Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“Something is wrong,” Ellie whispers, scooting as close to the edge of her cage as she can, so she can see me.
Yesterday, she stretched her fingers through.
I stretched mine back and our fingertips grazed.
It was the only kind of connection I’ve had in days.
A slight comfort.
“We need to get out of here,” I say to her. “There has to be a way.”
“Believe me, there isn’t. I’ve tried.”
“We’ll die,” I whisper, my eyes narrowing in fear.
“Someone will come,” she murmurs, “they will.”
But what if they don’t?
Shuffling, I curl on the flattened piece of grass and close my eyes, praying for a moment of sleep. Strangely, it comes. I know it’s because my body is exhausted, and combined with the heat, I am unable to keep myself awake. My sleep is restless, though, and I wake covered in sweat. Moving, I groan, and my back aches, but it’s the sharp pain that shoots through my stomach that has me pausing, fear gripping my chest.
Glancing down, I see that what I thought was sweat, is actually blood. It’s soaking my shorts and staining my legs. Fear, unlike anything I’ve ever felt consumes my body as I make a gasping sound. Instinctively, I reach down, and my fingers run through the warm blood. I bring it to my face and stare at it. It’s as if my brain doesn’t want to comprehend what I’m seeing.
“Alexis?”
Ellie’s voice is a whisper as she pushes her face against the cage, staring over to try and get a better look.
“Are you bleeding?” Her voice is full of concern.
“I-I-I ... I’m pregnant.”
Her eyes widen and she shakes her head slightly, almost in disbelief.
“Oh, oh no.”
I stare at her, scared and frozen. “What do I do? Ellie ... what ...”
She moves quickly, curling her fingers around the cage and shouting. She shouts and she shouts, over and over until her voice grows hoarse. Nobody comes in. It doesn’t matter what she does, there is no one around. Tears well in my eyes and then slide down my cheeks as the cramping becomes worse. I know what’s happening, and I know there isn’t a single thing I can do to stop it.
It's in this moment, I realize I was growing attached to the idea of having a baby.
I don’t realize I’m sobbing until Ellie’s soft voice fills my ears. “It’s okay. Alexis, I promise I’ll get you out of here.”
I cry until my body shakes and until my tears dry up. That doesn’t take long, considering I haven’t had water for a few days now. I know I should stop, to save my strength, but I can’t seem to make myself. Ellie soothes me the entire time, her kind voice flowing through my cage until my sobs subside. She’s kind, an incredible soul.
The tent doors flap open.
Her head whips over in the direction, and I lift my head, weakly.
Marek is walking in, his coat roaring behind him as he strides towards the cage. His face is bloodied, and so are his hands. Whatever happened to him, it doesn’t look good. Pausing at the cage, he glances down at me, panting with some kind of wild rage. Then, he unlocks the cage and reaches in, hauling me out.
“Your time is up.”
I freeze, terrified at his cold, clipped tone.
“W-w-w-what?”
“Nobody came for you. You’re of no use to me.”
What does that mean?
What is he saying?
“Please,” I whisper. “Just let me go.”
“I’ll make it quick.”
No.
No.
“No!” Ellie screams, curling her fingers around the cage. “No, please. Let her go.”
Marek ignores her as he drags me toward the exit. I dig my heels into the ground, thrashing and fighting, doing anything I can to make him stop, but he’s too strong.
“Please,” I beg. “Please, no.”
“Marek,” Ellie bellows, her voice strong and determined. “Let her go. If you let her go, I’ll dance. I’ll do what you want.”
Pausing, Marek stiffens and turns slowly, his fingers still gripping me so tightly I can’t get away.
His eyes meet hers, and, for a moment, they stare at one another.
“That’s what it will take,” Ellie goes on. “You wanted to know, well that’s it. Let her go, and I’ll do whatever you want.”
Something flashes in his gaze, and I’m certain that he is going to deny her, but, instead, he simply nods.
“I want to see her released, though,” Ellie goes on. “I don’t trust you. Let me see her go, and I’ll be yours.”
Tipping his head to the side, seemingly impressed by her bravado, he raises a hand, and a guard comes strolling in. He moves to Ellie’s cage, unlocking it and hauling her out. Then, she’s beside me. I shake my head, the salty tears attempting to form as they burn my eyes. “You can’t. Ellie, no.”
“It’s okay,” she tells me, reaching out a hand and curling her fingers around mine, “I promise.”