I wanted to thank everyone who has read my story(stories) and those who have taken the time to offer me their feedback. I have read every single one.
My biggest concern is that I don't want to disappoint you all. So, with that in mind, I know this chapter isn't that long, but it brings to end the round-up and the next chapter moves on to "the auction" and other fun stuff. )
I stop at particular points for various reasons. I hope you all don't mind that. :)
Without further adieu, here is Chapter 6 of Paper Dolls.
Muffled cries echoed throughout the cargo hold of the massive truck. With the wind howling and the rain pelting against the brown tarp, it seemed almost enough to drown out most of the noise. Almost. Serena still heard them. Felt her fingers clench and un-clench at the sound of the desperate sobs; the moans of defeat.
The vehicle lurched again over the rocky pavement and Serena found herself gripping the wooden bench, her body trying to move as far as she could from the nightwalker who sat beside her; his large body, no weapon in hand, the only thing blocking them from escaping. Not as if they could escape as another truck raced behind them and more than likely, a solid row of trucks followed behind that one. Though, Serena mused as she shifted her sapphire eyes from beneath her dark hoodie to take in the nightwalker beside her; that was a death she would readily accept.
He was dressed similar to Darien, though this one's hair was a flaming red instead of Darien's onyx shade. He seemed to keep his eyes focused out, the deep red moving at a speed that was difficult to keep up with. His body posture seemed relaxed, as his hands were folded loosely on his lap.
"So you know a few of them?"
Serena whipped her head towards the woman sitting beside her; an older woman, probably mid-fifties, with soft brown hair and equally soft brown eyes. The roots of her hair were beginning to gray, but it didn't take away from the woman's beauty. But the longer they stared at one another, the colder the woman's eyes began to look.
"I…" What could she say? Stammering seemed like the best and the only option at the moment as more eyes turned towards her; looks of disgust and betrayal were the most obvious emotions playing across the faces of the women around her.
"I heard you mention two of their names earlier. Did you think bartering your flesh would save you during a round-up?" The chuckle that followed made Serena's skin crawl. Did they really think she was sleeping with these creatures? Looking around, Serena had to bite her inner cheek to stop the soft cry that wanted to escape her lips. Some women made direct eye contact while others kept their heads down and shaking. Why didn't she just keep her mouth shut? Did she truly think Darien or Jakob would actually step in and…Serena paused for a moment. And what? Save her? She was a disposable human. A weak play thing. That was all. His rouse was nothing but a sick twisted joke.
With a labored breath, more from shame, Serena held the woman's eyes as she responded, "I am not sleeping with those creatures."
Another voice filled the cabin as the rain seemed to pick up in intensity, "So you just expect us to think you know a few nightwalkers and expected to live freely? To be dismissed from the round-up?"
Sucking in a breath, Serena turned her head away from the stares. The looks of disdain were enough to crack even her hard shell.
They could think what they want. She understood what she did-that she admitted to knowing two of them by their personal names. Wouldn't anyone, any human, want to live? Wouldn't anyone, a mother or father, beg for their life as well? They could judge her; that she probably earned. However, they could not condemn her. She was certain of that.
She glanced cautiously up at the nightwalker beside her, as he seemed to have turned his head at the accusations and was now staring down at her, his back pressed comfortably against the railing behind him. If she didn't know any better, she swore there was a slight smirk gracing his lips. Glaring, Serena turned her head to look down at her booted feet, the only place where there were no eyes staring back. Feeling the older woman lean in had Serena glancing to her left, her eyes searching the depths of the other woman's hoping she would understand; Seeking understanding and perhaps, an ounce of forgiveness.
However, her next words left Serena with a sudden ache that started in her heart and spread like wildfire throughout her body. Perhaps forgiveness was meant for heavenly creatures.
"Deny it all you want whore, but you turned your back on your own species the moment their names left those ruby red lips."
The rain seemed to increase as the truck began to slow and eventually come to screeching halt. With the truck stopping, silent screams began to descend from all around, voices from the other trucks carrying over and amplified by the storm.
Serena felt her hands quiver as the nightwalker jumped down and dropped the minor bed-door. His movements were quick as he pulled a small stool out from underneath the wooden bench. His red eyes looked up as the women cowered, pushing the ones against the walls even more so.
"Out." His voice, though quiet, echoed through the bed of the truck, a hint of an accent, similar to Darien's, could be heard.
Serena swallowed hard. She wasn't sure if her heart would stay beneath her skin as she looked back towards the women behind her. Even the older woman from before was staring wide eyed, her face completely ashen in the dark space. Was this the end for all of them?
Thunder and lightning rumbled behind the nightwalker, as the rain seemed to drench his large body within seconds; almost engulfing him in a surreal way.
"Out!" His bellow seemed to increase in annoyance and anger and so with one final glance back, Serena inched forward slowly.
Swallowing proved difficult as Serena placed a shaking hand on the bench and scooted towards the nightmare of a creature before her. Making sure her hood was in place, she jumped off the back and stood, her eyes trying to see in the darkness what was going on around them but the heavy rain made it almost impossible to see beyond her own hands. The only sounds were whimpers and moans and the coming thunder.
Turning back to the truck, Serena shivered as a cold wind slithered past as more women began to exit the truck. Shouting could be heard from each direction as women were ordered to form lines based on age.
"Any woman who is forty or older to the right! Any woman under forty to the left! Move!"
Serena felt her boots slop in the mud as she quickly followed orders, unsure of what else to do.
"What do you think they'll do to us?"
Serena felt her heart soften at the young woman before her. Her short cropped black hair and wide midnight eyes looked off in such a setting-like she belonged somewhere peaceful, not here. Not parading through the mud like pigs. None of them belonged here. Eyeing the ground, Serena gave a soft sigh, watching her breath be carried away by the wind. "I'm not sure."
The woman nodded, her arms wrapping around her thin waist as the rain seemed to increase.
More shouts could be heard and a solid "MOVE!" was given as the women pushed not so gently forward.
Serena looked up as lightning broke through the sky, lighting up what was before them. Her sapphire eyes scanned as quickly as possible. Her heart sunk at what laid before them. Two massive barn style structures stood off in the distance; one the younger line was marching towards and one the older line was marching too.
They stood tall, easily ten stories high, and while she could not see the end of them, Serena could only assume they were just as long.
The mud sloshed up past her boots, staining her pants and making her skin crawl from the sudden coldness. She could hear the women sniffling and wailing around her, the impending doom seemed to follow them like the rain clouds above; never ceasing its torment.
"It will be over soon. Yeah. It doesn't matter at this point, right?" Whispering to herself seemed futile as the barn like doors opened before them as more nightwalkers came out and ushered them in, barking orders.
"You go where we say you go! You will be given a number! When that number is called you are to come to the front of your gate! Do not try to hide!"
Serena glanced up into another pair of blood red eyes as a piece of cardboard with black ink on it was shoved in her hand. Feeling her heart race, Serena felt certain her heart would give out before anything actually happened.
She looked around her as lanterns hung from the ceiling, swaying from the wind that seeped through the cracks. Tall chain-link fences stood on either side of them, easily reaching the ceiling, with women shoved in boxed sections. Passing over thirty sections, each filled to the brink with young women, had her heart sinking to her feet.
When the group of women before her was shoved into another section, with the gate closing with a resounding click of the lock, Serena watched the nightwalker open another gate, signaling her to move.
Darien had lied. He wasn't going to keep her safe. He wasn't going to come and rescue her. Why did she even attempt to believe him? Was everything just a sick and twisted game for these hell-bound creatures?
Feeling her lips tremble as she took a shaky but much needed deep breath, Serena made her way inside, her body shuddering from the look of the nightwalker holding the gate open; His blood red eyes seeming to follow her as she moved to an empty spot against the barn wall. Turning and staring back, Serena felt the warm liquid run down her cheek again as more women were shoved inside and the gate closed and locked.
The nightwalker cocked his head to the side as he watched her, his nose seeming to sniff the air. With a final sniff, his lips pulled back into a dark smile, his fangs glinting from the light from the lanterns above.
His blood eyes bore into her sapphire ones as he gave a mock bow, his voice carrying over the wailing that increased as the lanterns flickered off. "Get some sleep ladies. You'll need it."
What seemed like hours had passed before the noise level came to sudden stop. Exhaustion won out as most of the women huddled together, for warmth or comfort; some whispers of prayers being said in the darkness. Serena glanced their way, wondering if she should join them, as her hands and feet felt frozen stiff. However, the words from the truck raced across her mind.
'I am a traitor. I wanted out of this. I didn't want to suffer with my own kind.'
Feeling more shame than before, Serena slid to the ground, groaning softly as she went as her body fought against the movement, and pulled her knees to her chest and rocked gently. It seemed all surreal as her body trembled from her still soaked clothes and dread. Was it only last night that she was in the warmth of her own bed?
The wind seemed to howl as it slipped across the barn structure; more thunder rolled in the distance as lightning broke through the cracks, offering bouts of light.
Resting her head on her knees, Serena looked around one more time before her own exhaustion took her away.
Well. I decided to stop it there. I know. I should combine or write longer chapters. But alas, I guess my "writing style" continues to stick with this.
I wonder if Darien DID really leave her to die? That would make for a twisted ending, eh?
~LAla