Chap 6 part 2
Once again the woman found herself at the basement door, except now she came as a savior, not a coward. Even though she heard the drunken men downstairs she found the anger creeping deep within her made it so she would not falter; not this time.
They men sounded calmer and it left no hesitation in her hand which pulled the simple door handle back, letting her see inside. John and Gabriel were sitting on the bed, each with a bottle of whiskey in hand, smiling and laughing as if they had never fought.
Ignoring them momentarily, her eyes scanned the room looking for Peter, as she started working her way down the steps. She started at the left side of the room and saw nothing. Perhaps he was in his bed now. Perhaps the men satisfied with their violent lust and had the mercy to…
No, of course not, for he was not there and with her basic knowledge of these men's cruelty how could she expect otherwise. She continued moving her eyes across the room scrutinizing the shadows for his form in the dim light.
He was not on the floor but instead his ill-lit figure spread against the wall. It was hard to see much besides his silhouette and she had to continue farther down the wooden steps to see if he was okay in any sense of the word.
Part of her wanted to run again, fearing the intoxicated men and their capabilities. But the anger conquered keeping her strait on her course, head high.
She would not bow to these brutes. The anger only increased as she moved forward, combined with disgust for what the pathetic cowards had done.
She could now see her friend and his position more clearly. A stab of pain ran through her seeing his bloodied chest and instinctually turned out of politeness and looked only to the guards.
Even with her at the bottom of the stairs they still didn't notice her. Good.
The woman summoned up her most commanding of voices and stepped into their view saying,
"You will release him at once!"
Both men jumped to attention at once, the sound of bottles crashing to the floor.
As soon as the shock faded John said,
" 'ello Mrs. Frankenstein. Would 'ou care for a drink?"
"Did you not hear what I said? Follow orders or you might find yourself on the street by the end of the week!"
John's reddened face turned pale, and almost looking sober he grabbed the keys off the nearby table and went to unbind Peter.
Elizabeth turned to Gabriel commanding him to get a clean shirt for her guest and he stumbled up the stairs, looking desperate to get away from the livid woman. She then grabbed an extra blanket lying by one of the beds watching John unlock the chains.
He came back mumbling incoherently under his breath but the woman only commanded him to go cool down in one of the guest rooms upstairs. Though he glowered at her he grabbed another bottle and worked his way upstairs.
Just on cue Gabriel was back and after he threw the shirt into her awaiting hand she gave him the same command as his friend and he left, looking pleased to get away. Just as he turned she swore she saw a glint of guilt as well.
A quiet settled over the room and the anger faded leaving her to her friend.
Elizabeth rushed into the chain room blanket and shirt in hand but stopped short seeing his crumpled body on the stained floor. Even worse as she approached she saw him pulling into himself, knees drawing close to his showing off his clearly-wounded back.
She nearly dropped the blanket as she moved closer, feeling herself get shaky, feeling just horrid. If she would have intervened earlier his back wouldn't be the mess of blood it was now.
Elizabeth shook off the feelings and let the caretaker in her take over. She knelt down placing the blanket over Peter saying,
"I'm so sorry" She couldn't help but notice how chocked up she sounded.
" 's okay" she heard him whisper as he relaxed slightly out of his tight curl. The woman put a gentle hand on his shoulder trying to be comforting but noticing how much he was shaking. More then her.
It was rather cold.
"Should I fetch another blanket?"
"Please," she had heard the whisper again, a pained trickle issuing forth from a broken body. She couldn't imagine such pain.
She ran to his cell grabbing another blanket and ran back. She gently placed it over him wondering if she would be able to get him off the floor and into his bed…probably not.
"hold on, she said gently" before running back into the cell and pulling the mattress off the bed and dragging it behind her.
"Peter, I know this is going to hurt but I need to get you off the floor. I have a mattress right behind you. You have to help me get you onto it, okay?"
The man nodded slightly and slowly his moved his legs back pushing with his arm. With a groan of pain he pushed himself onto the soft surface and into the woman's hand who helped keep him on his side.
He felt her carefully adjust the blankets and her fingers running through his hair gentle and woeful in their touch.
"Is there anything else I can do?" she asked.
"The wounds…might get infected…I need to clean them."
"I can do that."
Peter was silent for a few moments contemplating the idea.
Did he really want her to see his disgusting body any more then she already had?
He looked to the wall, as if it had some insight in the matter. He certainly wouldn't be able to do himself at this point and the pain would only last if they weren't.
"Yes…please."
He could only pray she wouldn't go away after.