authors note at bottom
*disclaimer* ~ i'm not feeling very creative, soooo... basically i own nothing
"Bring them in."
They led them in one by one. Preston came first, followed by Bex, then Macey, then Liz, Jonas, Grant, Mom, Joe, and lastly Zach. They looked horrible, all beaten up and bloodied, their faces bruised and downcast. Their eyes widened as they took in the room and my situation. They started to struggle, trying to escape. The guards didn't bat an eye as they forced them into one of the cells, locking the door behind them.
"Now we can start, Cameron," Catherine announced.
She ran her fingertips along the rows and rows of torture devices, before picking up a jagged-edged knife.
I watched as she stalked towards me, her hand making lazy circles with the knife. The only sign of her anticipation was the slight twitch of her left hand hanging by her side.
"You have no idea how much I missed this," she told me before she drew the first line across my midsection.
Hot, white pain seared through me as she continued to drag the jagged knife, drawing lines into my skin.
When she stepped away she made sure to let everyone see the new collection of bleeding lines, that will eventually be few of many scars.
I heard sobs and pleads coming from the cell as they viewed the masterpiece of torture.
It hurt to hear them like this. Crying over me.
What made it worse was that Zach was desperately trying to escape, tears rolling down his cheeks as he screamed for it to stop.
Bex sat crying as she saw me.
"I'm so sorry, Cam," she cried, "I'm so sorry."
I felt the simple truth in those words. She was sorry.
I felt the table start to lay back as the guards brought in another cart, this one with only two things, a jug of water and a cloth.
Shit
I struggled as she placed the cloth over my mouth and signaled the guards to hold it there. She lifted the jug, but before tipping it, she smiled at me.
"Want to tell me those names, puppet," she asked, "then I won't have to do this."
With the cloth over my mouth, I shook my head. I refused to give in. Catherine will never make me break, I won't let her.
"That's too bad, Cameron, you leave me no choice."
She smiled as she tipped the jug and the water spilled out.
It seemed slow until the first drop hit the cloth, it seemed to speed up then as the first wave hit me.
The water cut off my air supply, as I struggled to breathe. I couldn't help but squirm, I didn't scream, I couldn't scream, I didn't have the air. Finally, the water flow ceased and I could breathe again. I coughed and spluttered as Catherine merely watched.
They were all begging Catherine to stop.
Their voices echoed in my head, their pleads for it to stop. It couldn't stop, no, if they were to stay safe, then I had to do this I had to wait.
I knew that he would be on his way, and would save all of our asses soon enough, I just had to hold on until then.
I felt the table lift once again as it returned to its upright position.
I glared at Catherine as she smirked.
I gathered up all that I could and spit in her face. She wiped it off her cheek and glared at me, disgust clear in her eyes.
"Why you little bitch," she screeched.
She stalked over to the furnace in the corner and pulled something from within it. My eyes widened as I realized what she was going to do, she was going to brand me. I don't know as what, but the glint in her eyes told me it would be bad.
She lifted the hot iron and let it hover above my skin. I could feel the heat radiating off the iron as she let the suspense hang in the air.
The sobs were louder now, echoing around the room.
"No. No, Catherine, don't. Please leave her alone. Please," Zach begged, as he cried.
"Sorry, Zachy-poo, I'm afraid that I've waited too long already," she told him before pressing the iron down on my hip.
This, this was pain. I wanted to scream, but that shows weakness, and I can't give her the satisfaction, I won't.
I struggled to hold my bored facial expression the entire time. When she pulled the iron away and I looked down to see two initials, C.G., it was Catherine's initials. They were barely visible, since she pulled away so soon, but still, she marked me.
I saw red as the doors banged open and agents rushed in. I saw a tall man around the age of 40 standing in the doorway of the room, with dark hair and a caramel complexion, he pointed his gun straight at Catherine, as the agents rounded up the henchmen and released me and the others.
He came, I knew he would.
When I called him telling him of the ongoing crisis, I knew he had to come. His family was in danger, and you do anything for family.
I walked to his side and held my hand out. He placed a gun in my hand.
"Dad?" It was Bex who spoke, " what are you doing here?"
"Darling," Abe said, "I'll explain later, but basically I'm here saving all your arses."
We surrounded Catherine now. Me, Abe, and the agents. all of the rest of them stood behind us as Catherine pulled her own gun.
"Catherine, don't do this," I told her, "give up."
"Cammie, you think that you can escape me?" she asked, "well, you can't, you are me. Like I said we are the same, you and I, even if I'm gone you'll still have to deal with yourself. There's no difference between us."
"No," I responded, voice firm, "You see, Catherine, we aren't the same. I know when I'm going to lose. I care about those I love, and if I can save them while losing, then you can bet I will. I am willing to lose. I have the capacity to put others above, myself and my pride. That's the difference between you and me. You're just a selfish terrorist that doesn't know when to quit. Now, put the gun down and come peacefully, or I will blow your brains out."
"If I'm dying, then I'm gonna make you suffer, Cameron. As you said, you care. So allow me to add some suffering." Catherine turned her gun ever so slightly towards Bex and pulled the trigger.
third person pov
Cammie lept toward her friend as the bullet caused a spray of blood on Bex's chest.
Cammie collapsed to the floor with Bex, a cry of pain and suffering fell, unwillingly from her lips.
The room erupted into chaos as Mr. Baxter sent a bullet into Catherine's ribs, not killing her but wounding her enough to render her immobile.
As paramedics led the young teen out, frantically performing life-saving measure, on a stretcher as the took her off to the Gallagher hospital ward.
More tears were shed as the beloved friend, daughter, and partner was led away, a bullet lodged in her chest.
okay y'all.
first,
two more chapters. holy hell. are you nervous??
excited?? tell me.
second,
y'all i'm sorry for not updating.
but school is literally the devils incarnate. fucking band and everything else is like muddling my brain and i had writers block :(
third,
damn y'all are amazing. i just want to say that i love you guys and i might have an important announcement next chapter heehee
fourth,
the meaning of the title was revealed.
bum bum BUM!!
if you didn't see that it's in italics.
lol ily guys
your loser
thezqueen