Serenity
I was still packing things when someone grabbed me from behind, and covered my nose with something that made me feel lightheaded. Before I knew it, I lost consciousness. Not long after, I was awakened by someone who was seizing me by my arm. I panicked as soon as I realized that my hands were tied behind my back and a cloth covered my face. The cool air brushed my naked skin. Naked?
"Ethan! Ethan help me!" Not hearing my own voice despite my attempt to call for help frightened me. I heard the jingle of chains and someone calling out a name I wasn't familiar with.
It didn't take a while for my eyes to adjust when the cloth was removed from my head. Inside the dome shaped place was a mass of hooded people and the blood-red-haired guy, chained and struggling to escape. Ethan wasn't there. Panic rose to my throat. I must be dreaming. Please wake me up!
Before I could even utter another word, my head was banged on the edge of what seemed like a ritual table. I cried in pain and saw the fury-filled face of the blood-red-haired guy. He swore and begged and cried. Fear written all over his face. Who is he?
I let out another cry as one of the hooded guys forced himself inside me. Let this be over please... Oh God! How can someone be as cruel as this? Why?
My knees wobbled as the last one filled me with his release. I was disgusted. They made me want to throw up and scrub the skin off myself to remove the scent and grime they filled me with. The guy in chains started cursing and shouting once again. It was then that I understood what would come next. A shrilling cry echoed the entire place as someone stabbed my shoulder blades.
"Serenity! Fuckshit! Serenity!"
"No, plea—" My assailant swore as I bit his hand that covered my mouth. I ran as far from him as possible and hugged myself.
"Serenity..."
"Please no, no..." I hugged my knees close to my chest and buried my hands in my hair.
Warm, gentle hands held my shoulders. Hands that felt so familiar, so different from the ones that pushed me hard down the ritual table. I looked up and saw Ethan's face distorted with worry.
"It's me, Serenity. I'm Ethan, your brother." He said slowly, gauging my reaction.
I looked around and realized that we were still inside my room, not at the dome shaped ritual chamber. I sat on the far end corner of my room, sandwiched between my dresser and cabinet. Ethan was kneeling in front of me.
Immediately, I threw myself at him and buried my face in his shoulders to muffle my sobs. "It's just a bad dream. I'm here okay?" he said as he held me and stroke my hair.
"No... I know it's not."
I told him about the dream, and even in the dark I saw Ethan's face blanched. He didn't say anything but I knew—the way his face showed nothing—that he was keeping something from me.
"I'll protect you no matter what, they'll never get their hands on you." He paused. "Please just promise me one thing." He waited and I nodded uncertain of what it was about. He took my hands in his, eyes pleading. "Please, don't get into my head. No matter what, you'll have to trust me that I will never do anything to hurt you because that's the truth."
My head reeled with questions but I should trust him, shouldn't I? He's the only family I have left. I've been trusting him all my life and he never, even once failed me. I gave him a reassuring smile. "I trust you Ethan."
Relief flooded his face and he planted a brief kiss on my forehead. "We gotta go."
We stole a horse from one of our neighbors, so instead of walking for hours—well, we couldn't risk ourselves by hitching a ride—we arrived North in just an hour and half.
Ethan pulled the reins of the horse as we came across a huge dilapidated mansion. My jaw dropped as I looked up at the tall rusty gates. It was once a beautiful black gate with intricate vine details. There's an old fountain made of marble, and angel statues with broken wings, some without heads on.
Ethan descended from the horse and forced the rusty gates open.
"It's so beautiful." A smile curled his lips.
"I knew you'd love this. I wandered a lot here in North. I like being away from the people."
"Why?'
He shrugged. "I don't know, I've always felt like something was amiss. Like despite the fact that they took us in, I still felt like I don't belong. I'm just glad you were able to fit in."
I cast a sad smile. "No, I never did. I never understood their philosophy in life. They teach people to love one another, but they stopped the search and abandoned the living. They often tell the story of God being with sinners and taking them in, forgiving them and giving them a chance, but they're throwing us out because I'm cursed."
"You're not cursed, Serenity. How many times do I have to tell you that?" Ethan's voice was firm, filled with dominance that I just chose to keep my mouth shut. "They're just doing what they can to survive. They're just as scared as we are."
"But they don't even know what it's like out there! They must at least show compassion and..." I sighed in resignation. I can't argue with Ethan's point. He's right.
"You know if I found us a safe place in Necropolis with enough supplies to last for a week, I wouldn't want to take others in. Because sharing that place with others would mean risking our one week life extension." He paused and when I thought he's done making his point clearer, he spoke again. "They know what it's like out there that's why they're so scared. Many of them, especially the old ones have experienced the "Doomsday" that took place fifty years ago, and they're just terrified of what God's wrath can do to them. I just wish they'd cut the self-righteous crap."
God... Where is He at this point? I looked ahead and saw the broken down mansion. Its roof was probably once color blue.
The wind grew colder and I shivered. "We're just in time." Ethan said and helped me down.