List : 21
"Lizzy!" I planted my feet into the slippery linoleum floor as the guard dragged me. The first few moments of shock had worn off and now nothing but rage and hatred remained. But no matter how much I tried to fight the man or break free, he held on with vice-like hands. "Let me go! I can't leave her!"
The guards hauled us back into the long hallway of cages but walked past my old one. Instead, they brought us to the very back to a slightly larger one. Thomas was thrown in first, and I fell down next to him a second later. The chain hoist door crashed down and the metallic ring echoed in the silent space. I jumped to my feet and grabbed the bars of the door.
"How could you kill a 9 year old girl!?" I screamed at the guards retreating backs. They didn't even hesitate, just left the hallway. I shook the bars on the door as hard as I could, pouring every last bit of energy I had into them, willing them to bend or break.
It wasn't true. It couldn't be true.
This can't be happening!
Lizzy! But there was nothing there. Nothing but a gaping absence, an unbearable emptiness.
Newt, just breathe-
"Shut up!" I yelled at Minho. "This is all your fault! You told him about her!"
"He needed to know, she was a danger to-"
"You killed my sister!" My voice broke as I continued beating the cage bars. "I don't care, it's your fault she's dead…" The fight drained out of me like air escaping a balloon. I sank to the floor and leaned against the concrete wall. I held my hands in front of me, staring down at all the dried blood. Lizzy's blood. I curled my hands into fists.
I squeezed my eyes shut, tears leaking down my cheeks. Choked sobs wracked my frame and burned my chest. How could I have let this happen? It was my job to protect her, I was supposed to be there for her. But he had shot her right in front of me.
Soft hands gently took mine. I opened my eyes and saw Thomas crouched in front of me, his dark eyes bloodshot. My breath came in ragged heaves. He slowly sat down next to me and leaned against the wall. One arm carefully moved around my shoulders but I flung my arms around him, burying my face in his neck. He froze for a second but then wrapped his arms tightly around me.
Everything will be alright, it's okay. He whispered internally. He gently rocked back and forth, letting me cry into him. Lizzy's safe, they can't hurt her.
…
I jumped awake when the chain hoist started rattling. Delirious and barely able to see in the dark, I tried to push myself up from the ground. A hand on my shoulder stopped me and Thomas stood. The chain hoist clanked shut again.
"What is it?" I asked and coughed to clear my throat. My voice was hoarse from screaming and crying. Thomas picked up a small bowl from the ground and sat down next to me again.
"I think it's food." He said and set the bowl in my lap. Inside were two bars about 8 inches long and 4 inches wide. A brick. Black and grainy looking. I hesitantly picked one up and smelled it. Nothing.
"It's a protein bar." Brenda called out from the other side of the hallway. Thomas picked up the other one and bit into it. He instantly grimaced as he chewed but swallowed it.
"Eat, you're lucky you're getting anything at all." Minho said.
"Shut up." I hissed.
The protein bar helped the painful gnawing in my stomach go away, but now sheer exhaustion took its place. This cage was twice the size of the others and had a bed on opposite ends, the same metal roofing sheltering half of it. The rain had stopped at least, and now cool, damp air flowed through the bars.
I stood on shaky legs and sat down on one of the beds.
"You okay?" Thomas asked quietly. He watched me carefully from his seat against the wall.
"I just need sleep." I sighed and flopped down onto the thin pillow. A grunt from Thomas and shuffling steps.
We'll be alright, they put us together. We can figure out a way to escape.
Escape where? I rolled over to face him. He was sitting on his own bed.
Anywhere. We can go literally anywhere.
I closed my eyes, ignoring his comment. I was too tired to sleep, let alone escape. My priority list was rather short:
Sleep.
Eat.
Kill James R. Son.
Kill Clara Craven.