Writers Notes: There is a section in here that is about as close to "adult content" as this story gets, but I didn't feel it was worth turning over the T rating for that small part. If you are sensitive (or underaged) towards R-like material, then I recommend you skip/scroll past the second section between Lucia and Major West since it's meant for character development rather than actual plot.
P.S. I didn't realize the Chapter 6 I posted was an old verison, so I updated it with the newer one which contains a few minor additions/corrections to the dialogue and a few key parts that might be referred to later in the story (you probably won't even miss them.) I also would like to say that I appreciate the kind reviews :)
30 Days After by Lastlegolife
Chapter 7: Bitter Escape
The sun was out again finally and it was the perfect time to wash the drapes and hang the rest of the wet bed covers outside. To the ladies dismay the clotheslines were in the area where the Major kept an infected former soldier, Private Mailer, for a pet. Selena found a roll of plastic rope and created her own line across the courtyard. Most things were hand washed to save water. Things that were very dirty were sent through a generator powered washing machine in the basement.
Selena appeared in the entryway to the courtyard carrying a basket-load of silvery drapes. She went over to Lucia who was hanging up her own basket of laundry. They hadn't spent much time together since the commanding officer made her his roommate two days ago.
"So, how's it feel to be First Lady of the Household?" She said in an acidic tone.
"What are you talking about?" Lucia lowered her voice. Bedford and Bell were engaged in a conversation near the house. "This wasn't my idea."
"Yeah?" Selena wasn't convinced. She started hanging up her sheets. "What was then? The part where you safeguarded your life being the bosses bitch or was it when you sold me out to those bastards?"
"Keep your voice down," Lucia checked to make sure the men hadn't heard her. "Listen to me. It was all Henry's doing. He was going to move me wether I agreed to it or not. I had to bargain with him to protect Hannah."
"Henry is it now? Sounds like you just want to protect yourself!"
"I'm telling the truth!" Lucia struggled to keep her voice low. "I'm no better off than I was before. I told him I'd cook if they stay away from her. As long as I keep being his bitch Hannah is safe for now."
Selena's face softened as she looked down at the sheet in her hand. She let her anger out in a heavy sigh. "Somehow I don't think that agreement will last very long. There's nothing stopping them you realize. I think we're lucky they haven't upgraded to torture."
It was Lucia's turn to sigh heavily. "I know. It's a troubling thought. He seems to be planning something but he hasn't told me what."
"How do you mean?"
"He keeps writing something in a book."
"What book?"
"I don't know. I've never seen it. He keeps it locked in a safe."
"Well," Selena continued, deciding the mysterious book wasn't important, "Any ideas about how we're going to get out of here. If I have to sleep with Clifton one more time I'll kill myself."
"I've been wracking my brains for days. We need a vehicle." She checked the soldiers again. The Major was standing with them now, watching her. She tried to move her lips as little as possible while keeping up her work pace. "Keep an eye out for keys to that jeep."
"The Sergeant had those yea?"
"Yeah," Lucia finished her drapes and helped Selena with the sheets. "Clifton might have them now."
"We have to get them to lower their guard til we can make our move."
They worked in silence for a moment.
"I don't know how long I can keep this up Lucia." Selena admitted. "I keep worrying about what happened to Jim and what might happen to Hannah. She's better off dead then having to live like this."
"We have to try," Lucia replied thoughtfully. She wiped away a bead of sweat that had escaped the scarf holding back her hair. She quickly checked the soldiers again and saw that the Major was gone. "Hannah doesn't deserve this and neither do we. Fight until there's nothing left."
"I suppose you're right," Selena didn't sound convinced but straightened her posture as if she were. "Do it for Hannah, if nothing else."
"Lucy!" Bedford beckoned her over from afar.
"Whatever we do, we better do it fast." Lucia acknowledged him with a wave of her hand. "I think he's trying to get me pregnant."
Stunned, Selena watched on as Lucia headed into the house.
The Private pointed the American girl toward the staircase where Major West stood waiting for her. Skeptical she approached him cautiously.
"You wanted to see me?" She asked.
What now?
The older man politely gestured for her to walk ahead of him. "After you."
Lucia slowly ascended the staircase glancing back at him nervously. He ushered her to the master bedroom, allowing her to go in first, and locked the door behind him. He pulled off his jacket and dropped it carelessly on the floor.
One arm slid around her waist while the other pulled off the scarf holding back her hair. Lucia dropped her hands at her sides and stiffened. He rubbed her cheek with his thumb and then let it wander into her mouth. She didn't fight nor did she have a choice. The soldier kissed her passionately and slowly backed her against the vanity table. He squeezed her arm and she jerked back in pain. West paused a moment and realized that she was still sore from the late Corporals attack. He stroked her face apologetically and started to undress her.
Lucia wasn't the prettiest of the lot but she wasn't terribly unattractive either. She had more baggage than the other two women in the house but he didn't find it at all unsatisfying. Since she had moved in he found several things to like about her and that made spending their quality time alone more interesting. One thing he liked in particular was her insecure, serious exterior which she used to mask how vulnerable she truly was. He found pleasure in exposing it.
At least an hour had passed.
The couple finally found their way from the table to the bed where the Major continued to make love with his new body slave. Usually Lucia would try to let her mind ignore the things happening to her while her body responded as it was meant to do, but this time it was impossible. There was a lust in his eyes that she had never seen before. He was taking his time with her, watching her reactions and timing them carefully to his rhythmic strokes. She had already climaxed several times. He was well overdue for another.
West ran his palms vertically along her neck and planted a sloppy kiss on her lips. "Waverley... "
The Major preferred to use her real name while they were alone. He fancied the idea of being the only one to know her true identity for some reason. In return he insisted she use his first name in private though she stubbornly preferred not to.
"Huh?" It came out as a moan.
"Say my name," he repeated. "I want to hear you say it."
When she didn't respond, he closed his fingers firmly around her throat without skipping a thrust. Not to choke her, but just a warning. Lucia whimpered and did as she was told. He was talking to her now but she couldn't make out the words. His mouth was pressed against her cheek and his lips tugged at her earlobe.
She came. The soldier repositioned his hands around her body and drove for his own release. With a deep groan Major West climaxed. He collapsed on top of her panting heavily. They'd finally finished.
Lucia lay still beneath West, unsure how long he intended to hold her down like this again... inside of her. She relaxed to allow him an opportunity to move but to her dismay, he didn't budge. Usually he withdrew at the proper time, but the bastard had gotten lazy and far more demanding since she'd moved in. It was moments like this which led Lucia to believe her suspicions were true.
West finally lifted his head and wiped a lock of sweat-drenched hair out of her eyes. "Good girl."
Tired and frustrated, she eased her way out from underneath him and staggered to the bathroom to wash up.
"Thanks babe," He smiled as the door slammed shut.
Lucia returned downstairs to find Selena in the kitchen washing dishes. Hannah had been left behind in Private Bell's care to finish the rest of the laundry. Dinner time was nearly an hour away. West declared to her as she left that he would take full responsibility for supper being late yet again. The jackass couldn't help but to find some way to display how much power he had over her.
'Just add water' would be her motto for the day. Tonight Lucia decided to make a vegetarian stew using canned vegetables and dry soup mix with instant mashed potatoes and gravy. Imitation butter would be her secret weapon choice for the night. Bedford sat guard in a chair by the kitchen door engrossed in an outdated fashion magazine. He flipped briskly through the pages using his imagination voodoo on the couture models.
A short while later, Clifton arrived at the top of the stairs with Hannah at his side. He and Jones had spent the afternoon gathering more fire wood for the boiler. The keys to the vehicle that carried them home jingled loosely from a steel clip attached to his belt catching Lucia's attention. "Bedford, go help 'em unload the truck, will yah. I'll keep an eye on them."
Bedford tossed his magazine aside and left the room. Hannah went to the stove to help lay out the bowls to be filled on the table.
Lucia moved close to Selena and spoke in a low voice. "It's time."
Clifton sat in the chair with his gun braced against his knee and watched the women work with mild interest.
Selena turned to the younger girl. "Hannah, leave that for now and help Lucy, yeah?"
Hannah nodded and moved near Lucia as Selena picked up a handful of silverware and took the longer route around the kitchen table to retrieve the serving cart from it's place in the corner. As she crossed the room a spoon accidently flew free of her hand and landed near Clifton's boot. Amused, he watched as she bent down to pick up and turn away from him slowly. As predicted he landed a sharp slap across her rump. She turned to him angrily.
"Must you keep doing that?" She growled.
"Yes I must," he smirked and did it again.
Selena tried to knock his hand away and missed. She took a step toward him, further provoking a confrontation. "You're nothing but bastards all of you!"
Clifton took the bait. He rose to his feet, leaving his gun on the floor, and closed the gap between them. He chuckled, daring her to make a move. "You weren't saying that the other night." He mused. "Speaking of which it's my turn tonight bitch. And you can bet you won't forget it."
The unruly soldier wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed her hips into his. Hannah and Lucia continued working as if they were blind to what was happening on the other side of the room. Dropping the spoons, Selena struggled with Clifton as he tried to back her up into the table. With a quick shift of her hips she turned in the opposite direction. He followed her movements and instead used his weight to press her smaller form against the wall with his back to the room.
"Get his keys. Be careful," Lucia whispered to Hannah.
The young brunette nodded and tip-toed across the room. Lucia began to stir the pot of vegetarian stew, purposely scraping the spoon along the sides of the pot to mask the sounds of Hannah's movement.
Clifton kept his attention on Selena. He placed his forearm against her neck while the other roughly stroked the length of her body. "You haven't forgotten what it feels like, have yah yet?"
Selena's lower lip trembled. It took a moment for him to realize she was tugging at his jacket. Rather than pushing him away he discovered she was actually caressing his torso beneath the thin layer of clothing. He lowered the offending arm around her neck and locked lips with her in a sloppy kiss.
Hannah moved in, trying hard to not make her presence known. The keys dangled loosely from his waist. She wrapped her slender fingers around the clip. Clifton shifted suddenly, interrupting her, and planted wet kisses around Selena's neck. Making brief eye contact with the younger girl, Selena silently begged for her to hurry. She quickly raised Clifton's face back to her lips. The soldier seemed to had forgotten all sense of duty.
Hannah tried again, lacing her fingers around the clip and slowly started to work the hook over the loop on the hem of his pants. She held the keys tightly in her fist to prevent them from jingling. Selena raised her knee and brushed it against his thigh, allowing Hannah to quickly work the hook free without causing alert. Clifton merely took the intimate act as a well deserved invitation.
"Oy!"
The women flinched in unison. Everyone snapped their heads around in the direction the voice had come from. Bedford stood in the doorway, his eyes fixated on Hannah who stood frozen with terror.
Clifton quickly followed his comrades gaze to the teenager lurking behind him. "Stealing from me are yah?!"
He released the African goddess and snatched his keys away from her with one hand and landed a slap on her cheek with the other. Hannah cried out and clutched her face. With an animalistic growl, Selena lurched at Clifton's back. She wrapped her legs around his waist and clawed at his face. He bumped the table launching a few bowls on the floor where they shattered into several pieces.
Bedford hurried over to pull the wild woman away from his friend but he was intercepted by a flying pot that landed a direct hit on his skull. He stumbled upon impact and quickly regained his balance. He looked up in time to see Lucia swing a large frying pan at his temple. She connected and he went down.
Clifton swore as he tried to wrestle Selena off of him. The African goddess suddenly hopped down as Lucia's frying pan smashed over the soldier's capitulum. He clutched his head and reached out to grab one of them but they moved away. Realizing the danger he was in, he cried for assistance. Selena kicked the back of his knees causing him to lose his balance and fall, grunting as he hit the ground. Hannah joined in the brawl and kicked at Clifton's back. They had to silence him fast but they feared that they had already wasted too much time.
Selena snatched up the keys. "We gotta go now!"
The three girls hurried towards the steps. Bedford who was presumably knocked out, reach out for the nearest ankle and dragged it to the ground. Lucia kicked at him violently with her other foot. He pulled her towards him with the intention of pinning her down. Hannah and Selena intercepted and kicked at his hands and face but he held on tight.
Clifton stumbled over the trio and wrapped his arms around smallest attacker and lifted her away from the others.
"Let go of me! Selena!" She felt his heated breath against her skin as he cried out at the top of his lungs for help.
It came.
Private Davis and Private Bell flew into the room quickly accessing the situation. They each took one of Selena's arms and pulled her away to another corner of the room. She kicked and screamed in frustration. Bedford's grip finally loosened and Lucia climbed to her feet only to be tackled by Jones from behind.
"Stop it, Lucy! Stop!" He pleaded as she continued to struggle. Bedford came over to help subdue her. "Stop fightin'! It'll only make it worse."
Outnumbered and out-muscled, the women gave up. Growling in her throat, Lucia stamped her foot like an agitated mare.
Major West hurried down the steps and took a quick survey of the room and rested his eyes on Lucia. His face changed from focused to anger and he approached her. She stared back at him, her chest rising and falling sharply as her heart pounded within.
He slapped her once.
He slapped her again.
"No!" Hannah shrieked from the corner.
"You lied to me," Major West said to Lucia, ignoring the young girl's plea. "And you broke our agreement."
Lucia clenched her jaw tightly in defiance. He could see the rush of blood flush over the toffee tones in her face. Her eyes shifted nervously toward Hannah who was still locked in Clifton's grip. Her cheeks were red and moist with tears.
"Put them downstairs."
The soldiers rarely ventured into the basement and the few that did usually never traveled beyond the washing machine by the stairs. Underneath the steps sat several aged boxes of seasonal decorations. Further in the back there was a maze of antique furniture and priceless family heirlooms.
It was dark except for the light escaping from around the edges of the door upstairs. Lucia sat on the floor. Her hands tied securely around a support beam adjacent to the stairs. She knew somewhere across the way in the corner Hannah was tied to a water line that fed into the back of the washing machine. They listened to the floor boards over their heads creak under the heavy boots of the men above. Except for the occasional sound of running water, through the pipes lining the walls, it was quiet.
The door opened with a creak at the top of the stairs. A flood of light spilled into the room illuminating Hannah across the way. She flinched and shielded her eyes from the rays. Multiple heavy footsteps descended the staircase. Clifton and Bell appeared with Selena walking between them. Only a few hours earlier, they had come to take her away. The newly appointed officer was determined not to miss his night with the African goddess after such an eventful day.
The men led her over to an adjacent wall and tied her hands securely to a broken rusty radiator. The soldiers scanned over the other two women briefly and headed back upstairs. The door closed and they were once again enveloped in darkness.
Lucia listened to their footsteps move farther away. "I'm so sorry Selena."
"Sorry's not good enough for any of us," Selena said sharply. "Sorry won't get us rescued or set us free. There's nothing to be sorry about. They'd had done it anyway," her voice softened. "They knew we'd try to escape someday."
"They want to break us," Lucia announced.
"Do they mean to kill us here?" Hannah's small voice came from the corner.
"No, sweety," Lucia clarified. "They want us to submit."
Perhaps we should.
Selena laughed painfully. guffawed. "I'd rather die than be their bitch forever. It'll only get worse." She continued. "And what happens when one of us gets pregnant? Do we really want to bring a baby into this kind of life?"
Hannah's soft sobs reached their ears.
"I miss my dad," she wept. "Mum... I don't want to do this anymore!"
"I should throw myself at Mailer then I could take one of those bastards out as an Infected."
"Hannah, calm down. Please." Lucia cooed. "Selena, you're scaring her."
The older woman pulled her legs up to her chest and began to rock herself into tears. They sat in silence listening to the young girl who was crying in full force now. Lucia felt the sting of defeat biting at her own eyes. It would be a long time before the soldiers dropped their guard again.
This is what he wanted. He wants us to give up...
"Damn you Henry."