.

I opened the door and pulled out the fifth milk in the second column, the only remaining carton that wasn't expired. Behind me, the lunch lady tsked impatiently. I closed the fridge and started over to the table.

The milk carton had an advertisement on the side, half faded letters reading, "Welcome to -ll-." I laughed bitterly.

Welcome to hell.

[Mai, stop using semi-colens
(Or whatever) in the wrong
place. It's improper. Edited
by laurengray04 ]