Parallel Wars

Chapter 3

They left me alone, bleeding and bruised. Apparently giving me time to reconsider what I could tell them. Blood dripped from my mouth and one eye was swollen shut, breathing was painful… Those brutes must have metal fists. And yet I still had nothing new to say to them. 

People passed by the window regularly, some averting gazes, some gawking, some jeering as though I deserved this. As if anyone deserved this. The only person who never seemed to pass was Lilia. 

For the longest time, nothing happened. Enough so that I began to drift off, slumping in the most comfortable position I could find and closing my eyes. Just as I might actually escape this for a little while, a high-pitched noise pierced the air. I jumped, arms yanking at the restraints as I instinctively tried to cover my ears. 

A voice echoed through the noise, unfamiliar. “Sweet dreams!” Followed by laughter. God, what kind of sadistic people have I been working with? 

The noise grew louder, vibrating through my skull, painfully high. You guys wanna play this way? Fine. I’ve got my own tricks. 

I shifted around, finding exactly where the back of the chair was located. Lower than was ideal. I scooted forward as much as I could, then swung my head back as forcefully as I could. Pain spiked through my skull and spots danced through my vision, but faded fairly quickly.  The door opened, guards running through. Acting fast I swung my head back again, praying that my hardheadedness was going to work for me this time. 

  Another wave of pain spread through my skull, the world blurred, and something was dripping down my back. My stomach churned, and puke burned my throat as I retched. Everything was blurring together as a nasty smell caused me to gag, something warm and wet landed in my lap, and shouts surrounded me. 

I glanced up, eyes meeting another pair inches from my face. I didn’t know who, but all I knew was that I was angry. I stared into the eyes, green and sharp, with all the focus I had in my confusion. “I am not the enemy,” I muttered, voice sounding rough and foreign, “But since you’re making me one, I’m gonna give you Hell.” 

Something collided with my face, and before I knew it, I was gone. 

Waking up again was a sad moment. The noise was gone, and I didn’t dare open my eyes or move. Maybe they’d leave me alone if I wasn’t conscious. My lungs burned, everything hurts, and in short, I wouldn’t care if I died. 

It was all I could do not to wince when I heard the door open again. Please, no… A small gasp met my ears, and my eyes snapped open. Messy auburn hair, wide eyes, welcome face. “Hey,” I said quietly. 

“Smith… You’re…” Lilia snapped her mouth shut, wiping the emotion from her face and returning to her usual, cool, self. “I have a plan. Stay strong, stay alive. You’ll be okay.” She turned, faltered at the door, and then looked back at me. Behind her mask, I could see her terror. “Ash…” 

“It’s not as bad as it looks, Reese. Take care of yourself.” 

She nodded curtly, turning back to the door and striding out. I smiled to myself a bit, knowing full well that it could be just another form of torture, but I had hope. Lilia had a plan. 

I’d almost managed to fall asleep when the door opened again. I played dead. Footsteps neared me, circled around my chair, then settled in front of me. I tried to keep my breathing even, as though I was asleep or unconscious. Not holding it because I’m awake and terrified. Fingers brushed my cheek, gentle yet sending jabs of pain as they touched the various wounds. Chill, chill, don’t move. 

The fingers moved down to my lips, and I couldn’t stop myself anymore. I jerked backward, then bit at the hand. Glaring at the owner of it as the cursed and leapt backward. Marvin. 

“Back off, Marv.” I growled. 

“Ashley, you know how I feel about you.” 

“And you know how I feel about you!” 

“You’re already in this terrible situation… Wouldn’t you like to have something nice? Maybe even escape? I could give you freedom. All I want is you.” 

“Coercing me into being with you doesn’t make me free at all!” 

His gaze hardened, and he moved towards me, pulling something out of his pocket. “I love you, Ashley Smith. And I’m going to have you.” 

He grabbed my jaw in one hand, and stuffed a piece of cloth into my mouth with the other, then leaned toward me. “I’m on guard for the next two hours. And it’s midnight. This is my shift from now on.” He grinned. 

My heart pounded, and I squirmed against the restraints. He stroked my cheek again, then leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. I struggled to move, escape him, anything. But he held me firmly in place, moving his lips against my still ones. Moving closer, he sat on my lap, grinding against me. I screamed into the rag, disgust building up inside me, fear boiling my insides. His hand drifted down against my side, under my shirt, and something poked into my stomach. 

I struggled, twisting against him and the leather straps, but there was no escape. My tears were trails of acid along the cuts on my face. His touch was rough and I shivered, unable to get away. Helpless. Demeaned.

I was at the mercy of the merciless.