Hope's Despair

Come With Me!

"Psst - Hope!"

Hope turned her head to look briefly at her best friend, Everly, who was working at the desk next to hers. There was a glass wall separating their office space from the factory floor and Hope glanced up to see the supervisor walking by. He looked into their office space and continued on his way. As soon as he passed, she turned back toward Everly to respond quietly, "What?"

"Are you going to the den tonight?" the dark-haired girl asked softly as she leaned back in her chair to hiss at Hope.

"The den is open tonight?" Hope asked in surprise.

"Yeah, I just got a notice from Ben, do you want to come with me?" the girl pleaded though her voice asked it as a question. She waved a piece of paper discreetly in her hand toward Hope before shoving it in her pocket.

Ben worked in the warehouse beyond their office. He had slipped in the office for a moment just seconds before, passing a slip of paper to Everly. He had left before Hope could register that he had even been there.

"I don't know, Everly, I need to get soup and medicine over to grandma tonight. You know how tough it is to get away with the kids at home. Granny has a cough, and you know mom can’t watch Sarah and Tommy," Hope replied.

"Come on, Hope, you never come out with us, and the den only pops up every few weeks. We won't get another chance until after the reaping, and we all know how disappointing that's going to be. Let loose for tonight!" Everly pleaded with fervor, her eyes begging Hope to consider going.

Hope looked out at the main floor of the meat processing plant where they both worked. Large slabs of meat were being packaged within waxed paper wraps then loaded onto a cart, getting ready to be distributed throughout the city.

"I don't know, Ev, we're running low on food and I need to make it stretch until Friday. I can't risk losing this job," she replied softly with a grimace.

"We can make it stretch, we always do," Everly replied.

Everly continued with a pleading voice, "Come and let loose, forget about all of our problems for a bit. We won't get caught. No one ever gets caught at the den."

"Maybe," Hope whispered back.

"Freddie is coming," Everly whispered, hoping that would be the thing to convince her friend to come along. She knew that Hope had a crush on Freddie.

Hope's face went bright red and her eyes darted to Everly's face before she looked back down at the papers on her desk, "Alright, I guess I can try to make it."

Everly snorted quietly, "Awesome, stop by the house at 9, and we will go together!"

Hope nodded; she was already regretting agreeing to go. She turned back to her desk to continue flipping through orders and filling in accounts payable information and figure out how to get out of it already, she had never been to the den. If they were caught at the den, they would be going to jail. Hope's stomach flipped at the thought of losing her job and ending up behind bars. She scrunched up her face and turned toward Everly again.

"Hey, Ev-" she started.

"No!" Everly hissed, "You are not canceling on me. We never get caught, the den is super safe, no one ever goes to jail! I've even heard that there are a few members of the upper classes that sometimes come, so it's not like they would want to ruin the fun!"

"If I'm caught, what happens to Mom, Sarah and Tommy? They'll starve. I can't risk it!" Hope whispered back out of the side of her mouth.

"You won't get caught, trust me, Hope. Plus, there's always a back exit. Just stay near the exit and if anything happens, you'll be the first to break free," Everly stated simply.

Hope shook her head. A welling desire to let loose was rising in her chest but her fear was overwhelming, "I don't have anything to wear."

"Wear old jeans and a t-shirt. They'll probably get ripped by the end of the night anyway," Everly said quietly before the supervisor came over to check their work. It was almost time for their break.

Hope raised her eyebrows, "Ripped?"

"Shhh," Everly said out of the side of her mouth as she sat up straight in her chair and smiled at Mark as he approached their desks. He stood tall with a large belly hanging over the belt of his pants. It hung so low that Hope couldn’t even see his belt. His shirt stretched tight over his bulging abdomen and his arms hung limply by his side as he walked toward the girls. Hope considered him as he walked up to their desks, a scowl covering his face. He was in a foul mood, there was no telling what had set him off.

"Have you finished the reports," Mark asked with a bark as he approached Everly's desk. She was just gathering papers to hand to him. He took them stoically and rifled through the numbers quickly. His eyes darted across the sheets, taking in the information quickly.

"Is everything in order?" Everly asked as she sat calmly watching Mark.

"Yes, everything is fine. I'm going to need your assistance at 4," Mark said as he met Everly's eyes quickly, then glanced back down at the papers as if still studying them intently.

Hope could tell he was just waiting for Everly's reply as his eyes stared blankly at the top of the page.

Everly's face dropped slightly, but she recovered quickly and plastered a smile on her face as she looked up at him and nodded, "Of course."

He walked away, and Hope felt a sinking feeling fill her chest.

"You should say no," Hope said softly.

"And get fired?" Everly replied.

"He shouldn't be allowed to ask that of you," Hope replied.

"He doesn't force me. It's better this way, at least I don't have to sleep with him. It doesn’t take very long, anyway," Everly said just as softly, her eyes trained on her desk. She refused to look up and Hope's heart ached watching her.

"Still," Hope said, her eyes glancing at Everly briefly.

"Did you hear about Savannah?" Everly said with a quick shake of her head.

"Savannah? You mean the woman that was the King's mistress?" Hope asked, her brows furrowed.

Everly nodded.

"Yes, that Savannah. She was found dead," Everly whispered.

"Dead?" Hope asked, her voice squeaking as she turned her head to look at Everly.

"Shh. Yes, dead. They say she was murdered. The Queen had her snuffed," Everly said.

"That can't be true, the Queen wouldn't do that," Hope said.

"She might, you don't know what she's capable of. There are some that think it was an upper-class woman that killed her because she was from the middle class, and she wasn't good enough for the King. Either way, she's dead now," Everly said, shuddering.

"What does that mean? She was in the middle class, and she wasn't good enough for the King. The upper class won't let the King sleep with anyone he wants?" Hope asked.

"No, the upper class get very possessive of who gets to be related to royalty. There's a rumor they're responsible for the death of a few lower-class girls that warmed the King's bed, too," Everly said. "That's why I can't say no to Mark. The classes above us have power we can't understand. If we say no, who knows what will happen? I can't risk it."

Hope looked at Everly, her eyes showing her turmoil. "Well, thank goodness neither of us are mixed up in royalty. It could get worse, I guess."

Life in Praelia had gotten worse the last several centuries, ever since the Great War. Hundreds of thousands had perished in the war and magic had disappeared with them. Now, the girls lived in a wasteland, greed, and power were the dominating forces of society. Mark was the perfect example. He exerted his power over Everly at least once a week. There was no recourse for lower-class citizens like Everly and Hope. They were resigned to their fate, and they did what they had to do to survive. Sometimes that meant doing unsavory tasks.

"Sorry, Ev, let's think about tonight instead," Hope said as she tried to divert Everly's attention. Hope wasn't willing to dash her friend's plans now.

"Wear your black t-shirt, the one you wear when you work in the garden. It's grunge enough to be hot, and your ripped jeans," Everly whispered to Hope. Hope could see she was redirecting her energy, pushing the dread away.

Hope smiled, glad the tactic had worked, "Alright, I guess that will work. Do you want soup tonight? I'm making a pot for grandma; I could swing by with some before we go?"

"Sure, Hope, that'd be great. You know Charlotte and Lucas adore you, and they love your soup," Everly nodded, distracted still by the prospect of spending time with Mark in the back room. She looked down at the papers on her desk, rearranging a stack of orders still needing to be entered into their records.

"I'll come by at 6, it's been on all day, it will be ready to go by then," Hope said softly as she finished her last task before lunch. She pulled out her tin and ate quickly, watching as Everly did the same. The silence was tense and Hope sat with dread, waiting for the day to pass.

Four o'clock came quickly, Mark stopped at Everly's desk and tapped on the edge a few times. Everly looked up and met his eyes then nodded. She rose quickly from the desk and followed him to a separate set of offices. Mark closed the door behind them. Even from a few rooms down, Hope could hear the lock click. She looked around at the other women working with her in the office and saw them roll their eyes.

In Mark's office, a dozen feet away from Hope, Everly looked at Mark where he stood by the door. Her face was stoic as he unbuttoned his pants and pulled the front down slightly. He hung limply and Everly pursed her lips and grabbed him with her hand, pumping lightly.

He grunted, “On your knees today.”

She didn't have time to react as he shoved her to the ground, pressing against her shoulder forcefully. Her knees hit the concrete with a thump and she let out a small squeak. She held him in her hand, working him faster until he was hard.

“Suck on it,” He growled, and he put his hand behind Everly’s head and pulled her forward. Everly took him in her mouth and worked him back and forth, using her hands and her tongue until she felt him go rigid. She knew what came next and braced herself as he spilled in the back of her throat. She swallowed quickly before she let him slip out of her mouth and she stood up calmly. She took a step back and watched as he tucked himself back in his pants, adjusting his shirt and belt as he shuffled toward the door.

“We’re having visitors next week. I’ll need your help,” he said as he left the room, not waiting to hear Everly’s reply.

Twenty minutes had passed since they had walked into Mark's office. He left the room, a content, relaxed look on his face as he walked back through the plant toward the workers. He would file his paperwork and leave. Another day was done. Everly followed shortly after him. She wouldn't look Hope in the eyes. This happened every week, and every week she was ashamed.

"Ev, it's not your fault-" Hope started.

"Don't, please, Hope, let's just go," Everly said as she sat at her desk and wiped her eyes, moving the tears off her cheeks and onto her pants.

"She's back then?" a vicious voice behind them said.

"Leave her alone," Hope said defensively as she swiveled in her chair and glared at the woman speaking to Everly.

"Why? She's untouchable. That's what a w***e is, someone that sucks d**k for change," the voice snorted as a middle-aged honey-blond woman stood from her desk, grabbed her purse and headed toward the door.

"Helen, you're disgusting," Hope spit out as she too stood to leave work for the day.

"Not as disgusting as her," Helen nodded toward Everly, the distaste apparent on her face, her mouth pursed.

"Oh, jump in a frozen lake, you old bat," Hope said venomously as she stood in front of Everly protectively.

Everly grabbed Hope's arm, "Come on, Hope, let's get home. It's time."

They both walked out of the room then left the building, ready for the two-mile walk back to their part of the city. They lived on the north side of Praelia and the factory was on the north-eastern edge of the city.

Hope looked at Everly, noting the tears that she quickly brushed away.

The walk was cold. Days in Praelia were long and hard. It would be a longer night, and if Everly had anything to say about it, it would last all night. Hope couldn't say no, not after this afternoon but she prayed they didn't get caught.

She knew they shouldn't go, but one look at Everly's face and she also knew she would be putting on her ripped jeans and heading to Everly's with dinner and the kids in tow. Hope decided tonight she would throw caution to the wind.

She would go to the den.