Violet pulled the string of her bow back, taking a deep breath and aiming before letting go. The arrow flew with more effort than it ever had before, stabbing perfectly in the middle of the hay target.
The older girl next to her with a thin red jacket and long brown hair smiled brightly down at her. It was such an encouraging look that made her heart swell with pride. It'd been a long time since she'd felt that. She'd learned the girl's name was Heidi and Violet already liked her. She, just like most of the girls here, was nice to her. They acknowledged her. They'd helped her train and get better with her bow and arrow skills, they'd braided her dark hair away from her face, and best of all they'd been teaching her how to use a butterfly knife.
Violet's thoughts were interrupted as Ollie's loud cheer came from behind her. Her cheeks heated up at the action causing Heidi to giggle at her.
She turned to Ollie to see a wide, proud smile on his lips as he cheered enthusiastically. Okay, what she said earlier wasn't true. Ollie always tried to make her feel encouraged and proud.
"You did good. You deserve the applause."
Heidi smiled at her, brown eyes as soft as fur looked over to Ollie. His long black curls bounced as he jumped and cheered Violet on. The others Violet brought with her sat close by him, watching intently as they ate rations from the kitchen. Heidi tried her hardest to ignore the unwanted guests.
"You like him?"
"What?!"
Violet yelled the word louder than she meant to.
"You're nuts. He's like family!"
"Then why are you blushing?"
"Wha-"
Violet dropped her weapon to the ground and instead covered her scarlet cheeks.
"Shut up."
The older girl's smile widened wickedly as an idea came to mind. She quickly turned in Ollie's direction, waving her hand to get the boy's attention.
"Ollie! Would you like to come train with us?"
Ollie's smile grew and he nodded excitedly before running in their direction.
"Why do you think they let us in?"
Kyle spoke through a mouthful of the mystery meat. It tasted like chicken, although it looked more like beef. To be honest she could really careless what animal it was, as long as she got a second helping. Ezra shrugged as he picked at his iPod that had somehow managed to survive in his pocket this entire time.
"Out of the kindness of their hearts?"
He answered sarcastically.
She shook her head,
"Not likely."
Ezra took a break from his iPod and instead opted for looking over at Heidi, smiling brightly at Violet and Ollie. She seemed genuinely happy for the preteens. The kids seemed content with life for once, he didn't know if they'd ever felt that way growing up in a world like this.
"I don't know, Ky. I mean..." he lifted an arm motioning to their surroundings.
Women bustled all around them, some training with weapons like knives or swords, others playing quiet music, some even washing clothes by the still water of the lake.
"Does anything about this seem menacing?"
Kyle sighed as she looked over the small village they had created here. It seemed peaceful, she had to admit it. But nothing was ever how it seemed.
"But you have to admit it's weird right? I mean we're not allowed in any of the cabins except for the one they assigned us to stay in. I'm not even allowed to check on Dax."
Ezra's expression darkened at the mention of their friend.
"So? I'm sure Dax is fine."
He spat harshly, turning back to his iPod with a pout.
"Why do you care so much?"
It was more of a statement than a question and it made Kyle's blood boil.
"Are you kidding me?"
She dropped her empty plate to the grass and stood to her feet. The man before her refused to meet her fierce emerald eyes.
"You're still jealous?"
Ezra scoffed,
"I'm not jealous-"
"Yes! You are!"
She huffed, her hands balling to fists as he boredly shuffled through music.
"He lost a hand for me with no hesitation. He wanted me to leave him behind when he broke his ankle. And he expects nothing out of me in return. As much as you think he doesn't care, he does."
"He cares about you."
Ezra scoffed, finally looking up to her with an incredulous expression.
"You just admitted all of that out loud and you still don't understand?"
He shook his head at her,
"He would leave the rest of us behind in a heart beat. When has he ever made sacrifices for anyone else? He's in love with you and you egging him on doesn't help."
Kyle's jaw clenched at his words.
"I'm Dax's friend, just like I'm Rory's friend, just like I'm Jude's friend, and I would die for any of them. Just like they would for you and I. Now I'm starting to doubt that you'd do the same for any of us."
Kyle turned on her heels, Ezra's expression quickly changed to regret.
"Kyle, I'm sorry-"
"I want to be alone."
She spat, not even glancing his way. She looked around at the women preoccupied by their own activities, her steps inching closer and closer to the infirmary she knew she wasn't allowed in. The windowless cabin was the largest of them all, and it was left thoroughly unguarded. Which was weird. The muscular woman with the short red bob who had been sitting by the door since the moment they arrived was no where to be seen. Was no one watching?
Instead of asking herself where the others might be she took this opportunity to sneak in with as much stealth a she could conjure.
She examined her surroundings in the most nonchalant way she could, trying her hardest not to draw attention to herself as she stepped up the stairs of the porch and slid through the door of the cabin.
As soon as she was through the door the sound of old music lit up her ears. The hallway in front of her was dark, one lightbulb dimly lighting the way.
Doors lined the hallway ominously and she felt her breath hitch at the sound of a door's handle twisting. Kyle quickly opened the door to the right of her and stepped in, grimacing at the tiny click it made as she closed it. She held her ear to the door, the sound of a woman's voice muffled on the other side.
"In you go."
She said before a panicked choking noise and a loud thud that shook the floor underneath her.
She backed away, confused and horrified at what she had just heard.
"Kyle?..."
The red head jumped at the sound of her name being called quietly behind her. She turned to see Jude sitting on a small bed with his wrist cuffed to the post. His jaw was dropped and his eyes wide.
The stitches on his forehead had been infected last time she saw him, now it was covered by a clean medical wrap.
"Jude?"
Although confused, relief flooded her at seeing the familiar face. She ran to his side wrapping her arms around him tight. He sighed, slouching as he leaned into her touch.
"I'm so glad your okay."
He mumbled with a small smile. She pulled him at arms length before quickly examining the cuff around his wrist. It wasn't tight enough to bruise. With a couple of supplies she could break him out.
"I don't understand, how are you here? Why are you handcuffed?"
His baby blues glanced at the door with a paranoid expression.
"I was going to ask you the same question. Did you escape? Have you seen the others?"
"Escape?"
His brows knitted as she asked the question.
"We came here as guests."
"We?"
"Ollie, Dax, Ezra, and Violet are here. I snuck in to see Dax."
Without a beat Jude's grip tightened on her shoulder.
"Kyle listen to me. There's something wrong with this place. I keep hearing screams like someone is being tortured. They try to play the music louder to cover it up but I can still hear it. You need to take the others and leave while you still can."
"As soon as I find a way to get you and Dax out, we'll be out of here."
"There's no time Kyle-"
The door clicked and Kyle slid under the bed without a second thought, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Are you talking to someone?"
A honey like voice asked and Kyle felt the bed above her dip. Dirty pink converses speckled in blood sat on the floor inches from her face. Kyle covered her mouth and nose with a hand, scared even her breath would alert her presents.
"Just singing."
Jude answered in a whistful tone, lying easily through his teeth.
"The music here can get a little boring. I thought I'd mix it up."
A quiet giggle came from the woman, before the bed creaked above Kyle.
"I brought you're medicine."
It was silent for a moment.
"I've been compliant."
Jude mumbled,
"Why are you still drugging me?"
Another giggle,
"Don't take it personal, honey. We just have to take a few precautions. We can't trust you just yet."
There was a sigh and a pause and then Jude suddenly put a small empty glass on the nightstand.
"How's your head feeling? Any better?"
"I'm fine. I actually wanted to ask you about my friends. The ones that were with me when you took me in."
A soft sigh and then,
"I'll see what I can do about the music."
With that the woman got up from the bed and left the room. Kyle rushed out from under the bed, watching as Jude slipped something from his mouth.
"Here."
He grabbed her hand, sliding two rather large pills into her hand.
"This is what they use to sedate me. Put these in Harper's drink when you try to escape. She's usually the one patrolling at night."
Kyle nodded determinedly.
"I'll find a way to get all of us out of here."
"There's too many of them."
Jude tried to interject, to plead for her to leave before it became impossible but she ignored him.
"Kyle, please."
He reached for her, the cuff around his wrist jangling loudly as he attempted to stop her.
She put an ear to the door listening for anyone in the hall.
"I'll come back for you."
"Ky, wait-"
Without another word she left the room.
The hallway was empty as she made her way to the end, stopping at the largest door at the very end and opening it. The room was small for the size of the door, and was completely empty other than the record player spinning in the corner playing loud jazz. There were two doors, one wooden door in front of her and one metal door to her left. Both were riddled top to bottom with locks.
She reached for the door in front of her, putting an ear to it. It was hard to hear over the loud music right next to it but she could've sworn she heard a man's voice on the other side.
The door's handle rattled behind her and she jumped as it slammed open.
A woman with a short red bob and blood speckled on her clothes stopped in her tracks, surprised by Kyle's presents. That shock quickly turned to anger as she grabbed Kyle's wrist with an iron grip and pulled her from the door.
"You're not suppose to be in here."
The woman growled and Kyle ripped her hand away, holding it close to her chest.
"S-Sorry."
She started nervously.
"I was just looking for my friend, Dax. He came here with me the other day and I'm worried about him."
The woman gave her a skeptical glare.
"Only medical personnel are allowed in the infirmary. We keep the sick and injured separate for a reason."
Kyle nodded and began to leave only for the girl to stop her with a hand on her shoulder.
"If you want your people to stay safe you won't go places your prohibited from."
Kyle's jaw clenched as she held her tongue.
"Understood."
She answered without looking back before making her way out of the infirmary.
***
Cash Li had just moved to Tabb's high school a week ago and no one dared talk to him. He was, to say the least, quite intimidating. Being taller than most of their teachers, having a mohawk, and giving a death glare to any cute girl that tried to talk him; it was inevitable people would start to talk. Tabb had heard many stories of how this mysterious boy had apparently gotten kicked out of his last school for beating a kid blue and bloody, another story said he had just gotten out of a juvie and was getting readjusted to real life.
The blonde only rolled his eyes at the accusations. It was a small school, actually a small town. The next town over was only twenty minutes away, with their own high school. So it wasn't hard for stupid rumors to circulate fast.
"You're very popular."
Tabb stated, plopping his tray down opposite Cash on the cafeteria table and taking a seat.
Cash stared at him. Actually, Tabb was pretty sure half of the lunchroom was staring at him, because in the last 4 days no one had dared to sit with Cash. Except for one girl who had gotten turned down with a tired glare.
"What?"
Cash finally asked, his expression still deadpan as he looked Tabb over.
"You've got a lot of fans, everyone's talking about the tall, dark, and handsome mystery man that just moved here."
He spoke in a joking manner, his soft smile was kind as he waited for Cash to show some kind of emotion.
"I'm not mysterious."
Tabb chuckled quietly,
"So you know you're handsome."
He lifted an arm onto the table, resting a cheek on his palm. He couldn't lie the man in front of him was attractive, a new face for sore eyes when you've grown up with all the same people for the last sixteen years.
Cash said nothing, instead opting to take a bite from the apple on his plate.
"Come on," Tabb pleaded, "give me something to work with. Talk to me."
"I don't like talking."
He said around a mouthful of food, his eyes glued to his tray rather than looking over Tabb like earlier.
"What else don't you like?"
Tabb asked in attempt to keep the conversation going, his smile growing wider.
"People who talk too much."
Cash said as he gave him a pointed look. Tabb's smile didn't even falter.
"So what do you like then?"
"People who know how to shut up."
"That's not really one of my strong suits."
That actually got a snort from him and Tabb's face lit up at the small smirk he'd caused.
"You know if you made more faces like that you wouldn't have such an intimidating aura."
Piercing brown eyes gave him a confused expression and Tabb swore his heart stopped.
"Ora?"
Tabb chuckled, getting more comfortable in his seat as he picked up his fork.
"I'm Tabb."
A skeptical glare and then,
"Cash."
Tabb's sweet dream was suddenly shattered, as a powerful scream echoed on the walls of the small basement. His tired eyes fell on Rory, who was in a panicked state as if he'd just woken from the worst nightmare imaginable.
How ironic.
Rory woke up with a scream on the tip of his tongue, the realization of what he had seen fresh in the back of his mind. A frozen body, mutilated to an unrecognizable extent.
Jude. Finn had told him they took him off somewhere. It couldn't be. There was no way that could be Jude. It couldn't be.
He was suddenly thrusted into his current surroundings at the sound of Cash telling him to shut the fuck up. He struggled to catch his breath as panic continued to run through his veins. He was back in the dungeon like basement, his eyes still adjusting to the darkness. Finn, who had been chained in front of him only yesterday, was gone. The bucket of blood that had been filled from her wound was kicked over, leaving splatters and a pool right in front of the blonde.
He didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to ask. Who was he suppose to question in this situation? This was the second time he had woken up from what he was certain was suppose to be his death.
Last time it had been Mable.
This time it was Finn.
His heart sped up at all the horrible thoughts that shot through his mind like a gun. It was really happening. These weren't dreams. He was dying over and over again and, even worse, for some reason he would wake to find someone else had unwillingly taken his place.
"Rory! Just breath!"
Tabb's voice came from somewhere beside him but he couldn't take his eyes off the empty chains dangling from where Finn once struggled. It was his fault. They were dead because of him.
Something stung in his hand and he realized he was still holding Red's necklace. He was gripping it so tight it drew blood from his palm.
He attempted to take deep breaths and calm himself but his heart refused to slow down.
"What the hell is your problem?!"
Cash yelled in his direction, an annoyed expression on his face.
Rory grit his teeth, his jaw clenching as he swallowed his fear and guilt in exchange for escape.