CHAPTER FOUR
My eyelids felt heavy as it fluttered open. I could see a dim shadow over my face through my blurred vision and I squinted my eyes open. Melo hovered me silently, his eyebrows scrunched up in worry. His soft fingers were wrapped around my hand so tightly, it almost hurt. His wide teary eyes studied my face.
I groaned and sat upright. He hugged me gently and I wrapped my arms around him. He felt so small and warm I didn't want to let him go; he reminded me of everything I had lost.
I pulled him away so I could look at him. "Are you okay?"
He nodded, his hair fell across his dirty face, and I tucked it behind his ear. He clutched onto my jacket, which draped over him like overalls, and stared at me. His clothes were dirty and torn, he had on no shoes. He glanced at my thigh, and then back at me.
"It's okay, doesn't even hurt anymore," I smiled.
It was a lie. It hurt like hell.
I glanced around the room; the number had lessened, there were only four of us in the room. The two girls stared at me saying nothing. I stood up slowly and walked towards the gate.
"It's locked," one of them said.
"I figured," I sighed and turned to them.
"Where are the rest?" I asked.
"They took them."
"Hush, Zapphire," the other girl said, and gave me a cold stare. "We do not know her, she could put us in a lot of trouble."
"And you think cowering in a corner, thinking things will sort itself out is the better plan?," Zapphire stared at me. "She stood up to them. If anyone can help us, it's her."
Zirconia spared me a glance. "No. It just means she's reckless, and reckless people get killed."
"I don't believe that," Zapphire said and turned to me. "You can help us, can't you?"
I paused at her words. "What do you mean?"
"What you did earlier was beyond brave. I don't think I could have done it," her eyes lit up in admiration.
I ignored the her and turned towards the gate. "You should listen to your friend, Zapphire,' I paused and glanced at her.
"I don't think I am in any position to help you or anyone. I can barely get myself out of this mess."
"I'm Zapphire," she said with a bright smile.
I wondered what was hidden behind the smile. Was it possible to have lost everything and not lose oneself?
"This is my twin sister Zirconia," she pointed at her. "Forgive her, she's a bit wary of strangers."
Zapphire stretched out her hand to me with a smile. I glanced at the outstretched hand and back at her without a word. She pulled back her hand, the smile never leaving her face.
"Oh look, found something you guys have in common," she teased and glanced at her sister.
"Yay," Zirconia rolled her eyes.
"What's your name?" Zapphire asked.
I walked back to Melo and sighed.
"How did you get here? Were you kidnapped also? Are you an Outlander?" she ripped out the questions in a single breath.
She inhaled deeply and touched her chin. "That Terror did call you 'Outland bitch', so I am guessing you are from the Outlands."
I gripped my hair and let out a frustrated breath. It was hard to think with her voice, it grated on my nerves. I had never seen someone so perky before. We'd been kidnapped by the Terrors, with no idea of the kind of dangers that laid in wait for us, and there she was, all chirpy.
She took my silence for an affirmation and gasped. "We are from the Outlands too. How come we've never met?"
Her eyes moved down my body, and back to my face. "Surely, I would have remembered you. You have a face one can hardly forget."
I inhaled deeply. "Sapphire?"
"Zapphire," she corrected.
I scrunched my eyebrows. "What?"
"It's Zapphire, with a Z, not a S."
I shut my eyes and counted backwards to ten.
"Zapphire," I said pointedly and she nodded.
"Take it the wrong way when I say this; shut up."
Zirconia snickered but kept quiet when Zapphire glared at her.
"Forgive me for trying to make friends," her mouth curled up slightly like she wanted to cry, as she looked away.
"There are no friends here Zapphire, only survival. Gosh, how did you survive the Fog?" I asked.
"Hey," Zirconia stood up and walked towards me.
"You have no idea how much we've had to survive to be here, you have no idea how much the Fog has taken from us," her voice grew soft.
"We've seen things we shouldn't have, lost people we shouldn't have just to be here."
She pointed at her sister. "Despite that, Zapphire has not lost herself, and is still the person she was before the Chaos. That makes her stronger than anyone I have ever known," she held my gaze. "It's more than I can say for you."
Maybe it's because it's been a while since I had come across any semblance of humanity, but Zirconia's words struck my heart, and I respected how she stood up for her sister. It made me a little bit jealous that I didn't have anyone who could stay by my side like that.
"You done?" I asked, and she stared at me in surprise.
"Good," I said when I was met with silence, and pointed at the gate."'Cause they are gonna be here any second and do to us God-knows-what. I don't want to be here when that happens."
The twins glanced at each other.
"Zir," Zapphire called silently.
"Okay, what is your plan?" she asked.
I glanced at Melo. I had no problems ditching the twins at any given moment, but I couldn't abandon him. I had to protect him at all cost, and take my revenge. I knew I couldn't do it alone, not until I had more information. I could use the twins up to the moment I didn't need them anymore.
Heavy footsteps approached us and the I grabbed Melo quickly and hid him behind me. Amora came into view, with two Terrors in tow. I recognized one of them from the truck, Topper's partner.
"Out," he said.
I glanced at Zapphire who shrugged. We stepped out of the room and Amora stepped in front of me.
"Thanks bitch," she glared.
I smirked and said nothing.
Topper's partner held her arms. "Do as Dane ordered you to."
Amora took a deep breath and stared at me. "Fine."
She brought out blindfolds and stared at me with a smile. "Orders from above."
She tied the blindfold around my face, and when the fabric dug into my skin, a little tighter than it should have, I had a feeling it was on purpose. I could hardly see anything so I focused on my other senses. Noises came from all sides, and I could feel people pass by us, as we stepped on what I assumed was a bridge. I tightened my hand on Melo's and caressed his pinky softly. A loud, constant clanging came from my right side and I turned towards it. It sounded like they were building something.
"Where are you taking us?" Zirconia asked.
We were met in silence, and I bit my lips nervously. I had no idea where they were taking us, but I knew it was not good. I could hear a door open in the far distance; I paused when Melo stumbled.
"Are you okay?" I asked but there was no reply. He had not said a word to me since I he told me his name. I couldn't see if he was nodding, so I crouched to his level.
I touched his arms, and traced my fingers to his face.
"Hey! Keep moving," the other Terror called.
I grabbed Melo and carried him on my arms.
"What do you think you are doing?" Amora asked.
"He can't see because you put on a blindfold on him. It's dangerous," I said.
She paused and I adjusted Melo on my arms.
"Keep up," she said and pushed me forward.
I felt Melo shook slightly in my arms, and I patted his back gently.
"I'll protect you, okay? I promise," I muttered softly.
It was a promise I intend to keep.
A door opened, and I put Melo gently down on the ground as we entered. I removed my blindfold, and helped Melo with his. The room was moldy and wet, with stains on the wall. There were five bunk beds placed side by side, and the other four people in the room roused from their beds to stare at us.
"This is where you are going to stay until further notice," Amora said. She paused when her gaze landed on me.
"Home sweet home."
"What are you going to do to us?" Zapphire asked, squirming in fear.
"That's up to Dane to decide," Amora said and walked towards me.
I held Melo close to me, shielding him away from her. She paused and stared at the little terrified boy at my back.
She smirked. "He is coming with me."
"He is going nowhere," I said.
She leaned closer to whisper in my ear. "I may not be able to do anything to you, but I can do something to him."
"Don't you dare. He is staying with me," I held him closer.
"Amora," Topper's partner warned.
Amora stared at him. "Dane said not to touch her. He didn't say anything about the boy," she stared at Melo, who started crying.
"Take him."
I didn't have my knife with me, there was no weapon in sight either. It was suicide to try fighting with a Terror when I knew he could easily overpower me. The other Terror advanced towards me and I did the only thing I thought could keep Melo safe. I wrapped my body around him protectively. He tried to pry me away from Melo but couldn't. It was fortunate Melo was very small and frail. I could feel his frustration build as he failed to separate us.
Melo pressed his face into my shoulder, his eyes closed as he held onto me.
"Why is it so difficult to separate them?" Amora mocked him.
The Terror's fist slammed into my face, making me stagger with Melo still clutched in my arms. Before I could recover, his boot drove into my rib, knocking the air from my lungs as the pain exploding through me. I curled around Melo instinctively, shielding his frail body as blow after blow rained down on me.
Pain wasn't new to me, but this; this was different. Maybe because I had someone I had to protect, not only from the Terror but from seeing the agony I felt. Each blow broke something inside me. My lungs screamed for air, but I bit down, forcing myself to stay still. I held onto him tightly, without letting go. He whimpered when the blood dripped on his cheek, and I smiled at him through my bloodied teeth. I covered his eyes, so he couldn't see how much pain I was in.
"Stop! You are going to kill her!" Topper's partner yelled.
"Dane is going to kill us," Amora muttered silently and bit her fingers anxiously.
"It is the same Outside bitch that made the boss beat up Topper," the Terror spat on me in disgust.
My grip started to lose around Melo, as I felt weaker. I had brushed death so many times, her face was no longer strange to me. So, when I saw her standing by the door with her huge black hat and scepter, I welcomed her with a smile. She stared at me, emotions devoid on her face.
Someone rushed by her and dragged him away from me. I heard him gasp for breath just as the atmosphere in the room shifted. I turned slowly to see Dane towering over the Terror, his hand wrapped around his neck. His eyes met mine, and they instantly darkened. The corners of his lip tightened, as his face flushed with anger.
He turned to the Terror whose eyes were filled with, no pun intended; terror.
"B-b-boss!" he stuttered.
"I said not a hair on her was to be touched," his voice was low, his gaze on him.
"S-she-."
Dane slammed his head against the wall. The loud crack echoed through the deadly silent room. When his head met the hard concrete a second time, the Terror's eyes rolled to the back of his head, as blood gushed down his face.
Why was he protecting me? First, Topper and now this Terror.
Dane released him and stood up. Gasps echoed throughout the room when he brought out his gun, pointed it at the Terror, and emptied the entire clip in his head.
He turned to the Topper's partner. "Take him away."
I stared at the opened eyes on the dead body Topper's partner dragged on the floor and my heart raced.
Why did he kill his one of his men, for me nonetheless? Was he a psychopath? Did he enjoy killing people based off his mood? Why?
His boots advanced slowly towards me, and he helped sit me up. I reached for Melo who had tears streaming down his face, and I pulled him in a hug. Dane watched me silently. Behind him, Amora shook in fear.
He caressed my face gently, his eyes searching mine. I could see a sense of familiarity hidden in his eyes like he was looking at someone else, and not me. I wanted to ask what that was all about, but my words failed me.
Dane stood and turned to Amora. "Take care of her injuries," his voice was low. Calm. It terrified me.
His lips curled slightly when his gaze met mine. "And leave the boy with her."
"But Dane-" her words were cut short when she met his gaze, and she bowed her head.
"Okay," her gaze shot through my forehead like a laser as she stared at me with fury. I watched as he walked out of the room without another word.
Melo hugged me, and I held his face in my hand and smiled.
"I kept my promise," I said softly.
My eyelids felt heavy, and in the corner of my eye, I saw Death staring at me. The corner of her lip curled up in a smile, and without a word, she turned and walked out the door. Her black stiletto heels echoed even when she was out of sight and I smiled.
I had, once again, escaped her claws.