Disclaimer: Lord of the Flies does not belong to me at all, it belongs to the wonderful William Golding. I repeat, not mine at all.
The morning came quicker than she expected it to. Most of the shelters had been destroyed during the storm last night, and though they had never really been all that stable they weren't even inhabitable anymore, just piles of decrepit, rotting wood. However she managed to find one still standing to reside in and waited for Ralph to come back to her. When he never did come, she was pulled into a restless sleep, often being jerked awake by the loud claps of thunder. Littluns were crying out in the rain, their shelters having been destroyed but she never came to their aid, figuring that they weren't her problem. Amelia and Simon hadn't returned from last night either, and now Giselle lay there, staring up at the ceiling of the shelter. Reluctant to get up due to fear of finding herself alone, (Littluns didn't count.) Giselle pondered her options. You can lay here or day or you can get up and do something productive.
What had happened to them all? Ralph, Piggy, Simon? And Amelia, out there alone at night with her injury, what had become of her? Giselle didn't know, and honestly wondered if she wanted to, fearing the worst. Get out of this shelter and expect absolutely nothing. Crawling out on her hands and knees, Giselle got to her feet and observed her surroundings. The sky was still cloudy, as if it were planning on raining again, perhaps just a little drizzle. The platform was empty, nobody was around except for a few littluns gnawing on half-rotted fruit. One of them came out of the bush and clung to her skirt with a pitiful cry of 'mummy', smearing it with fruit juices and dirt and she hissed with distaste, casting the dirty child away. "I'm not your mum!"
Giselle had no interest taking care of the littluns, that was Simon and Amelia's job, wherever they were. Nobody else important was around, the platform and surrounding area was rather vacant and she felt the bitter taste of supposed betrayal. Did they all go off and join Jack and Maria's tribe? I bet they did. I should have expected as much. Trying to force the disappointment down she wandered off into the woods, figuring the most vital thing to do now was to scrounge up some food. Fruit, or maybe even fishing if she could. And maybe if she was feeling a bit better when she got back, she'd provide some for the littluns.
Reaching the treeline, she plunged into the jungle and marveled at how nice it smelled. The morning after a storm...
Catching a flash of gold in the corner of her eye, Giselle turned around to come face to face with Ralph. He didn't look as handsome as he usually did, limping along with numerous bruises and gashes. He doesn't look so good. What did they do to him!? Unable to keep the excitement out of her voice, she rushed up to him. "Ralph!"
"You're...you're happy to see me." Ralph's voice barely rose above a raspy whisper.
By force of habit, she didn't want him to know she cared and therefore shot back, "I would be happy to see anyone who isn't a part of Jack's tribe."
"You left early."
"I did, yes."
"So, you didn't..."
"Didn't what?" What happened after I left...?
Giselle peered at Ralph, almost dreading his response.
"Murder."
It had been a cold night, and when she woke she found herself in some sort of cave on a bed of dried leaves. Not remembering much from the previous night she rose on unsteady legs and stumbled out into the open, slipping on the wet stone ground, wincing when her ankle twisted. She yelped in alarm when she realized that she had almost fallen right off the edge of a cliff. Scrambling back against the safety of the rock wall, she breathed a sigh of relief, the dull ache in her ankle intensifying. That was close. Down below her, there was a busy camp going about their day. They were all highly decorated in paints, carrying spears and then suddenly the events of last night came back to her. Murder...We murdered that boy. Biting her lip, Erzsébet held in a whimper. What will they think, when we get rescued? That we went and killed a person. And I was in it to! What for?
"A-hem."
Looking to the side where the noise had came from, the whimper she had been holding in escaped."Yes...?"
Roger stood there, spear in one hand. He wasn't as heavily painted as he had been last night, it looked as if rain had washed most of it off and he hadn't any time to put more on.
He pointed towards the opening in the cave. "Get in."
Reluctant, she stood there, staring at him. He repeated himself, pointing. "Get in."
"I want to...go." Slowly she spoke.
Quickly he swung and the dull end of the spear hit her square in the jaw. Not soon after the sting of pain began to take place where he had whacked her. She could taste the blood welling in her mouth and she brushed past him quickly as she could and into the opening, but not quick enough as he knocked her on the back of the head with it as she passed. Obediently she scrambled into the corner where she had first woken up and lay there. What am I going to do? Maybe someone will come for me...That was her only hope now, though she doubted the rest of the people who were with them cared about her much, if even at all. She felt a pang of loneliness thinking about the twins, especially Eric. That's where your constant indecision will get you. You kiss Eric and then ignore him and now he's probably all confused and wants nothing to do with you. Yes, maybe she was overreacting but still. The only one who can save you now is yourself. But now is not the time.
Roger wasn't paying any attention to her, just sitting in the opposite corner sharpening his spear. This went on for a long time and anxiety was building up within her. Talk to me! I don't care what, just say something, please! The language barrier that had broken only last night was being rebuilt, stronger than before. How he could stand to remain so silent puzzled her. The isolated feeling grew stronger and she made her way over to him. Tilting her head slightly she whispered his name. "Roger..."
He didn't respond to her verbally at first, only turning to glare at her. Then he said, "What do you want?" He's mad at me, but at least he's talking.
Satisfied that she was able to get some words out of him, Erzsébet blinked and held her hand to her stomach and whimpered. I'm hungry.
Roger, eyes hidden behind his black hair, rose to his feet and made his way towards the entrance. With slight difficulty she limped out and followed him, she didn't want to be left alone in the cave, and though normally she'd have no problem being alone, this was a new, dangerous place. Roger may be cruel and prone to causing her physical pain, but he was a familiar face and she felt the need to stay by him.
Limping out of the cave, she followed him painfully slowly. My ankle hurts.
"Stay." He held out his arm to block her from leaving. She whimpered again and then clung to his arm pitifully. Don't leave me. "Goddamn, let go of me." Exasperated, Roger pulled his arm away, and then noticing that she was favoring one leg, swung out his leg and kicked at her uninjured leg. When she fell to the floor with a yelp he smirked. Ow...
Unwilling to give up just yet she latched on to his ankle, and he swung out his other leg and kicked her in the face. Her lip split and she could feel the scarlet substance dripping down her face. They continued with that pattern, her reaching for him and he responded by hurting her. Eventually, when she was rather bruised and bloody in numerous places, what the hell am I doing? Crossed her mind, and she just lay there on the hard, cold ground and made no other attempt to touch him. I think I'd rather be alone now.
There was a dull knock of wood against the ground, and she saw Roger's discarded spear. Erzsébet didn't protest when he slipped his arm under her legs and hoisted her up against his chest, one hand on her back. "Where you go?" She asked softly.
Though she should have expected it at this point, she did not get an answer.
Erzsébet examined the vibrant red and white colors that stained her arms, concealing the numerous fresh bruises and cuts. Nobody else would be able to see them, but she knew they were there, and so would he. She glanced towards Roger, who was coming towards her now with clumps of paint on his fingers. She looked away as he slathered on her face, trying not to shiver at his touch. They had left Castle Rock a long time ago and were now back in the jungle, and she noticed lots of empty shells filled to the brim with various paints.
"You'll be one of us now, and you will be with me. Keep you away from all the others-" Roger began to mumble to himself. She squirmed but would not dare resist him, she had earned enough wounds for the day. At least he had enough sense not to touch her neck again.
Deep within the one of the caves of the Castle Rock, Maria sat atop a flat mossy rock, watching the proceedings below. The large opening in the ceiling of the cave illuminated it just enough to see inside. Jack lay in her lap while she absentmindedly ran her fingers through his hair. Her fingers dipped lower each time, running them along his rib cage and dancing on his thighs, and he was too engrossed by the scene to realize she was wrapping her fingers around his knife and pulling it from him. Good.
Right under them, a boy tied back by long creepers was being whipped by the some of the others. Wilfred, she thought was his name though she wasn't really sure and didn't really care either. All she knew about the situation was that he had done something to anger Jack, something deserving of punishment. To be honest her mind was on other, more important things. If they won't join us...then we'll have to get rid of them. One by one. As amusing as it was to watch, she soon grew tired of the constant sound of whip against flesh and the cries of pain and without Jack's say-so she held up her hand. "Enough of that now."
Though mildly agitated to see the spectacle conclude, Jack did not protest. The boys untied him for they would never go against their chieftess, and Maria smiled pleasantly. Wilfred, beaten and shamed slunk away. Jack got up from her lap and addressed the others still remaining. "Tomorrow we will hunt and leave another head for the beast." Ah yes, the beast. If I could convince them that the beast is in league with Ralph's group, perhaps we can take action against them.
He continued to discuss the beast and she decided to play the role of being calmly imposing upon the assembly, latching her hands together and holding them in her lap with a stern look around at the others. The way Jack talked so fervently, about the beast and how the others would ruin their plans, she realized how easy it would be to get the things she needed done. I know who I'll start with. They discussed, and meanwhile, she brooded to herself.
When they were finished with the discussion, she came to the conclusion that Jack was taking Roger and Maurice to steal the fire from the others. The others began to disperse and go about their business, but Maria's was just beginning. I'm sure Ellen and Iris would be happy to help.
Jack slid off the rock and went down the path to exit the cave and she watched him as he walked away. Roger was the only one who remained and figuring it would be too good an opportunity to waste and so she waved him over. "Roger, dear..."
Though he narrowed his eyes Roger approached her regardless. "Yes..?"
Sweetly she beamed at him and lightly tapped the empty place that Jack once sat upon. "Come up here, I want to talk to you." I have other matters to discuss with him.
He climbed to the top and sat next to her, and she started with menial topics. "How are you?"
"Fine."
"How is the girl?"
"Who?"
"The girl from...last night. You remember, don't you?" She tried not to think about last night and the dance they had done, everything was one big blur to her but she remembered Roger bringing one of them back. Maria would remember only what she wanted to from that night. The one from Ralph and Giselle's group, she was with them now. Roger had her stored away somewhere, she was sure of it.
"What about her?" He growled.
"Is she...with us now?" Maria questioned innocently.
Roger took a moment to respond. "She's with me, yes."
"But, is she part of the tribe now?" She prompted.
"Yes." His tone left no room for argument, yet Maria sensed something else in his voice she could not place.
"Well, make sure."
"Is that all?" Roger asked warily.
"Oh no, I'd just like to talk to Iris and Ellen. Could you find them for me, please?"
"Of course." Roger jumped off the rock and made his way to the entrance, and remembering something she deemed semi-important, Maria called to him.
"Oh, and Roger?"
He was probably getting tired of her talking, but he would never say so, not to his chieftess. "What?"
"Iris likes you. You should talk to her more." I should help Iris out, she's my friend. But by helping Iris get Roger, I would be hurting Ellen, because Ellen likes Iris...I'm pretty sure, at least...
Having no response to that Roger fled, desperate to leave now. Maria smirked to herself.
Giselle, allowing Ralph to cling to her when he needed it, guided him to the platform. She felt numb inside, numb from shock at what she had just heard. Simon. Simon, murdered.
Piggy was waiting for them when they got there. Ralph sat on the log and Giselle sat opposite of Piggy and Ralph. They were affected by the news in a way she wasn't, a way she couldn't understand.
"That, that was murder." Ralph said.
An indignant Piggy screeched. "You stop it! What good is it to talk like that?!"
"He's right, if it was anything like I heard it-" Giselle started.
Piggy rounded on her, shrilly. "You weren't there!"
"You left early." Ralph said to Giselle.
"So did we!" Piggy said. "It was dark, and we were on the very outside of the circle."
"I'm scared of-I want to go home." Ralph put his hands in his head.
While Ralph and Piggy went back and forth, a dreadful thought wormed its way into her mind and she spoke. "What are we going to tell Amelia?" Oh God...
"That he was batty! He asked for it..." Piggy trailed off.
A dull voice called to them from below the platform. "He's gone isn't he?" The three of them turned to see Amelia, dried blood still in her light hair, she slouched before them. It looked as if she had been crying for a long time, but now she had no tears left.
They said nothing.
"I know he is, you don't have to tell me anything."
Unwisely, Piggy broke in. "He was batty, he asked for it."
Suddenly she grew fierce and snarled. "No he wasn't!" With that she leaned up against the platform and began to whimper, and that whimper turned to a wail and she began to sob. Some of the littluns approached her curiously, wondering what it was that had their adoptive mother so distressed. They shook her and whimpered as well, the littuns didn't understand why she was crying. It was usually only the littluns themselves that cried, and to see her sad confused them greatly. Even worse was the fact that she was ignoring them completely, too caught up in her own sorrows to notice them.
Giselle, unable to take the noise anymore, took off into the jungle.
Ellen had long since learned that whenever Maria wanted something out of them, it wasn't good. But after all those years of doing her bidding just to ensure her a spot in their group, nothing prepared Ellen for the words that came out of Maria's mouth.
"I want you to...take care of Giselle." She blinked at first when the task was revealed to her, trying to decipher what she had just said.
Realization in 3...2...1...
"You want us to what?"
"I want you to get rid of her. The beast is in them, you know. And the only way to get it out..." She trailed off.
Iris, wide eyed looked up at Maria. "Isn't there another way?"
Crazy, she's just crazy! Because Giselle left early and didn't take part in...that dance. She wants everyone to go nuts so she can watch and laugh at them, and Giselle didn't. I know what she really wants.
"I'm afraid not." Maria shook her head sadly. "I didn't want it to come to this, but you know it has to be."
Ellen glanced toward Iris. She actually believes this! I...
"If it really is the only way..." Iris, face hidden behind a long curtain of hair.
What am I going to do? "I-I-I..." The words that came out her mouth were illegible, she could not articulate herself well enough under that glare.
"You are part of the tribe now. Outsiders cannot be trusted."
This is murder! It'll end badly. "You can't possibly ask us to-"
"Are you part of the tribe or not? Or are you working for them?" She sneered. Even Iris was glaring at her now. It reminded her of how things were before they were evacuated, Maria always sending everyone off to do her dirty work and they complied, for whatever reason. Before she had ever been accepted into their circle of friends, she had scoffed at the way the other girls would shove their faces into the dirt to comply. Now she was one of them.
It's either you or Giselle. The rest of the tribe will hurt you, or worse.
Iris turned to her, a look of pride etched upon her face. "We can do it, we're tough." She thinks that's what I'm worried about? That we wouldn't be able to do it? Not that we're about to murder a human being? Like we did to that Simon, last night. They go around and act like it's nothing. Oh Iris, what are we getting into?
"We can do it together, if only you help me." Iris's eyes shone. "We've got to get rid of the beast, right?" You can't say no, can you? Not even when someone is about have their life ripped from them. You know it's wrong, but you'd rather save your own skin. Another voice. Wouldn't anyone do the same in your situation? It's you or them. Choose yourself.
Maria, knowing she had them beat, beamed and handed a knife to Iris, who accepted it gratefully. "Well?" Where did she get Jack's knife from?
You can't say no. It's impossible to say no. It would be unwise to do so.
Letting a shaky breath escape, she sighed. "...Fine. I'll do it."
"If we stay together, we will do perfectly fine! Just, help me, alright? It'll be like killing a pig." Iris grinned cheerfully. How can you be okay with this? The task they were about to perform was physically taxing on her as well, she was trembling and nervous. Any movement in the forest sent her jumping. Take a deep breath. Do it for Iris. She's been nice to you. Maybe she's turned out a bit different, but things will go back to normal after it's done and we can forget about it. Then maybe you could tell her...That you like her.
Do you even like her anymore?
"Ellen!" This is the first time she's ever called me by my first name. No nicknames. That's... A warm feeling flew inside of her, one she hadn't felt in a long time. That's strange that she'd do that but it's...She was at a loss for thoughts. Then something came to her. Something important that needed to be said.
"Iris, I have to tell you something-"
"There she is!" The other girl interrupted, albeit quietly. The two of them instantly crouched within the thick green foliage of the jungle. Giselle stood with her back facing the two, one arm leaning against the tree. She had been walking earlier, but had stopped now. It was like hunting pigs. Stay low and keep the paint on. Ellen took a finger and ran it along her face, reassured by the thick cover of paint still there. We're about to kill her. Kill her.
The dark haired girl turned her head ever so slightly. "I can see you." Her voice came out in a raspy whisper.
Iris, who was about to jump out of their spot, looked surprised and drew back.
The girl repeated it, this time with more strength, menacing. "I can see you."
Ellen was the first to answer her. "How can you? Your back is turned."
Giselle turned around and laughed bitterly. "You got me." The expression on her face was haunting, the way her dark eyes just stared. "What are you here for, you murderers? You think it's easy don't you, like slaughtering pigs?" That's not what I think at all! That's what everyone else things, n-not me. This won't be easy.
"Don't let her fool you," Iris whispered. "She's trying to distract us."
"Distract you from what?" The girl's eye twitched, lightly at first and then it became more defined. "Well?"
I have to stop this.
You can't.
You can.
You can't.
You can.
Not delaying any further, Iris burst from the bush, blade of the knife gleaming in her hands. "Ellen, help me!" She shouted as Giselle sidestepped, narrowly missing the blade. Her legs were frozen as the two tussled, a deadly dance to the death.
"You're a murderer! A murderer! A murderer! Bloody murderous bitches, the lot of you~" Giselle chanted, leaping and jumping and cackling and Ellen couldn't even bring her hands up to her ears to block out the horrible sound. "Don't think I don't know what you all did to Simon. What did he do to deserve a death like that? Now Amelia's a widow now and it is all your fault! Why don't you go and tell your chief that? Go on and tell him!"
"H-he was disguised, it was a beast!" Iris paused, faltering.
"Are you sure?" Giselle stopped as well, sure she had one the argument.
"Yes!"
"You don't sound sure!"
"Ralph was in it too!" Ellen protested weakly. A minor detail she may have forgotten.
Giselle whipped around, and that was when Iris went in for the kill. Wrapping her arm around the distracted girl's neck and jerking her towards her, she lifted the knife in her other hand.
She'll slip away, Iris isn't holding her tight enough.
Breaking out of the trance that her legs immobilized she scrambled forward. "Stop-"
Giselle ducked out of reach just as soon as the flash of the blade came down. Iris had plunged it right into her own chest. Falling to her knees with a whimper all Ellen could do was watch as Giselle turned around and clutched the handle of the knife, yanking it out of Iris's body. The blood gushed out like a waterfall and the corners of the dark haired girl's mouth twitched. "That's what you'll get, see? You deserve it, you went and slaughtered yourself. Like a pig." A bark of laughter poured out of her. She's not sane, not right in the head...
None of us are.
Remembering what she wanted to say, Ellen dragged herself over to Iris who was bleeding profusely, she held her. "You're going to be fine, I'll fix it, I'll fix it I'm sorry I wasn't I should have-"
"Should've, could've, would've, I'll fix it, I'll fix it!" A voice chanted hysterically in the background and Giselle hopped about gleefully waving a knife stained with crimson. "She's going to die and there's nothing you can do about it! Because you know what? She deserves it."
Wailing, Ellen pressed her hands to the gaping stab wound as Iris gasped for breath . "Ignore her, ignore her, you're going to live!" Iris was gasping heavily, and they both tried desperately to hold in blood that didn't want to stay. The ground was stained scarlet. Tell her while you still have time!
Ellen spoke. "I have to-I have to tell you-"
"Y-yes?" A thin trickle of blood bubbled up from between the girl's lips.
"I li-" Iris's eyes glazed over before she could finish the sentence.
The tears burst from her eyes, and silent choking sobs wracked her. The words she wanted to speak were meant for her, and Giselle would have been the only one to hear them. "Oh, just forget it. Forget about it, it doesn't even matter." It doesn't even matter.
Ellen didn't even flinch as the knife brushed by her and embedded itself in the ground right beside her. As placid as she had been from the beginning when they had first found her, Giselle instructed. "I think Jack will want that back. Have a nice day."
With that she left, leaving Ellen with nothing but a bloody knife and a dead body to cling to.
When Giselle finally made her way back to the platform, she was deathly silent. Unsure of what to make of the events that had happened mere moments ago, she kept thoughts locked inside of her. The bloody murderers got what they deserved! It wasn't my fault. They tried to kill me.
Ralph greeted her when she climbed up the platform, the first thing she noticed is he looked...beat up. "What happened to you?" She mumbled.
"We got attacked by the others."
So did I. But that wasn't what came out of her mouth. Instead, "Why do you like me?"
Taken aback, Ralph blinked. "What?"
"Why do you like me?" She knew that he did, he just about said so the first time they let the bloody fire go out. But that was a long time ago...
Ralph stammered. "I-I well, you're beautiful...?"
"Are you sure about that?" She bit back harshly. None of them were beautiful anymore, before they had dropped in on the island, sure. But now? No.
"Look, I don't know why, okay? Sometimes you're irritable and-" He wasn't sure how tell her that the soft side she rarely showed was endearing to him, the doe eyed expressions were cute and he wanted to see more of it. "A-and I don't love you but-"
"You better not!" She growled.
"Giselle..." He began.
"They tried to kill me, Ralph!" She interrupted, rushing into his arms. He held her to him, surprised by her sudden actions and the words that came out of her mouth.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't keep the surprise out of his voice. "Who!?"
"That crazy bitch sent them after me!" The sobbing turned to anger.
Before he could reply the anger she displayed disappeared and was replaced with laughter. "She stabbed herself though, trying to get me! Right through the heart!"
Taken aback by her manic fit and quickly changing emotions, he just gripped her tighter and tried to be comforting, stroking her hair. "Sssh, sssh...You'll be okay, you'll be okay..."
He doesn't sound very sure of himself.
Dragging her feet through the sand she approached Castle Rock, head down. Bringing her hand up to inspect it she tried to scrape out the dirt lodged under her fingernails. Ellen had to leave the body there, after trying and failing to dig a shallow grave with nothing but her bare hands. She'll never get a proper burial.
When the sand under her ratty shoes turned to stone, Ellen knew she was at the entrance to the tribe's fort.
"Who goes there?" A raspy, distinctly female voice called out to her. Turning her head up, she stared back at the painted girl with dull eyes. Mary, Monica, or whatever her name was blinked. Ellen didn't respond and kept walking.
"Hey! I'm talking to you-"
A feeling best described as fury ignited inside of Ellen when she felt the sharp edge of a spear lean into her shoulder. Whirling around she wrapped her hands around the wooden stick, pulled it from the girl's hand and snapped it in half and whipped the broken remains square at her shocked face. It knocked the other girl backwards and she let out a wail, cupping her hands over her mouth to stop the blood from trickling down her face. Ellen sent her a cold glare and kept walking.
Once not too long ago, perhaps even days ago she would have apologized for even accidentally bumping into someone. But not anymore. Iris was dead. The only girl who had ever been genuinely nice to her was dead, and she felt cheated. Angry and cheated. Why did it have to be her? She was so eager to please, even willing to murder for the tribe, but she was still the same Iris. Still the girl who was kind to me during those painfully lonely days at school. Even though she was so over-enthusiastic about everything and sometimes annoying...She was still my-. She didn't know what Iris was to her anymore.
At the same time, with Iris dead Ellen had an enlightening. She didn't even like any of these people. Not a single one deserved her loyalty or her friendship and they were all bloody savages and she wanted nothing to do with them. The only thing keeping her tied to them was Iris, and when she had taken her last ragged breath that very tie had been severed with the knife that she had stuck in her own heart.
Bearing the burden of bad news she vaulted herself over the rocks and scrambled about, making her way to the main cave and rock where Maria and Jack had set up their throne. When she made it to the clearing, she stood in the background and watched the two of them interact so sweetly it was strange to see. They'd nuzzle one another and laugh, and he'd play with her hair and she'd run her fingers down his arm while the others went about their business. It's not fair. Why does she get to be happy? Why not me?
Aware of all eyes upon her, in a few quick strides she was at the foot of the rock, watching their feet swing back and forth. They paused. Remembering the knife she had tucked away, she pulled it from it's place in the waist-band of her torn skirt and slammed the bloody weapon down on the rock with a dull clang of stone and metal. "She's dead."
The chieftess's green eyes glinted with pleasure. "You killed her? She's dead?"
"Who's dead? And where'd you get my knife from!?" Jack swiped it up and took no notice of the dried crimson stains. "I've been looking for this!"
Ignoring Jack's outburst Ellen echoed dryly. "Yes...Yes, she is."
Maria beamed proudly at her. "I knew you two could do it. I'm so glad to have you...Where's Iris?"
Ellen wanted to scream but she held it in. Not yet. "I told you."
"Told me what?"
"She's dead."
"What!?" The chieftess's voice cracked in disbelief, and she was loud enough to be heard by the others. The bystanders were beginning to look interested. Roger, who had his arm draped around a heavily painted girl who seemed only vaguely familiar looked up and the assembly began to whisper. Even the normally emotionless Sofia looked surprised.
This time with an edge to her voice, she growled. "I told you, she's dead. Don't you know what dead means?"
"How did she die?"
"Knife. Stabbed herself on accident."
"You didn't help?"
"I couldn't." Couldn't or wouldn't? I'm not sure what's what anymore.
She rose to her full height. "So Iris is dead, and you did nothing?" I guess that's right, but...
All her fears were erased. "You shouldn't have sent us to kill that girl. If you would have gotten up off your lazy arse instead of always sending us to do the shit you don't want to-" Her voice rose, dripping with verbal poison and grew louder with each word. "Then maybe Iris would have still been alive right now! I wouldn't be surprised if she had actually stabbed herself on purpose because of you, you insufferable, miserable, bloody bitch!"
Without waiting for a reaction she turned on her heels and ran out of the cave as fast as her legs could carry her, not sure where to go and not even bothering to conceal the tears that ran down her face, be they tears of anguish or tears of relief.
Ellen has just delivered a "The Reason You Suck"(TVT) speech to Maria. xD I enjoyed writing that scene and I'm a total jerk for killing Simon and Iris. (Even though Iris did try to kill Giselle...Maybe she did deserve to die. Uh.) But more emotional turmoil for these characters the better! Right?