Disclaimer: I own nothing except my storyline and OC(s).
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CHAPTER FIVE
Girl
Bright lights crossed my vision. Flashes of images.
A notepad and pencil.
A plate of food.
A needle.
Blood.
Water.
A letter.
A name.
Blank faces.
An empty hallway.
White lab coats.
A dog.
A name.
Flowers.
Writing.
Photos.
Test tubes.
A name.
A name.
El….Elean….Eleanor.
My name. Eleanor.
Newt
The first thing I noticed was how my back ached. For a second, I wondered why before remembering that I slept on the bench that night. I groaned, sitting up, stretching and rubbing my back. Looking over, I noticed that the girl was still asleep.
She looked so calm and peaceful that I didn't have the heart to wake her. Instead, I decided to make sure Frypan saved her some breakfast.
Half of me wanted to stay with her but I had stuff to do. I would come see her later.
Eleanor
I woke with a sigh. The excitement set in as soon as I opened my eyes. I had remembered my name! Eleanor.
"Eleanor." I said, wondering what it sounded like out loud, "Eleanor…Eleanor."
"Oh, is that your name?" A voice rang out behind me. I yelped and turned around suddenly, pulling my blanket up to my chest. Standing just in front of the closed door was the kid from before. The one who I sat next to at dinner the last night. Tall, with red hair and creepy wandering eyes.
"Eleanor." He muttered, staring at me. I cringed at hearing it come out of his mouth; he definitely wasn't who I pictured telling first.
"It's a nice name." he continued, "Mine's Lenny. Nice to meet you fully." I nodded awkwardly, hoping he'd leave.
He didn't. Instead, he slowly stalked closer to me and I scooted backwards, nervously.
"You see, we sat next to each other yesterday at dinner but then you left with Newt for the bonfire." I nodded, unsure where this was going. He didn't say anything for a while, instead walking even closer, almost to the edge of the bed.
"Why are you in my room?" I blurted out suddenly. He just laughed softly.
"Your room? Oh this isn't your room."
"Where am I then? Whose room is this?" I questioned suspiciously.
"The question isn't who, but why." He told me.
"Why then?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him. Lenny sat down on the edge of the bed I was in and I moved even further back, my back pressing against the wall.
"I'll answer both for you," he smiled, "This is Newt's room. And as to why you're here, he took you back after the bonfire last night. You were unconscious."
"Oh," I said, sighing with relief. I could remember falling asleep on someone's shoulder, must have been Newts.
"You seem happy?" questioned Lenny. I looked at him, confused.
"Well yeah. The way you were talking I thought something bad had happened." Or was about to. I thought but didn't say out loud.
"You think it didn't?" He raised an eyebrow at me. I was unsure what he was getting at but didn't think I wanted to hear it anyway.
"I trust Newt." I told him quietly but firmly. Lenny sighed and rubbed his chin.
"Well, I don't know how to tell you this." He muttered, "Maybe you shouldn't trust him as much as you think." I stared at him, wide eyed.
"What are you talking about?" I almost yelled, feeling scared.
"Maybe I shouldn't…" Lenny trailed off.
"Lenny, tell me!" I commanded. He took a deep breath, before continuing.
"Last night, a few of the boys heard…noises coming from this room." A shiver ran through my body and I felt worry clench down hard. Noises?
"What kind of noises?" I asked urgently.
"Oh come on, Eleanor." He groaned, "Don't make me spell it out." I pulled my knees up to my chest and cradled them. I felt sick. Did Newt really do what Lenny was suggesting?
"Are you sure? Couldn't it have been something else?" I almost pleaded. Lenny looked at me, sighed and shook his head.
"I'm sorry Eleanor." I shook my head, close to tears, and began to rock back and forth.
"No no no. But, surely-surely, I would know. I mean, shouldn't I be able to tell?" I started to cry at this point.
"I don't know Eleanor." Lenny said, looking down, "I don't know how far he got, but it was definitely Newt. I'm sorry, I just thought you ought to know."
I sobbed and shook my head, not wanting to believe it. How could I have trusted Newt? How could I have trusted any of them? How could I have let myself feel safe in this place? I would never be safe. The one person I trusted had betrayed me in the worst way. I had to get out of this place.
As I cried, I put my head on my knees. I felt Lenny move over and put a comforting arm around me. I didn't want it there but didn't have the focus or energy to shrug it off at the moment.
I cried for a good ten minutes when Lenny spoke again. He started to stroke my hair and the back of neck but I barely noticed, too wrapped up in my own thoughts.
"You know," he whispered in my ear, "I would never do something like that without your permission. I can show you if you like." I snapped my head up to look at him and scrambled out of bed.
"Stay away from me!" I cried, my throat feeling raw. Without stopping to see his reaction, I ran out of the room, down the stairs and exited the homestead. I didn't know where to go but I could tell people were starting to notice me. I wanted to be alone at the moment.
I noticed Newt in the distance, walking my way. My eyes widened and I began to run away, towards the group of trees in the distance.
"Hey! Greenie!" I heard him yell behind me. I didn't stop to look back.
"Greenie! Where are you going?" I sprinted towards the trees. Once I reached them, I didn't stop. I headed deeper into the forest and eventually reached a lake. On another day I might have noticed how stunning the scene was, but I was too distraught to recognise it.
As I sat there my grief turned to anger. I was angry with myself for being so foolish. Angry with Newt for taking advantage of me. Angry with Lenny for telling me. Angry with whoever put me in this situation.
Standing up, I cried out and punched the nearest tree. It hurt but I didn't stop. I yelled and punched, over and over. Taking out my anger on the tree.
I heard footsteps nearby but I was on a roll and couldn't stop.
"Hey, what'd that tree ever do to you?" A voice called out behind me. I turned around and it was Newt. He had been smiling at me but stopped when I faced him.
"Greenie, what's wrong?" He asked, sounding concerned. He moved towards me and I stumbled back.
"Stay away from me!" I yelled at him, holding out my hand. He looked shocked and stopped where he was.
"Why? What's wrong?" He questioned. I balled my hands into fists, rage building up inside of me. Apparently, the tree hadn't helped. I was breathing heavily and sure I might swing at him if he came any closer.
"Greenie, you can tell me what's going on. You can trust me." He took another slow step towards me and held up his hand, as if to comfort me. That's when I snapped.
"I SAID STAY AWAY FROM ME. HOW COULD YOU? I TRUSTED YOU NEWT! NOW I KNOW I SHOULDN'T HAVE! I CAN'T TRUST ANYONE! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" I screamed at him.
Newt looked shocked.
"What are you talking about?" He whispered.
"YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS! HOW COULD YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME LIKE THAT!" Newt looked on the verge of either shouting or crying as I yelled at him. He looked genuinely hurt and confused.
For a moment, my resolve wavered. Maybe Lenny was mistaken? But then I shook that aside, that kind of thinking is exactly what got me into this situation in the first place.
"Greenie…please." He spoke softly, "Just tell me what's going on." I felt something break inside of me and my anger turned to despair.
"I don't want to talk to you." I sobbed. Newt looked hurt but didn't dare try to come closer. I began to pace, trying to stop the tears that were flowing. I wanted to leave but didn't know my way around this forest. If I ventured further in, I could get trapped by anyone.
Suddenly all the feelings became too much and I collapsed to the floor, with my head in my hands. Newt gasped and rushed over to me.
"What's wrong Greenie?" He asked worriedly, "Are you hurt?" He began to check me for injuries. I shrieked and tried to roll away from him.
"Greenie! Stay still, I need to check if you're ok-"
"Stay away from me!" I tried to yell, but it came out as a small sob, "Help! Somebody, help!" I was speaking too quietly for anyone to hear me unless they were close by. Newt followed me as I tried to crawl out of the way.
"He's gonna get me!" I groaned, terror trapping my heart. I cried freely and wriggled away from Newt.
"Greenie. What are you talking about?" He questioned, worriedly, "Get you? You know I'd never hurt you, right?" I sat up, glaring at him.
"Is that what you call last night?" I asked furiously.
"Last night? At the bonfire?"
"No, not at the bonfire! Stop playing dumb!" I yelled. Newt stared at me, open mouthed.
"Look, I swear I don't know what you're talking about. No one hurt you last night. I made sure of it!" He almost pleaded with me.
"Is that what you call taking me back to your room and doing who knows what?!" I yelled, "IS THAT WHAT YOU CALL PROTECTING ME?!" I watched as Newt went quickly through a series of emotions. Shock. Confusion. Frustration.
"Look, Greenie. You're obviously not telling me what you think you happened so let me tell you my side of the story." His voice was firm and commanding, "Last night you fell asleep at the bonfire. On my shoulder. I let you stay like that for a few minutes and then took you back to the homestead. You didn't have a room so I asked Alby. He said to put you in my bed, and for me to sleep in the same room so no one bloody pulled anything." As he spoke, I listened. I was caught up in what he was saying, was he going to admit what he did?
"I carried you to my room, laid you on the bed and covered you with the blanket. Then I went to sleep on the bench. When I woke up in the morning you were asleep and I didn't want to wake you yet. So no, I don't bloody know what I've done to supposedly hurt you." Newt finished, glaring at me.
I felt my stomach drop.
"Wha-what?" I stuttered, "But Lenny said…"
"Lenny?" Newt asked doubtfully, "The red-haired shank? What does he have to do with anything?"
"He visited me this morning." I told him. Newt's eyes widened but he didn't speak.
"He told me that you…that people heard…" I shuddered not sure if I was able to say it. Newt grabbed my shoulders.
"Told you what?" He asked desperately. I shook my head.
"Told me that people heard…noises coming from your room. Noises like you were…you know. He said that I was unconscious and you were taking advantage." I whispered, looking down at the ground. Newt let go of me and stood up. When I looked up at him his eyes were filled with rage and he was muttering.
"That shank. What the bloody hell does he think he's doing? That slinthead!" Newt ran his hands through his hair before turning back to me. He knelt down and gently grabbed my shoulders again.
"Listen to me. I promise you, I swear on my life, that nothing like that happened." He started deep into my eyes and I found myself believing him. I nodded and melted into him. He wrapped his arms around me and I immediately felt better. I began to cry.
I cried because I had yelled at Newt for something he hadn't done. I cried because I had let myself believe Lenny so easily. I cried because I let Lenny comfort me back in Newt's room. I cried because I was upset.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry" I choked out and Newt stroked my back comfortingly.
"It's ok. You don't need to be, really." And I believed him, he wasn't mad at me.
I felt Newt sigh and relax into the hug and, in that moment, doubted how I could have ever believed he would do something that awful to me.
It was then that I remembered.
"Eleanor," I whispered, against his chest.
"Hm?" He mumbled.
"My name. It's Eleanor." I looked up at him to see him looking at me, with a small smile.
"Eleanor." He said and nodded, smiling. I smiled back up at him, wiping away the tear tracks on my cheeks.
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A/N:
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