The next morning Nora woke to the sun that pierced through the windows of the bedroom. It was almost blinding when she opened her eyes. It was no brighter than normal but to her recovering state it was near intolerable. Her hand rose to shield her eyes until they adjusted to the harsh light. Everything that had happened flooded back into her mind. When she remembered the events of last night she gasped and turned but found herself alone in the bed. It was a relief. Her body ached and her head was pounding. Her mind began to race…where were Deacon and Blake? Her worst fear hovered in her mind. Were they dead? She tugged the sheet tightly to herself as she attempted to lift herself from the bed. The chill in the air made her shiver. It was fall and the house was not warm enough to wander around in a sheet.
When she was upright the door clicked unlocked and she nearly fell again when she retreated from it. West entered carrying fresh cloths. B"I hope you slept well."/B He said in a calm voice a smile on his lips that boiled Nora's blood. She said nothing but stared her eyes like daggers at him. Her hand clutched the thin sheet to her naked body. Despite her best efforts she could not keep her body from trembling from the chill. West seemed to notice B"The boiler takes wood to heat the water for the radiators in the rooms and it's rather dangerous to go out tree chopping."/B Nora shook her head and looked at the coil of radiators along the wall she had heard clicking a bit the night before. West continued B"It's better than electric since there isn't any now. I hate to think what is going to happen to some survivors when winter arrives"/B Nora scoffed but said nothing. Could their fate be worse than her own? Survivors left out in the cold but were free while she was at least somewhat warm but basically a slave.
When she hadn't spoken West cleared his throat and offered her the cloths B"Shower is just in there."/B he gestured to the bathroom door. Nora snatched the cloths from him and clutched them to her chest. West released a sigh and folded his hands behind his back B"There is no need for us to dislike each other. You are safe here. You will never want for anything."/B Nora raised a brow B"You're serious? What delusional idea in your mind has lead you to believe that any of this is okay? That I would Iwant/I to stay here! One look at Hannah should tell you it's wrong!"/B West approached her and she retreated but he closed the distance between them and looked down at her. Their eyes met and Nora stiffened her jaw so tightly it hurt. She didn't want to back down or give any sign she was afraid.
West brushed his fingers along her jawline and then thru her hair. B"In time you will see. It is all for the betterment of humanity. We are a dying breed."/B How could someone who had raped her look at her as if nothing had happened…look at her in almost a loving way? Nora hated him for what he had done and how he acted now. Nora shot her hand up and swatted his away from her face. West's hand retreated with the impact of hers yet he retained a demure smile. B"You will learn that what I do is for all of us."/B Nora shook her head B"No…I won't."/B How could a justify what he was doing so easily to himself? West sucked in a breath B"Well, I'll leave you to it then. Jones is preparing breakfast. You have ten minutes."/B with that he left the room and shut the door and locked it.
Nora let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. The thoughts of a shower lightened her mood just a little bit. The bathroom was good size and still had some shampoos in it. Obviously designed for a woman so that might have been why they were still there. Nora turned on the shower and it sputtered to life until it became a steady stream. It was warm on her skin. The water rolled over her and it was indescribable. Washing away the nightmare of last night. Her hands roamed her body lathering soap over her skin that she found bruised in places. Most noticeably her hips were West had gripped so tightly. Her wrists were slightly discolored but not enough to notice. Another small bruise where he had shoved the needle into her arm. For a long moment she simply let the water wash over her until the suds were gone.
Drying off she inspected the cloths West had brought to her. Seems he didn't want her wearing anything that was a challenge to remove. Yoga type pants and a shirt that had sleeves to the elbows. A simple pair of white socks and no shoes. They fit her body better than if she had picked them out. The pants were smooth along her legs but not tight. Nora let out a sigh feeling a bit defeated that she was wearing what someone else had chosen for her. A knock at the door caused her to jump. It was followed by a voice and the door unlocking and opening B"Are you read for breakfast?"/B it was Clifton. She came from the bathroom to see him standing there waiting for her.
When she had first arrived he had been wearing an army uniform, a winter cap and was probably as dirty a person she had seen since showers became scarce. Now he was without his cap and wearing simple jeans and a dark blue t-shirt. It looked as though he had showered and trimmed his facial hair. She might have thought him attractive were it not for the fact that she knew in six days he would be the one raping her. B"Yes."/B she finally answered and followed him down the stairs towards the large dining room. At first glance she could see Hannah sitting at the end of the table that same blank stare in her eyes at the far wall. Nora felt her heart tighten and the urge to unleash on them all was something she had to fight. She knew she couldn't win.
Clifton led her to the chair at West's right side and Nora hesitated B"I'd…I'd like to sit by Hannah."/B she held her breath waiting for an answer. Oh how she hated asking permission to sit where she wanted. After a moment of contemplation a smile formed on West's face and he nodded B"Yes, of course. You girls should get to know one another."/B Nora released her breath and moved to sit down by Hannah. She was unaware of all the eyes on her. Mitchell the worst of them.
When Nora sat down Hannah didn't seem to notice at first. Her eyes stared blankly at the wall and her body remained unmoving. The only sign of life came from her chest moving with her breaths. Once everyone had started eating Nora looked toward West who sat at the head of the table B"Where's my husband and Blake?"/B Several of the men stopped eating but West took another bite and chewed slowly before he swallowed. He followed it with a long gulp of water and then dabbed his mouth with a napkin before he spoke B"They were noncompliant."/B and when it seemed he was going to leave it at that Nora clutched the tablecloth B"So what happen to them?"/B she prepared for the worst when West answered B"They are in the boiler room. To remain there until they can either cooperate with our terms, be turned back out into the infected world or terminated."/B Nora felt her blood pumping faster.
West returned to his eating. Why was he always so damn calm and acted as if everything was an everyday happening. It infuriated Nora. She stared at her plate of food thinking about her husband and Blake in the basement. Knowing West was determining their fate. She knew they would never go along with any of this. Nora turned her attention to Hannah and she spoke softly B"Can you speak?"/B and at first it seemed Hannah had not heard her. Just as Nora was about to say it again Hannah's eyelid fluttered as if coming out of a daze and she turned to look at Nora. The men all watched intently as it was the first signs of life from the girl since West had first taken her innocence and Selena had died.
Hannah looked much older than she was. Her face worn and full of worry. B"I…"/B Hannah began but stopped as if she had forgotten her words. Nora held out her open hand under the table which Hannah took and their fingers laced together. Some of the men chuckled and West looked pleased so they all went back to eating. When attention was not so much on her and Hannah anymore she spoke softly B"I'll get you out of here."/B but Hannah shook her head B"You can't…no…Selena tried. Just don't…it's too late anyways."/B Nora didn't understand until Hannah held her stomach with a disgusted look on her face.
Nora shot up from her seat to stand and scream at West and the rest of them B"You sick bastards!"/B It had been totally impulsive of her and she hadn't even realized what she had done until West put his fork down and stood up slowly. She dreaded his reaction but didn't want to show her fear. B"I knew you were a rapist pig but forcing her to carry a child for any of you sick fucks is beyond words!"/B A few of the men cleared their throats and started to stand until West held out his hand and they relaxed. B"What did you think it mean to save humanity?"/B he asked and Nora spat her words B"You cannot rationalize what you've done."/B Nora still had a hold of Hannah's hand and when she moved she tugged the girl along with her which caused the rest of the men to stand up. For all they knew she was carrying one of their very own children.
West let out a sigh and gestured out his hands B"What will you do, hmm? There are more of us, well-armed. There is no escape for you…either of you."/B he looked back and forth between the two. Nora's grip on Hannah's hand was tight. She debated running but how far would she get. Her eyes darted around the room looking for something, anything she could use. A steak knife was the closest thing she found. Her right hand held onto it with the edge pointed at those advancing on her. Hannah seemed un phased by the situation even numb. Given her treatment and trauma it was no wonder. B"You can't…they're never going to let us go."B she held onto Nora's hand who still brandished the blade as the soldiers closed the distance.
On instinct Nora fled the dining room towards the front door. There really was no chance of her escaping with the mine field and the infected but it was an instinctual thing she just wanted freedom. As she ran she drug Hannah behind her. When they reached the fence the path was marked with steaks where it was safe to walk. A small path the soldiers used. B"We'll never make it."/B Hannah's voice full of doubt. They had broken her down over the weeks but Nora saw that her being here was bringing the girl out of it.
West and the other soldiers joined her in the courtyard overlooking the main yard littered with mines. B"Where will you go. You have no weapons."/B Nora was painfully aware of that fact and the hopelessness threatened to overwhelm her but she wouldn't allow it. She threw the knife and it sailed thru the air until it went into Mitchell's left shoulder. He let out a groan followed by B"You bitch!"/B he took off after them B"Mitchell stand down!"/B came West's voice but it fell on deaf ears. Then another voice shouted B"Infected!"/B an explosion rocked the ground as an infected ran over a mine.
Nora and Hannah both covered their ears. Two infected ran along the path towards them while Mitchell ran up behind them. Gunfire erupted from lookout points mowing down infected drawn to the explosion. Hannah frantically looked forward at the infected coming then back at the advancing Mitchell. In a split decision which surprised Nora she ran towards and past Mitchell back into the mansion. B"Hannah NO!"/B but what did Nora expect. They had no weapons and infected were closing in. Nora turned in time to see an infected a few yards away. She tugged one of the marking steak up and spun so she drove it into the temple of the infected which fell lifeless to the ground. The next lunged at her and she drove the pointed steak into its jaw and up into its brain.
Just as she thought she could make it using the steak she was tackled to the ground. Still on the path but no on her stomach with Mitchell on top of her breathing into her ear B"Caught you didn't I, you little bitch."/B He held her down and removed his belt. The gunfire began to die down as Mitchell used his belt to bind her wrists behind her back. B"Come on now, let's get up."/B he lifted her by her bound wrists and with his opposite hand he groped the valley between her legs from on top of her thin pants. Nora bucked and thrashed her body B"That'll be enough Mitchell."/B she heard West's voice from behind them. B"All of us inside now."/B he commanded and Mitchell tugged Nora's arm so she stumbled alongside him.
Once inside they stood next to a large statue of a man with a snake wrapping around him. West stood in front of Nora by a few inches and she had to look up at him with his height over her own. Mitchell's grip on her arm was turning her flesh white. B"Take her to my room."/B Mitchell grinned and started to pull Nora. She resisted and stomped her foot down on his so he lost his balance just enough for her to shove him and get loose. Again she was tackled but by Clifton this time who lifted her up and brought her to West who motioned Mitchell B"Help him hold her."/B West withdrew a needle and Nora began to struggle. Bending her knees so her body rose and fell with protest B"No…don't."/B West brought the needle towards her arm and waited for a moment the men were able to hold her just enough and stuck it into her arm and depressed the plunger B"Until you can be trusted I suppose we will do things the hard way."/B again Nora felt herself go limp. She wasn't losing consciousness but most of her mobility was leaving her. B"Now to my room."/B West motioned to the stairs.
Mitchell began to tug Nora up the stairs and whispered B"Just wait until you're in my room…you won't walk right the whole week. You deserve it little bitch."/B his steps paused when West spoke loudly B"Clifton will take her."/B Mitchell seemed disappointed but shoved her at the other man who supported her weak body up the stairs and into West's room. Nora heard the door shut and then she was dropped onto the bed. B"You…shouldn't fight so much. You'll only make it worse."/B she heard Clifton's voice. Nora huffed while she attempted to crawl off the bed B"What do you know. You're not on my end of it."B she tried to stand but found she was unable to and had to sit back down on the bed while she listened to Clifton B"West will probably bring your lunch up when it's time. Selena was like you at the start…it didn't end well for her. I just don't want to see it happen again."/B Nora nodded B"Yeah…sure was a bummer to lose a handy piece of ass."/B in response he did nothing but stare at the ground and rub the back of his neck. Without another word he shut and locked the door.