Deliquesce

Chapter 20: Ashes

Rated: M

Warnings: -TRIGGER WARNING- Themes of sexual abuse

Song: "Phoenix" - Kill J

It was too cold to run.

The wind was harsh and hard, and it chilled me to the bone. I couldn't see anything, the clouds blocked any last bit of the moonlight from filtering down and the snow that fell down persistently and heavily obstructed my view. I could see their footsteps in the snow, and followed them as quickly as I could.

I struggled. The snow was thick and seemed to pull against my legs and feet, and something in the back of my mind screamed at me to go back to the factory. Go back to the warmth. Go back to Willy.

That would be the easier option, naturally. But fuck the easy option. I was walking for half an hour before I heard voices up ahead. My chest warmed and I wanted to call out to them, to tell them I was coming with them.

There was yelling. I could hardly see them, there was too much snow. But I could see that there were a lot more people than there should have been.

I ducked behind a bin and listened, trying to see would be useless. I heard Briley scream, and the rough voice of a man tell her to shut up.

"Are there more?" The man continued.

"No, it's just us." Jackson said. My heart was beating rapidly and I felt sick. What was going on?

"Where's your base?"

"These houses."

"Got any more supplies?"

"No, we have them all here with us. Just take them and leave."

The man laughed. "I don't think a man stuck in a blizzard with absolutely nothing else besides the bags on his back would so readily give them up."

Why weren't they fighting? They had weapons. I snuck down an alleyway and back around so I was closer to them. I was able to see them better from here. The other group outnumbered ours, and they had guns and a ute. I could almost see something in the back of the ute..

"I don't really have a choice." Jackson said.

"Not really, no. We'll be taking your supplies regardless."

"Go ahead, let us go."

I squinted my eyes, trying to see what it was.

"I'm not going to do that." I could hear the smirk in his voice, and I realised what was in the back of the ute. A fresh human body.

My stomach lurched, and I knew I was going to throw up. I started running, they would hear my gags if I didn't get away. I ran a few feet before it all came out onto the ground in front of me, and I couldn't stop the gags from sounding.

"Did you hear that?" I heard another guy yell. Oh god. Fuck. I need to do something. I need to run.

"We'll take care of her. I know the sound of a girl throwing up when I hear it. Get them back to the base, we'll meet you there."

I ran around the corner and through the back door of one of the houses, I heard more yelling and the sound of the ute driving off.

I pressed my ear to the door, trying to listen for them. I might be able to sneak out and follow the truck, but they'd find me after they realise I'm gone and go in that direction anyway. I heard the faintest of sounds, muted through the door. I think they knew I was in here. I hid behind the couch and heard the door slowly creak open.

"Sure she's in here?" One of the men said. His voice was raspy and high. Ever so slowly, I unzipped my bag and got the machete out.

"Yeah, I heard a door close. This was the closest one. She's definitely in here."

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" The first one said in a disgusting sing-song voice. I clasped the machete tightly, adjusting my position slightly so I'd be ready to spring.

And then the floorboard below me creaked.

"There you are." The second man said, peeking over the couch with a greasy smile. I lunged, but they were stronger than me and grabbed my arm before the weapon could come down on them.

The first man came up behind me and grabbed me around my waist roughly. I screamed, trying to squirm my way out from their grip but I couldn't. He breathed heavily down my neck and my stomach was churning again.

"I like it when they think they're tough." He laughed. My heart beat fast against my chest and I felt the terror settle over me as he ripped my coat off. Cold, unadulterated terror that numbed everything. The second man pried my weapon from my grip and set it on the floor before he pushed me down.

Each layer that was ripped off of me felt like a layer of skin. When all I had on was a pair of underwear and a singlet on, I felt as if I had been stripped to the bone. A hand came down around my throat, pushing me down. I stared up at the ceiling, eyes bulging, face red. I couldn't breathe. I heard something unzip, and my eyes searched around wildly. The machete was there. I could reach it. My hand shot out and adrenaline flashed through my veins as my fingers felt the handle.

Rise from the ashes of your agony, give 'em hell.

The next few moments were a blur. When the blade hacked into his neck, it was a blur.

When I jumped up, ducked the grab that was coming for me, and sunk my weapon into the other man's chest, it was a blur.

When I used their clothes to wipe their blood off of me, it was a blur.

When I donned each of the layers that was stripped from me, it was all too clear that I had just killed two human beings.

I left their bodies in the room, all that fresh blood would attract the scent of any zombie within a mile radius.

Maybe I was the monster, but I hoped they would strip their bones bare as they had mine.