CHAPTER 34 - BEATRICE

"Will you shut up already?" Caleb hollers at me as I squirm and scream on the metal table. In this simulation, my body is forced to clench into itself and lock into one stiff position. I am slowly losing my sanity these past two days. I haven't eaten enough in a week. My stomach grumbles in complaint each night.

I glare at Caleb and scream into the air, just for good measure. He slams his hand down on the controls again like last time and I prepare myself for the mixed orders. It starts out slowly, like a burning fire. My brain is working at top speed and my body can't handle it all at once. I feel vulnerable and weak; a pathetic piece of trash. I haven't cried for a while since arriving; but I do now. The tears blur my view of Caleb pounding out the door. After minutes of agony and blinding pain, I close my eyes and attempt to rest again.

I stand beside a flowing river and my body feels tattered and shattered. My joints shake like they cannot hold me up anymore and my soul inside me is quickly eroding. My body gives up and falls onto the soft grass. Tears prickle my eyes.

"Beatrice," a voice whispers over me. I want to believe Caleb is back, but the voice is deeper and I feel happier hearing it. A pair of hands slide under me, pulling my aching body up and into his arms. My tears fall onto his neck, making it slippery.

"You came…" I cry into his shirt, feeling pathetically weak. Tobias pulls me tighter into his arms and his lips tickle my ear. He smells like safety and home.

"No Beatrice. This isn't real. It's just a dream," he whispers. "You need to stay strong and fight the simulations. I know you are brave Beatrice, so fight back. Promise me this?"

I nod vigorously and pull back. He leans in closer, our lips brushing. But he doesn't hesitate for a minute and he kisses me softly. We stay like that, entwined in each others' arms, the river flowing beside us, until the light fades.

The last thing I see before I drift off in his arms are his dark blue eyes...

0

George visits me later that night, bringing me another sandwich. I don't object at his lack of interest in other foods he can sneak in for me, but I am thankful to God that this is at least something edible. George has been coming to check on me for two nights now. We mainly sit in silence and I inhale the sandwich he always brings me. Then he'll just leave.

But tonight, George seems especially twitchy and nervous. He laces his fingers and clenches them, then release them; only to repeat the same process again. He's also avoiding my eyes. Like he doesn't want to say something to ruin the calm moment.

"What is it George?" I ask, licking my fingers clean. George focuses on a point behind me. I flick my hand in front of his face so he diverts his attention back to me.

"I'm sorry Beatrice. But your execution has been moved up two weeks," he mutters under his breath. "I warned Tobias of our location and to round up -"

"I am going to be executed? What? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" I shriek.

George raises his arms to placate me into silence.

"No one knew except for Jeanine and a few select guards. I just happened to be one of those guards. They just informed me of the change the night of the authorities' raid."

"So what is Tobias doing with the police?" My voice trembles mentioning his name.

"I told him to prepare the chief police officer and a select few to help on this mission. We only require the most agile, cunning, and deadly people for this rescue."

"Tobias can join the group. Can't he? He has perfect aim and excellent skills."

George scratches his chin, grinning a little, and nodding to the idea.

"I'll tell him to join then."

I sigh in relief. "Thank you George. For everything."

He places his hand over my knee and gives in a squeeze.

"I'm going to do everything in the law and in God Almighty's name to get you out of this hell of a torture prison Beatrice Prior. Just hold on for two more days."