Chapter 32. And before we begin, I want to share with you something that I found totally bizarre yet mysterious. In my crazy series of dreams last night, I got back a French quiz with a 91 on it. Then when I came in to French today, I got back a quiz with a 91 on it! I don't know if it was a coincidence or if I'm a psychic and didn't know it. Sorry if I bored you with something from my personal life, it's just something that I found interesting. Okay I'm done now, you may proceed.

"Soto, I can explain..." began Sam.

"Can it kid." Oscar cut him off.

"Yeah, we know all about you and your little girlfriend!" sneered Zeke, making taunting kissing noises.

Sam wanted to say, "she's not my girlfriend", but he didn't knowing how serious the situation is now.

"Listen-" Sam tried to explain again, but he got silenced by Soto.

"SHUT UP!"

Flora was startled by Soto's booming voice. When she heard Sam saying something as well, she got concerned. Wanting to see what was going on, Flora spread her legs out on one side of the cave wall and climbed up. As soon as she was near the ceiling, she poked a hole with her claw through the leaf that Sam tucked in the tiny gap the night it was leaking. It may not have been such a good view for Flora, but it was enough to see what was going on, and she was shocked and terrified at the sight.

"You honestly thought you could get away with it." scowled Soto. "From feeding that twit to making her laugh, making fun of the ones who cared enough to take you in when you had no place to go."

"I was just-"

"He said shut up!" Oscar repeated Soto's command to Sam.

Flora gasped. She already knew that Sam was treated so low in this pack and she knew at how brutal they can be, but this is the first time she actually witnessed it. Her heart felt like it was tearing apart. She had never seen anyone being so cruelly tongue-lased.

Please don't hurt Sam, please don't hurt Sam. Flora was mentally begging, even though she knew that it will do no good.

Bad luck came for Flora though. Lenny just had to sit on her peep-hole, blocking out her view.

"Get off Fatty!" Grumbled Flora. As if on cue, Lenny "let one rip" and the stinky scent caused Flora to lose her grip on the wall and land with a thud. Yes it hurt, but all she cared about was getting clearing the smell out of her.

"Gah! It burns!" gagged Flora, whose eyes were watering at the stinging feeling of the fart.

"Why can't we just let Flora go? She doesn't even have anything to do with what happened all these years ago!" this was the first time Sam had stood up to Soto. Even though he knew he would get dangerous results, he did it anyway.

"She might not have anything to do with it, but her father certainly did, and we have to make sure he learns what happens if he crosses us again."

"You know what Soto? You're crazy."

"WHAT?!"

"You are so obsessed with getting revenge on someone who you haven't even seen in a while."

"Keep talking." Soto dared Sam to continue.

"And is it really worth mentally scarring an innocent bystander? What are you even going to do to Flora?"

"Why should that be any of your business?"

"Because she's my friend and I'm not going to let you hurt her!"

Soto let out a cruel, mocking laugh. "Friend? Do you really think that Flora wants to be friends with you. The one who lied to her, brainwashed her, ripped her away from her own family that loved her so?"

Sam boiled up with rage. "I NEVER DID ANY OF THOSE THINGS BY CHOICE, IT WAS YOU WHO MADE ME! IF IT WERE UP TO ME, I NEVER WOULD HAVE IMPRISONED HER DOWN THERE!"

Before Sam could blink, he had a powerful claw digging into the right side of his face, knocking him down to the ground. Before he was able to get up, Soto pinned his paw on the teen's shoulder.

"Your visiting hours are over." the leader whispered spitefully. "If I ever catch you coming down there to see that girl again, I swear I will drag her out, sink my fangs into her throat and you will be there to watch her slowly and painfully bleed to death. Do I make myself clear?"

Sam nodded, fearful to say anything. He had no choice but to listen to Soto. He didn't know if his death threat was true or not, but he could not go down to see Flora anymore. He did not want to risk any chances in her being killed. The sight of seeing sweet, kind, stubborn Flora lying lifeless on the ground with red liquid around her was unbearable.

"Good." Soto seemed satisfied with that. "That girl is a product of our old enemy and don't you forget that. Now, it's obvious that I can't trust you anymore, so you are under my watch for now. Oscar!"

Oscar walked up to Soto who nodded toward the cave, letting him know he got the first shift in guarding.

Flora was suffering major anxiety now. She admired Sam's courage in standing to Soto while defending her at the same time, but after that, she heard silence and was worried about what happened to him. Did Soto kill him? Did he get fatally scarred by him? In the middle of her concerned thoughts, she saw a shadow approaching.

"Sam?" Flora asked hopefully through tear-filled eyes, but gasped when she saw that it was Oscar coming up.

"I'm afraid he's not hear at the moment." he smirked. "Don't be surprised if you never see him again."

"You monster! What have you done to him?!"

"That's none of your concern, and it shouldn't be mine to tell you. For all we know, he could be dead. Or maybe he hates you now after that rude way you treated him."

"How did you know about that?!"

"What did I tell you before? No one likes a feisty female."

"Let me out of here right now! I'm telling my dad about this whole thing and it won't end pretty for you or your friends!" (excluding Sam)

Oscar let out that same, mocking laugh as Soto did with Sam. "Oh? And are you sure he would be willing to do that after what you have told him? I doubt he even loves you anymore after he got a big "I hate you" from his own daughter."

Flora was about to burst into tears from the lies Oscar was telling her, but she was listening to what her inner voice was telling her.

Don't listen to him Flora. He's just trying to provoke you. Don't show any weakness. Be like Mom and Dad.

"I'll admit, I'm impressed with how stubborn and tough you are. You are exactly like your father, but than again, his own bravery put him in a weak spot. Exactly where you're heading now."

"You're not going to brainwash me! I'm not scared of you!" As much as I am of Soto. Flora secretly added that last part in her head.

"I'm in charge now, and if you say, do or even think of an escape plan, you don't want to know what's going to happen to you, and I expect you to keep that frisky mouth of yours shut at all times. Understood?"

Holding back a nervous gulp, Flora nodded.

"Good to see you're cooperating. I see that you have nothing left to say now. Keep it that way."

Not wanting to look at Oscar's face, Flora turned around and curled in her sleeping position. Sam's daily visits for her are officially over. Maybe Oscar was right? Maybe he does hate her now? And she didn't blame him with how mean she was to him before.

Flora tried to sleep, but couldn't bring herself to shut her eyes. Not when knowing that tomorrow is going to get worse.

That was intense huh? I am feeling so guilty for putting two of my OC's in such positions, but I still love writing the story! Now that the cave is off-limits to Sam, how is it going to affect him? And how will Flora be affected with having guards now? Keep a look-out!