The Forgotten

by K. A Knight

  Okay Piper, you know you have to get on with these guys. Just bite your lip and get through tonight. You can make up with Jago and be back on normal patrols. Plan sorted, I sit up straighter in my seat, turning slightly to the side so I can keep them in my line of sight when they return. I even clutch my katana that Jago gave me closer.

  They come back after ten minutes, looking mighty pleased with themselves and that uneasy feeling only kicks up a notch. They eye me and nod at each other before taking their seats back in the truck.

  “Everything okay?” I force myself to ask.

  Newt looks over, grinning in what I am guessing is supposed to be a reassuring way, but I want to scream and jump from the truck which just started up. “Everything’s fine, it was empty inside so we will carry on with patrol.”

  I nod and turn back to face the front, even as I feel him eyeing me. They seem nice enough, so why can’t I get rid of this feeling?

  “That big bastard, what’s his name...Beast, your boyfriend?” he questions, leaning closer like it’s a secret even though I see Eel and Ilo twitch in the front, obviously eavesdropping. The way he said Beast puts me on edge, like an insult instead of the respect that man deserves, even when he’s being a wanker.

  I hesitate, wanting to say yes so it would put them off, but that will only increase the rumours and I don’t think Jago would appreciate it much. “No,” I reply tersely.

  “You hear that Eel? Looks like you were wrong,” he jokes, and I grit my teeth and block out their banter.

  I spend the rest of patrol splitting my time between looking at them and then out of the window. Compared to Jago they are sloppy, they wouldn’t even notice if anyone snuck up on us, never mind if we actually got in a real fight. When the sun starts to rise again and we head back to Paradise I breathe a little bit easier, and when we roll through the bunker door I quickly leave the vehicle. My skin still crawling as I feel them stare at me.

  I spot Jago in his usual bay and ignoring anyone else, make way over there. Fuck this stupid fight. When I reach his truck I lean on the side as he unpacks.

  “Hey,” I say softly, and he jerks his head up obviously not hearing me walk over which is strange.

  “Hi,” he grunts, turning back to his stuff.

  “Look I’m sorry, we both said and did stupid shit. Let’s just forget it all and get back to our ‘I give you shit you pretend not to love it’ dynamic,” I tease and he snorts, but he still doesn’t look at me.

  “Jago?” I ask, stepping closer.

  He sighs, staring down at the bag in his truck.

  “I am being pulled from patrol for three nights, I have to go with a crew for a run.”

  “What for?” I inquire, disappointment clouding my judgment, I want to reach out but I can't with us being in public.

  “Just a mission, you will stay with Team C and when I get back you will join me again,” he explains and I see him search my eyes. I nod and we stare at each other, both having so much to say but not knowing how to say it.

  “Beast, let’s go!” comes a yell and he sighs.

  With another nod he turns and walks away, but watching him makes my heart ache, so I turn away and slide behind the truck. Slumping there I frown at the ground until with a gasp, I am pushed back into it.

  Lips cover mine, the taste familiar, and I close my eyes in bliss. It’s over too soon and when my lashes flutter open, I see Jago walking away again.

  Men.

  After he walks away, I slump back over to C Team and grab my stuff from the truck, while trying to ignore the tingling in my lips. That man is way too fine for his own good.

  “Where are you going? Don’t you want to party with us?” Dickwad, aka Eel, sneers as he leans back against the truck, watching me.

  Flipping him off, I leave and sign myself back in, showing my bag to security. With nothing—or no one—else to do, I head back to my room to shower off the sand and dust.

  Dropping my bag at the door, I strip on my way and take a quick shower. I dry off and head back into my room, and then get dressed again. This time in stretchy pants and a tank top. I’m too wound up to sleep and I don’t know why. There is that stupid fucking lump in my stomach. Maybe I’m worried for Jago, or maybe I’m missing Evan, but I’m not exactly good at feelings and shit.

  So, instead, I head to the cafeteria and sweet talk the guy there into giving me cake. Not the kind you would find from before, it’s a replica, but it still tastes damn good, maybe because I don’t have anything to compare it to. Swinging my legs on the worktop in the kitchen I eat it in peace, watching him and his crewmate as they prepare breakfast for everyone.

  When people start shuffling in for breakfast I make myself scarce, and with nowhere else to go I find myself back in the place it all started. The room I made out with Todd in. Sighing, I sit down and let my mind wander.

  I’m so lost in my own thoughts that I don’t even notice the door open and someone come in until he sits next to me.

  Blinking, I stare at the side of Evan’s face in confusion. When he doesn’t speak, I stare back at the wall, refusing to play games. I’m mardy and pissed off, it’s not a good combination.

  “You okay?” he asks, and it’s the same question he has been asking every day since I started patrols. Usually the only words he speaks to me. I know if I say yes he will get up and walk away, and that will be the end of our interaction for tonight.

  “No.” I force the word out between clenched teeth, still staring stubbornly at the wall.

  His breath hitches and I can feel him staring at me. “What happened?” he growls, all hint of self-pity and frost melting from his voice to be replaced with my usual Evvie. It causes a horrible laugh to tumble from my throat. I really have to verbally tell him that I am not okay for him to even look at me now? And people say women are the weaker sex.

  “Someone hurt you? Who do I have to kill? Pip, you fucking talk to me right now!”

  I hear the panic as he yells and it sobers up my laughter. I look over at him and his face drops from the look in my eyes. “Today I spent the day with three assholes who I am pretty sure were more bothered about my vagina than protecting Paradise. Jago, the only person who believed in me when I started this, has gone away, leaving me to try and protect myself against all the fucking misogynistic assholes out there, and you. You hurt me, you tossed me aside like I was nothing to you. Like I didn’t spend all my life loving you. You walked away like I was nothing when I have supported you every day of your life. All I needed was you, even if you didn’t like my choices it didn't matter to me so long as you were there, and then you weren't. I was left alone again, like when my parents died. Then you ask me if I’m okay?” I snort out a bitter laugh. “I lost my best friend, the boy I am in love with.” I stop as he sucks in a breath and I smile sadly. “Was in love with.” I see the moment the words register. This time I am going to be the one to walk away, because this back and forth game is killing me, maybe I just needed to get this all out. “At least have the balls to walk away completely, because this...distance is killing me. I can’t do it. You need to decide what you want Evan, but don’t be surprised if I’m not there when you do.”

  I can’t help it, maybe it’s because I know I am finally saying goodbye, or that I need to know just once what it feels like, but I lean forward and kiss him. Hate, hurt, and shared pasts swirl between us. He leans into me almost desperately, tasting me, gripping my face as if to keep me here with him.

  I groan into his mouth, tangling my tongue with his as I show him exactly how much I loved him. Then I pull away. While he sits there, looking dazed with his eyes closed, I lean closer again and kiss him softly. “Goodbye, Evvie.”

  Getting up, I walk away knowing that it might have hurt, but it is the right decision.

  I sleep hard, that deep kind that only happens after something big happens in your life. When I wake up, I feel good. I know where I stand with Jago and now with Evan, and although I have to put up with the three tw
ats for three nights, I know after that I will be back with Jago and we will fall into a routine again.

  Getting up slowly, I make sure to stretch out my body. I’m not bothering to head into the gym, there isn’t really time anyway. Instead, I take a shower, a long leisurely one. I scrub at my skin and shave, and even condition my hair. It makes me feel better, and when I step out into the steam with a towel wrapped around me, I feel like a new woman. Slightly dramatic, but I can roll with it.

  I tug on my black skinny jeans and a tank top, laying my jacket out on the bed. I even pull out the katana and the strap, which mysteriously appeared in my room yesterday. It slips over my shoulder and lies perfectly along my spine. Slipping into it, I practice again, pulling out the sword and sheathing it over my shoulder. It takes some skill, and the first time I did it I smacked myself in the face with the pummel of the sword. The next time, I fell over. Don’t ask how, even I’m not sure. It’s still not a smooth, refined movement—I don't know how all those people in films make it look easy—but at least I no longer look like a turtle on its back. I even look more badass, wait...is that the right word? Baddasser, badass extraordinaire? Ah fuck it, who knows. Either way, I look like I can kick ass.

  I need to practice more with Janet—yes, I called my sword Janet. It’s like one of those old bitchy women down here that always goes straight for the throat and gets blood—get it? So Janet it is. Anyway, I need to practice more but I think I could take on some attackers if need be. It makes me feel better, especially after I realised last night that C Team doesn’t give a flying monkey fuck whether I live or die.

  Glancing at the clock I sigh in defeat. I slip off the sheath and grab my jacket, before making my way to the hangar. One night, that’s all I need to make it through with these morons before I can be back at Jago’s side.

  Easy enough, right?

  The C Team are already waiting when I reach the hangar. Squaring my shoulders I head their way. As usual, they start whispering between themselves and throwing me looks, ignoring them like the gossiping pussies they are, I start loading up the truck.

  A throat clearing behind me has me straightening and turning to see the Captain, the one who was rude to me and Jago the other day. Turns out that prick is in charge of all patrols and guards.

  “I just wanted to wish you luck tonight,” he says, but his tone is frosty, and when his eyes slip to the men who suddenly appear at my side I shiver.

  “Oh, don’t worry Captain. We will make sure she does,” Eel sneers and the Captain nods, his lips twitching ever so slightly.

  Shaking off the bad feeling, I nod my head. Without even looking at me the Captain wanders away, checking over other teams and moving through the hangar. What the hell was that about? He’s always been a giant cuntasarusrex to me, plus I’m pretty sure he hates women, but that was just weird. Blowing out a breath, I finish packing the truck while trying to ignore the bad feeling curling in the pit of my stomach. It’s not like I can bow out of tonight's patrol. I fought to get this spot, and I can’t keep depending on Jago to protect me and have my back. I will just have to make sure I have my own.

  “Let’s roll!” I hear one of them shout, so I quickly finishing packing the back and slam the door shut, then make my way to the back seat.

  “You’re up front today!” comes a call, and when I peer over the roof to see Newt staring at me. Nodding, I slide in the front passenger seat, fidgeting from having Eel and Ilo behind me. Turning slightly, so my back is to the door, I raise my knee and look out of the front window. I don’t know why I’m so jittery tonight, but it’s going to be a long patrol if I let it get to me. So ignoring it, I watch as the hangar door rolls up and the alarm blares.

  We are the third to leave tonight, and when we break through into the sand I draw in a deep breath. I wonder what tonight’s patrol holds?

  For the first hour, it’s pretty boring. We rove our sector, and the guys occasionally get out to take a leak or investigate something, but all seems quiet so they decide to head farther into the Wastes, away from our zone. It’s getting late, it will be dark in a couple of hours but I don't bother pointing that out, it would only piss them off further.

  We just get deeper and deeper into unknown territory and I start to fidget, but then we pull over. Looking around, I spot nothing that could have drawn their attention. Frowning, I turn around to ask what we are doing but a hand grabs my arm, hard. I know something isn’t right, this isn’t the usual patrol route and when they flick off the radio in the truck, I slide closer to the door. I had a bad feeling, hell, Jago had a bad feeling, and I think I am about to be proved right.

  “Get out and check the boot, will ya? I think it might be open from when we stopped last time,” Newt tells me, and I nod and break away from his grip. Better to be outside and in the open then stuck inside the truck with those three and the vibe they are throwing off.

  Kicking open my door, I slide out and slam it shut in their faces. Making my way around the car, I stop at the closed boot. Seriously, what the fuck is going on? I hear doors open and shut as they round the car, coming to me.

  Backing away from the boot, I give myself room to move. I only spot Newt and Ilo though, and for every step I take back, they step forward.

  “What’s going on? We should head back to our route before it gets dark,” I suggest hesitantly, but when they share a grin and turn lust filled eyes back on me, I start to panic.

  I feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up just as someone breathes on me and whispers in my ear, “Boo.”

  I go down hard when a fist smashes into the side of my head unexpectedly. It’s the opening they need, and all three of them are on me faster than I can blink my dazed eyes open.

  The sand heats my back as I flail and kick, trying to keep them off me. My sword is trapped under me and I couldn't get it if I tried, but I do have a dagger slipped into my boot, I just need to get it. Holding my arm up, I block the blows raining down on my face as I try to get to my feet. It’s no use, there are too many of them. Someone grabs my hand and pins it to the sand, as another knocks away the one protecting my face and smashes a fist into my nose.

  I hear a crack and I start coughing as blood trickles down the back of my throat. My other hand is pinned above my head as someone leans over my kicking legs. I hear a grunt when I make impact, but within minutes they have me pinned beneath them—helpless.

  Panic claws at my throat as my heart tries to break through my chest, a sick feeling starts in my stomach and tears gather in my eyes, but I refuse to let them show. I need to reason with them, I need to give them a motive to stop.

  “Don’t, you hurt me and you know you will get into trouble,” I warn, my voice shaking.

  They laugh as Eel’s face looms over mine, blocking my view of the setting sun. “No we won’t, you really think the Captain gives a fuck what we do to you...or better yet, that he didn't order this?”

  “What?” I gasp, shock settling into my bones as fear blooms in my chest.

  “Oh, how cute. You thought they would let you join patrol? No, you are a warning. A tragic attack tonight sees you dead, but they didn’t say we couldn't have our fun first.” He laughs as the others do.

  My ears ring as my eyes blur, they planned this? My own people, the Captain, the person who is meant to protect us all, planned for them to kill me? Betrayal surges through me, but so does anger, and I start bucking beneath them as their hands wander along my body.

  “Get the fuck off me! He’ll kill you, Jago will kill you!” I scream, truth ringing in every word.

  “He can try,” one of them sneers.

  I try to get their hands off me, but it’s no use. I’m not strong enough to lift them off me, or even free my hands. Turning in their grip, I claw into their hands with my nails. I hear one of them swear before a slap throws my head sideways.

  I taste sand and blood, but my attention is drawn away from the throbbing in my cheek and nose when someone rips away my tank top. Crying o
ut, I start bucking again, like a mad woman as warm air hits my now bare stomach and chest. Next, they cut through my bra, and tears finally burst from my eyes as my nipples tighten in the cool breeze.

  No, no, no. This isn’t happening. It can’t be.

  I beg and plead with them. I fight them, but it doesn’t make much difference. They laugh and sneer, their rude comments making me choke on my own sobs as they run their hands down my body. Tweaking my nipples and slapping my breasts.

  Lifting my head, I cry out as I watch one of them unbutton my jeans. Twisting, I throw myself to the side but they just pin me down harder.

  “Looks like she still has a little fight left in her, I say we fuck it out,” Eel jokes and my blood turns cold.

  I guess some part of me thought they would stop, that is all a sick joke or maybe that someone would come and save me, but this is the real world. Bad things happen to good people, nightmares are real and even as you plead to the sky, no one comes to save you.

  When my cries and begging starts to annoy them, one of them backhands me hard. My neck jerks to the side as I taste sand again. My vision starts to dot as they drag my jeans down my legs even as I kick and writhe. They get it over my shoes on one foot and leave the other leg wrapped in my own jeans like a vice.

  They rip away my underwear as I shake my head, blood, snot, and tears dripping down my face as I beg one more time.

  “Please, I’ll do anything!” I cry out, my voice hoarse.

  “Oh, you will. Don’t you worry,” Eel promises, and when I lift my head again I watch in horror as his fingers squirm between my thighs, which I keep closed, all my effort focused on that. He manages to pry them open and one of the other guys holds my legs spread-eagle as the other moves up and pins my arms above my head.