Chapter 13, Save the Children

Grievous cocked his head to the side; he had nothing better to do but watched Charlie sleep. He grew tired of thinking of his old life.

It was about time to wake her up, but she just looked so peaceful while she slept. She didn't snore or move around, all she made was a small breathing sound. Which he found funny.

He pulled his cape off her and watched to see what she would do. Charlie reacted instantly, when she couldn't find his cape she drew her knees up to her chest to keep her body warm.

He cocked his head to the side, "Wake up Charlie!" she didn't move. He sighed and got to his feet; he walked over to the table. He picked up a glass of water and went back to the pod.

"Charlie wake up!" he tried again, "oh well!" and turned the cup up side down over her head.

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL-" Charlie looked up and Grievous standing there holding the cup and his head titled to the side staring at her.

"Time to get up" he said.

He turned around and sat the cup down on the table. Then he sat down in one of the chairs and motioned for her to come.

Charlie climbed out of the pod wiping her face and joined him. She assumed the plate of food to be hers, but she just stared at Grievous for a moment.

"Eat Charlie!" he said still looking at her.

Charlie nodded and started to eat and Grievous just watched her.

She finished a few minutes later and found Grievous still looking at her, it made her very uncomfortable.

"Are you done?" he asked.

"Huh? Oh yeah… I mean yes sir..." she folded her hands in her lap to keep them from shaking, but it didn't matter, considering to the fact that her whole body was already trembling.

Grievous got to his feet and walked around the table to her. Charlie watched him until he was completely behind her.

Charlie nearly jumped out of her skin when he laid his hands on her shoulders, "Aren't we jumpy!" he laughed. The cunning droid looked down at her hand and took it in his.

It was swollen black and blue. He traced it and Charlie gasped then tried to pull away. He looked her in the face and saw how much it hurt her. He sat her hand back down with out looking way. Then traced along a cut from when she hit her head yesterday.

She couldn't keep up the staring contest any longer and broke the eye contact looking down at her feet.

He ran his fingers through her hair, "You are so scared of me," he moved the hair from her neck and drew along the skin. Then rested his head on her shoulder, "But you shouldn't be. Do what I say and you won't get hurt." He rubbed her cheek.

She looked at him, "I was doing what you said when you did this!" she held up her beaten hand.

He took her hand and pushed his cold fingers down on the black area's. Charlie looked away holding back the tears.

"Shh… it's alright!" he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close.

Grievous forced her head on to his chest plate, and gave in trembling.

"Sir the prisoners are ready!" said a droid over the intercom.

"Good!" he exclaimed and stood Charlie on her feet and lead her out of his chambers.

"Prisoners?" she asked.

Grievous lead her into a cold dark room. And once Charlie saw what was in there she jerked her head away.

"I must make sure that you are own my terms," he grabbed her face and forced her to look at the many beaten people.

The smell of blood filled her nostrils and groans and screams rung in her ears. And death choked her throat.

"What is the reason of showing me this?" she started to sob.

He pulled her over to a cell. Inside was a small group of young children. Most of them were no older than her ten year old brother and others were even younger. Each equally scared out of their minds.

"These children will have the same fate as those behind and around you. The only thing to save them is the choices you make." He looked down at her.

Charlie dropped to her knees and looked at them; this was so… unfair and cruel.

"You must never try to escape from me! Keep your word and they'll not be harmed!" he said crossing his arms behind his back staring down at her.

Charlie nodded her head, "Alright! You have my word!" she wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Good! I'm glade! And one other thing. I'm also willing to release them on our next stop if… you join me!"

Charlie looked at him, "What?"

"I will set the children, just the children, free if you join me!" he said.

Charlie nodded again "Alright" she knew there was some catch to this. It was to understandable and simple.

"Good! Now will you come with me!" he jerked her up and carried her out to the hanger bay. She found out that they were preparing to land on the planet Kalormen.

They were in a little transport ship, to take Grievous and her down once his troops were ready.

Charlie watched Grievous stalk back and fourth with her eyes widen in fear. She sat in a corner with her knees drawn up to her chest with on hand holding them and biting her nails on the other.

She couldn't get the images of the half dead and murdered people out of her head. They only managed to leek back in and haunt her.

Grievous looked at her, and she immediately looked away. He tilted his head to the side and watched her.

Charlie continued to bite her nails until she tasted a hint of her blood. She pulled her fingers out of her mouth and looked at them. She had bitten her nails down past the skin. Grievous bent down in front of her and took her hand.

"Now why did you do that?" he rubbed her hand.

Charlie hid her face in her knees and started crying.

"Shh… it's alright!" he pulled her to him. But Charlie wanted to get free, he forced her close to him crushing her between his chest and his arms. Charlie stopped and gasped in pain, he loosened his grip on her.

"Sooner or later you'll learn not to fight my desire!" he said as he stroked her head.

Charlie trembled, "And w-what's that?"

He leaned her back and wiped some of her hair out of her sweaty face, "your mind!"

Charlie gave a soft whimper and closed her eyes as he traced a long cold finger along her face.

Charlie felt her stomach turn, oh no! Don't throw up Charlie, she thought.

She held her breath and prayed for him to stop.

"Sir we are ready to land!" stated the alien pilot.

Grievous looked at him, "Very good! Continue as planned!" he dropped Charlie.

As he walked away from her to the cock pit, Charlie crawled to a shadowy corner to hide in. Grievous turned half way to watch her as she formed into her ball and held herself.

'Perfect! She is terrified of me.' he thought.

"Clear the landing zone!" said the pilot into the comlink.

Grievous walked over to Charlie, she slowly looked up. "Time to go!" he said as he grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet.

I still hope you all are enjoying it, please review.