Chapter 4: Better Days
watch?v=2FriqUwKLHE
David was pretty sure he was breaking a sweat just sitting in his chair. He wordlessly scanned the article he'd pulled up on his phone.
"The Seventh Heaven Massacre" The title read in big bold letters. David scanned the information as quickly as he could. "Fifteen dead...three in critical condition... owner, Vincent Williams found decapitated in his office...killer(s) got away..."
"I was one of the three..." Kat spoke up pulling him from his phone screen and back to her emaciated form. "They didn't tell me until after my interrogation but I'm the only one that survived..." She explained.
"T-this doesn't...explain the charges..." David raised a brow skeptically clearly disturbed by what he was reading. Kat bit her lip. She hated spilling her guts in front of people she didn't know...but when that person is the one who seems to ultimately decide on who they hire...
"It was a trafficking ring..." Kat blushed avoiding eye contact. "At first it was so I could afford food and place to stay...I had been starving." She added in her own defense. "But I found out pretty quick that I was no longer allowed to leave." she explained. Her voice had begun to get shaky and she could feel her fists tightening up into anxious little balls. "I was charged with the possession and prostitution because of the drugs and money left in my room..." She was about to try and explain the kidnapping charge but apparently, she had said quite enough. David stood up from his desk with a funny expression. Kat for the life of her, could not decipher it. That is until she noticed the tears forming in his eyes. She found herself wrapped in a tight hug before she could protest.
"That's horrible...I'm sorry you went through that..." David began as he swiped his tears away quickly before they could spill. Kat cringed inwardly. She shuttered at the touch feeling a quickly approaching panic. She swallowed hard. He didn't seem to notice, much to her relief. She thought his concern was...sweet. "I'll admit, I was a little nervous at first...but I think Camp Campbell is going to be a good fit for you!" David stood back up from where he had leaned over to hug Kat and went back around to his side of the desk. "I think some fresh air and plenty of positivity will really make a difference!" David nodded to himself pulling out some papers.
"N-no disrespect...Sir...but you don't have to make a difference." She rubbed her arm awkwardly feeling the familiar burn coming to her brain as it cried for the chemical it had been force fed for almost a year. "I'm here to serve my time."
"I don't see a reason you can't have some fun while doing that." David didn't look up from the dreaded paperwork. Luckily it was only one sheet. He pulled out a hot pink highlighter and highlighted a few things on the paper. Before pushing it to her with a pen. "Sorry, we don't really have any paperwork for...community service applicants. So just fill out what I've highlighted." he pointed. Kat was painfully reminded of her situation again when 'desired wage' was not highlighted. She filled out the paper as quickly as she could. She was suddenly feeling very crowded in this room.
"Thank you for this opportunity sir. I'll work hard." She gave him a smile. David smiled back at her with double the enthusiasm.
"Try and have some fun too." David said as he opened the door for her. "Oh, and you can call me David." He grinned. She nodded.
"Alright then David. Thank you." She walked out leaving the folder she had brought on his desk for him to look through later. It was her arrest records and background information. Job stuff that he clearly wasn't invested in enough to check. "Be grateful," she reminded herself silently. "This is your second chance... You're not going to get another...do NOT fuck this up..." her thoughts were interrupted when she heard David close the door behind the two of them.
"Alright! Now all that's left to do is show you the ropes!" he began to lead her towards the mess hall giving the flagpole a salute as they approached it.
"What have I gotten myself into?" She wondered to herself. "Katherine...You're on your way to better days!" David said cheerfully before he threw open the doors, answering the question she never said out loud.