AN: I really don't like this chapter at all. It took me ages to write and I kept rewriting and adding bits and stuff. I'm still not happy with it but whatever. I hope you like it :)
'Take what you want,
Steal my pride,
Build me up,
Cut me down to size,
Shut me out,
But I'll just scream,
I'm only one voice in a million,
But you ain't taking that from me.'
-Strip Me, Natasha Bedingfield
'Go away.' Beth snapped and Drake almost faltered, almost. He hadn't been expecting this.
With a languid smile he moved towards her, his whip hand flicking the door shut with a slam. 'I don't think so.' He said and continued towards her. Beth's jaw clenched and she held her ground, but it glimmered in her eyes for just a second, giving her away in an instant, fear.
'I'm not going with you.' She said, holding her chin up, fixing him with a glare.
'Yes,' Drake laughed, 'yes, you are.'
Below them, her sensitive ears heard Orc moving around with heavy thumps. She wondered if he was coming up to save her. If she could stall Drake for just a little longer she would be safe. Unfortunately the boy had more pressing issues to deal with and he wasn't about to wait around for her little rebellion to pass. His human hand slammed up against the wall beside her, inches from her face, and he leant over her threateningly.
'We're going, now.' He snarled.
Beth was at least a head smaller than him and she crossed her arms over her chest, looking up at him with hate filled eyes. 'I don't want to stay with you,' she said between gritted teeth. 'Why can't you just leave me alone?'
'You're not leaving.' Drake snarled, seeming to forget the fact that he was the one who had intruded into her bedroom.
She however, hadn't. 'No, you are.' And then she drew back her arm and punched him straight in the nose.
It wasn't a particularly good punch, and although she had intended for his nose she caught him on the side of his jaw. Either way, the message hit home, literally. Drake took a step back, momentarily surprised and Beth was off. She ducked under his arm and scrambled over the bed. Her hand closed around the handle of the door and she got it open a crack before strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back and throwing her down onto the bed. Beth sobbed, clawing at the bed sheets as she tried to put as much distance between them as she could. Drake stalked towards her like a predator, his expression a picture of cold fury. He knocked away the pillow that was hurled in his direction and grabbed her round the neck, lifting her up and slamming her against the wall. Beth clawed at his wrist with both hands, choking for air.
'That wasn't a very good idea.' He snarled, leaning closer to her, the moonlight from outside casting shadows to dance across his face.
'Let me go.' Beth whispered.
Drake continued, 'but then you were never one for good ideas, were you?' He smirked.
'Please.'
'As much as I would like to watch you trot off to freedom, I'm afraid times ticking, and we better go. Don't want Sammy turning up now do we?' His lizard eyes searched hers in a way she found disconcerting and she tried to turn away from his harsh glare.
He grabbed her chin; turning her head back to face him and Beth tried to speak when suddenly his lips crashed down onto hers. Her world went silent. Her eyes widened and she tried to push him off but his grip on her jaw got stronger as his warm lips moved against hers. An unfamiliar feeling washed over Beth and her eyes flickered shut, as she seemed to melt into the kiss. It was over as soon as it had started and Drake was moving away. She stared at him and raised her hand to her mouth, softly touching her lips with her fingertips. She watched as he paced back and forth for a couple of seconds, his expression troubled.
'I don't-,' she started to say but he suddenly snarled and rounded on her. She saw a flash of his cold eyes, the swing of his fist, and then her world spun and she slumped onto the ground.
He grabbed her wrist and hauled her to her feet, turning on his heel. A first she followed along behind him silently, obediently, until she realised this was her last chance. She dug her heels into ground, yanked back on his arm, and slammed both of their arms against the wall. She even tried to bite him again which resulted in a hard slap to her cheek. She had been correct in thinking Orc was moving about. He appeared from the kitchen, swinging at Drake. Drake ducked, releasing Beth, and snapping his whip hand. It cracked against Orc's bulky shoulder but the boy didn't flinch. He just kept coming. With a movement Orc could never have followed, Drake darted round the back of him and drew his whip back. It snapped, catching Orc on the side of his face, on his only remaining human flesh. He howled, blood streaming from the gash. Drake laughed delightedly, his eyes shining.
While he reveled over his new triumph, Beth crawled into the kitchen. She got to her feet, flashing a smile at Howard who was holding the door open. He looked grave, his attention focused on the fight in the lounge. He was hardly the type to do something for another person unless it involved his own personal gain, but he had a soft spot for Beth and he ushered her out the door, watching her run away into the darkness.
She sprinted down Golding Road, rounding the corner and onto the street that lead to Ralph's. She knew where she was going, it was clear in her mind, if she could just… A pair of arms wrapped around her waist, a hand over her mouth, and she was dragged backwards. Beth screamed into the hand and writhed in the hold. The slam of a car door alerted her attention and before she could think anymore of it she was roughly pushed into the back of the SUV. The locks clicked behind her. She gasped when she saw his face.
'I'm sorry.' Panda mouthed hopelessly through the window.
Beth smacked her hand against the glass in frustration and slumped onto the back seat, angrily pushing her hair out of her face. Outside she could hear Drake running up to the car, quickly talking with Panda before the front doors opened and they both jumped in. Hands shaking, Panda turned the key in the ignition, gently easing the car down the road.
'You're…you're sick.' Beth stammered, breaking the silence.
Drake sighed, winding his whip hand around his waist. He put his foot up onto the dashboard and smiled to himself. 'I preferred you before, you know.' He remarked. 'When you weren't all…this.' He waved his hand at her.
'All what?' She said.
He snapped his fingers, making both her and Panda jump. 'That! Right there, see, you wouldn't have answered back just then. We'll have to fix that.'
'I'm not doing anything for you.' She retorted, the image of the young boy's dead face flashing in her mind.
'We'll see.'
Beth shrieked as she was dragged by her hair from the car. Her feet kicked up a flurry of gravel, grazing her bare legs. She spun in his grasp, knocking her heel back into his shin. He grunted and slammed his elbow into her stomach and she doubled over, coughing helplessly. The commotion had caused quite a crowd to gather outside the huge double doors of the building and they watched, open mouthed, as Beth screamed and pushed back against the stronger boy.
'Your stupid pets finally come to her senses then, huh?' A voice drawled from the top of the steps and Drake glared up at her. Diana smirked. 'How does it feel, Drake? To be rejected by something as psychotic as you.'
'Shut up.' He snarled back, and then he suddenly spun and released Beth for a minute. She didn't realise it before it was too late and he smacked her round her head, causing her world to plunge into darkness and she dropped to the ground in a heap.
