Alone

by Prunty, Mercedes

  “I’m no bodies bitch”, I snapped at him instantly regretting it.

  Danny flew at me landing a back hander to my face, the force of it knocked me to the floor and he laughed as I put my hand to my mouth and came away with blood.

  “It could be worse you could be Hugh’s bitch as he’s next in line after Craig”, he grinned.

  I turned to see another bloke walked in and bile reached into my throat, Hugh was a disgusting excuse for a man, his teeth yellowed and blackened from years of drug use and smoking, his skin was cratered and dirty, he scooted on over to meet me and I could smell him before he even reached me, the stink of B.O and other unclean bodily fluids made me want to throw up in his face, his smile was the final straw for my nerves thought as it curled into a menacing snarl and I knew what he wanted. He smoothed his dirty hair down before clamping the same hand on my arm, I could feel the grease sink through my top and onto my skin, I felt violated already.

  “No its fine, Craig is fine!” I said with a hint of fear which I didn’t need as they knew I was frightened and I needed to stay strong.

  Danny laughed, “Sorry Hugh maybe next time huh”.

  Hugh looked angry and hurt, maybe it was the way I looked so repulsed at him, “Don’t look so happy that you’re with Craig if he doesn’t like you after sleeping with you then I can ask to have you instead”.

  I pulled my arm away from him like someone had electrocuted me, “Then I guess I’ll make Craig like me”, I tried to make it sound a little menacing but it came out as a squeak.

  “Craig is going to take you somewhere quieter so you two can get acquainted”, Danny smiled.

  I felt sick and I wanted to cry but it would just make this whole thing worse.

  “WAIT!”

  They all turned to look at Tanya, “No one can have her”.

  “And why not Bee?” Danny asked her.

  “She’s my little sister”, she replied, she stood in front of me to square up to Danny.

  “Makes her even more of a reason to let Craig have her, he is my right hand man and deserves a strong woman to take him on”, he replied giving Craig a wave to say go ahead.

  Tanya’s arm clenched mine, “No she’s not as strong as me and she’ll crack up”.

  Danny shrugged, “You know the rules Bee, any new women and the guys get a pick of them. I can’t change it just because you claim to know her. Go on Craig take her and Bee I suggest you go and ready yourself for dinner I got us a lovely squirrel to eat”, he smiled menacingly before turning to Callum.

  “Yes”, she said and fled out of the room and down the hall.

  “Craig off you two go, I need a word with my old friend here”.

  Craig grabbed my arm and lifted me to my feet dragging me off, I glanced back at Callum who looked heartbroken, his eyes poured it all out to me. He didn’t want Craig to have me or anyone else, I was his and in his heart I could tell he thought he had failed me, he had wanted to protect me from this but it was happening anyway. As Callum vanished from view I was left wondering what the hell I was going to do to get myself and Callum out of this one.

  ~

  Tanya exited the corridor and walked out into the coming night heading to the apartment complex that led to where she needed to go, opening a door she nodded at the two guards that Danny kept at their small living quarters, one block had been designated for just the ‘top guns’ he didn’t want anyone else but them to be down here and if that meant shooting or harming the survivors they had imprisoned to do so then they would. Heading right for their own private flat she opened the door and stormed in, as she did Chantelle the young woman who she considered a friend but knew was only there out of fear stood from the chair she sat on, her dark mahogany hair bounced as she stood.

  “Tanya everything ok?” Chantelle asked her.

  “Get out!” Tanya said, “GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT!” she screamed the last ones.

  Chantelle looked sheepish and looked over at the bed.

  “Just go!” she cried.

  Chantelle done as she was told and left the room hastily, just in time as Tanya threw a large vase she had kept in the room as a decoration it smashed against the front door, she then began to run round the room smashing up the nonworking television, landing a punch right in the screen so the plasma screen cracked before it smashed to the floor, the chest of draws were next as she pulled them over and smashing lights and other objects around the room. She then ran into the bathroom crying, sobbing and screaming, why was Stacie here? How had she even found her? The tears poured down her cheeks at the thought of her sister standing in that cell, so confused, angry, upset over her big sisters reaction but Tanya couldn’t help her, she couldn’t save her and now she had to let her go through all that she had been through, she would have to watch them destroy her, they had done this to her but it had turned her into a monster worse than the creatures that roamed the streets. For Tanya had become a person she very much despised but she had done it out of fear to save her own life and that of…….

  A small cry came from the bedroom and she knew she had woken him, feeling guilty she walked back into the bedroom and made her way over the mess to the bed Chantelle had been looking at, beside it was a small cot and inside it was Tanya’s son, his mass of unruly dark hair framed his tiny delicate features, his dark eyes echoed hers, she reached in and lifted him into her arms cradling him close to her.

  “It’s ok, it’s ok mummy’s here”, she said to him in a sing song voice.

  The small bundle of joy in her arms had been the only thing to keep her alive and going when things had gotten bad, his smile, his face, his aura was the only thing that made her smile anymore, the only thing to keep the flame of life alive in her soul. Settling him back down she then placed him gently back in his cot, rolling over and sucking his thumb he fell back to sleep, sometimes she had wondered of slumbering with him and making sure neither of them woke back up to this cruel world but he had made it so hard with his gurgles of joy whenever he saw her, how could she be the one to end that joy for him? Or be the one to not let him have a chance at life? An idea struck her thoughts, maybe she could give Stacie her son and sneak her out before Danny noticed! Yes it would mean certain death for her but then her boy would be safe with Stacie she had proven herself to be a worthy aunt, keeping her promise to their dad to find her, Tanya was certain Stacie would keep a promise to her too. Maybe at the same time she could let Callum go too to keep them both safe, just as she was sure that’s what she would do the door opened and Danny strolled in.

  He took one look at the mess, flying off the handle he struck Tanya to the floor in a flurry of movement she was again sobbing.

  “What’s all this mess?” he said demanding an answer.

  “My sister I don’t want you or them to hurt her, she’s only young she won’t be able to cope with what Craig might do to her”, she said getting up and holding his face close to hers in the way she did when she wanted him to do something for her. Danny was a monster, a terrible, terrifying human being but she knew deep down inside somewhere he did care for her in his own way, especially since she had given him a son and for that boy he would do anything.

  “You know the rules Bee I cannot change them just because you know her, I would seem weak to be told what to do by you and then what would happen? One of the others might try to revolt against me, try to take me down and take the group for their own and then what? They might just kill you out of spite and I cannot let that happen. I’m sorry. You can visit your sister tonight once she and Craig have become acquainted”, he sighed. He turned her face to his and looked at the red mark that was now blossoming on her cheek, he kissed it softly.

  “It’s ok you try your best I know”, she whispered to him softly.

  His lips met hers and they fell onto the bed in a tangled mess before their son awoke again and cried for his parents. Danny lifted the young child into his arms and huddled him close to them both, “You know I love you both”, he said.
>
  She nodded, “And we love you”. The words didn’t sting her like they used to when he first wanted her to be his, she had in fact in a way fallen for him. She had heard from a man, a doctor who used to be with them that she had Stockholm syndrome where she had fallen for her captor but upon Danny hearing him say this he was quickly dealt with and thrown out to the creatures and she had laughed with him, saying that’s what he deserved but inside she knew that had been wrong, but for him she would do almost anything, even if it meant not being really herself anymore.

  She had changed over the past year and a bit, she had learnt to deal with how her life was now, she had stolen from people to suit herself and her needs, she had killed to make sure her little family was in no threat from people and she had sentenced innocent people to a trial of horrors just to make sure she fitted in with them and that they wouldn’t kill her.

  A knock on the door disturbed their little perfect family moment, for almost a few seconds Tanya forgot where she was and who surrounded them, she had almost believed for that moment they were in their own little world.

  “Come in”, Danny said.

  One of the men walked in looking stressed, “He’s gone!”

  “Who’s gone?”

  “Callum”, the bloke answered.

  “WHAT? How did you imbeciles let him escape?” Danny shouted making the little boy cry. He passed him over to his mother and stood his fists shaking.

  “He must have had a concealed weapon on him, he broke the lock and stabbed Jim and Karin they’re both dead”, the guy answered.

  Danny smacked the bloke round the face like he had with Tanya moments before but with more force sending him flying but the bloke didn’t complain he just stood and composed himself, “I’m sorry Danny, shall I rally the men to do a search?”

  “Yes Dean you do that!”

  Dean turned and left, Danny turned to Tanya, “Look I’ll need to go and look for Callum, you need to stay here and keep him safe”, he said motioning to their child, “I’ll send for Chantelle to come back up and sit with you but until he is caught and safe I want you to stay here, I’ll notify the guards you are not to leave ok”.

  Tanya nodded, “If he goes for Stacie don’t hurt her ok”.

  He nodded, “I’ll try but if she goes for me I won’t hesitate to put her in her place”.

  “Stay safe”, she kissed his cheek.

  He squeezed her hand, “Always”. And with that he turned and left she watched him tell the two guards not to let her out. And she knew it was going to be difficult for her to get to Stacie now, she was on the top floor of the apartments and there was only one set of metal stairs to get down from, she had to come up with a plan and quick.

  A few minutes passed and then Chantelle appeared, she walked in sheepishly waiting for Tanya to speak first. Chantelle was such a lovely girl and luckily she had been a midwife so when they found her and she begged for them to let her live she explained she could help as she noticed Tanya was heavily pregnant at the time, Danny agreed to let her stay and had even chosen one of the nicer of the crew to be her suiter, in fact Chantelle didn’t mind the guy she was with he was one of the better looking and a little more cleanlier than some of the others and he made her laugh which was a rare occasion now a days, or maybe Chantelle too had adapted just like she had.

  Tanya turned to her only friend and spoke quickly, “Pack Cain’s bag, milk, nappies and his teddy. When Danny goes for his next supply run we’re leaving!”

  ~

  I didn’t struggle as Craig began to lead me out of the cell, I took one last look at Callum his eyes showed me it all that he knew I shouldn’t have come here but I knew he would have done the same. I smiled uneasily at him before turning the corner, he vanished out of view and I now felt completely alone. I quickly as I possibly could put up my mental walls as we walked, I could feel the bricks and mortar combine with every step, at least this way I could close myself off and cope with the man and his disgusting desires for me and how he wouldn’t care for me how Callum did. My heart sank as I knew I felt something deep down for Callum, yes he had once been one of these monsters but he had been willing to change and help people like he had tried to help me and now I might never see him again.

  We reached the door and he led me out into the fading light, the walk to the apartments was quick and I had no time to try and find a way out because before I could think he opened a door to a ground floor apartment and shoved me in. Inside the smell was horrendous, a foul stench of human waste and decay reached my nostrils and I had to close my nose off and just breathe through my mouth which was almost just as bad as I could taste it. He turned the light on and I let out a scream of terror. It wasn’t the smell of human waste I could smell, it was the smell of decomposing human bodies, male and female. They had been placed round the small holiday flat at various points, one was standing against a wall in the kitchen area like a mannequin she wore beautiful clothes and a glamorous wig but you knew she was dead by her skin which was a mottled grey colour, she looked rigid as I could see rigor mortis had set into her muscles and those muscles in her hands were stuck solid holding a frying pan and pretending to cook. The other people had been left in pretty much the same state, all dressed up in smart or pretty clothes and placed in certain places or positions like poses for a camera. One was chained to the wall in the living room to make him stand up properly as the way he had set with the rigor mortis meant he leant to one side wobbling, another sat over a small desk reading a newspaper and another sat on the sofa watching the television which had a poster of something stuck to it so it looked like it was on. I felt so sick I nearly passed out this was like a nightmare, their dead eyes staring blindly at me from all angles of the apartment but I forced myself to stay with it. Holding my hands I tried to get rid of the cold sweat that was forming over them, as I did I felt my penknife in my sleeve which he had missed when searching me, I prayed that I might get the opportunity to use it. It might sound silly but I needed all the help I could get.

  “Hey guys this is Stacie”, he said shyly and a little embarrassed, “And Stacie this is my family and friends”. He grinned a smile at me and I could see in his demented mind and eyes that he inside believed these people to be alive, “Here let’s go somewhere more comfortable shall we?” Leading me to the bedroom.

  He sat me on the edge of the bed, stroking my cheek with his grimy hand, he then began to unbutton his top and then his trousers, I grimaced as he stood there bare in front of me, “Lay down, don’t worry I’ll undress you”.

  I felt so sick this couldn’t be happening to me, I wanted to scream out in terror but I knew I had to keep calm and bide my time at the right moment I would take him out. I would not become one of his weird dolls.

  As he began to unbuttoned my trousers I felt strange lying there waiting to kill a man who was so sick in the head, I think even the mad doctor wasn’t this revolting. He sat me up and began to kiss my neck, the smell of his breath made bile reach in my throat but I held myself until I was sure it was the right time. I counted to ten slowly as he then took to smelling my hair and playing with it, maybe he was thinking I wouldn’t need a wig to be one of his dolls, one, two, three, four, five… then the sight of his sudden happy face as he played with my hair brought the anger out of me and I brought the blade out sharp and fast first driving it into his neck, then taking it out and stabbing his chest. He fell screaming out in pain, I had to stop him so he didn’t alert anyone nearby so I jumped on his face then spun the blade and drove it home, he stopped the screaming and breathing all at once but I didn’t, I kept going until his head was a bloody pulp on the old carpet.

  Breathing heavily I then stepped off him, doing up my buttons and breathing a sigh of relief that I wasn’t going to be one of his mannequins, I looked over at the poor buggers that he had standing in his bedroom and I could swear I could see them crack a smile at his demise. Checking his clothes I found a small handgun, it had four bullets in it, tucking it in the
back of my trousers I then trashed his flat looking for anything that might help me, I found a small key which lucky for me unlocked the cuffs, I also found some bullets but only a few more not enough to take down all the big guns with.

  Running to the door I opened it peeking out to see what horrors awaited me here, edging slowly I spotted no immediate threat, closing the door behind me I then took off the way I had come, I needed to help Callum as I had a bad feeling Danny was going to kill him and most likely soon if he hadn’t already but I got the impression Danny was not a bloke of small doings he would make this a public event to all his people to keep them in check and to stop them trying to run away. Which hopefully meant he would do it tomorrow, I just really hoped I wasn’t too late.

  The cool evening air whipped at me as I snuck across the small grounds to where the burnt remains of the hotel where, there wasn’t much light from the sky as it was fading fast and the old street lights that had been placed strategically around the holiday site where non-working. I could just make out the silhouette of some people up ahead so I ducked down hiding behind an old large bin. Their chatting alerted me to the voice of Danny.

  “Yeah we will kill him in the morning, I want him out in the big tent by the stage area. And I will personally enjoy beating him to death oh and once Craig has finished with the girl she can join him. I don’t want her giving Bee any ideas”, he said harshly.

  “Yeah that’s if he survives the night the beating you gave him was pretty awesome”, another guy said.

  “That was just a warm up”, then the voices dispersed as they headed further into the apartment complex, I hoped that they didn’t decided to check in on me and Craig, wishing they would just go to where they needed and leave us to it or not in the case that he was dead and I was hiding out here.

  Looking out from the bin I saw it was again clear so I took off at a sprint towards the hotel, once I had Callum I was going to get Tanya and leave, I felt bad for the other people here but I knew I didn’t have a hope in hell of helping them and I knew damn right that if Callum had been beaten up he would not be in any fit state. Maybe in a few weeks we could come back armed and ready with more people and take them on but for now we could not defeat these monsters.