Looking down at the metal tray that sat on my lap, I looked up to see Erik watching me with a keen eye "What is it?" I asked softly. Fixing my eyes on the 'new and improved meal' Zola had ordered, I still had no idea what I was eating; as all of it was wrapped in silver packaging.
Kneeling down on the floor in front of me slightly to the left, Erik's finger pointed to the separate packaged goods "This, you drink…and these you eat. The taste is much to be required, but it will keep you strong. You won't be eating the rot you used to" nodding my head, I reached over the tray with my slender hand and plucked a thin rectangle package. Tearing the sealed seam, I rolled down the wrapper to see what was inside. Surprisingly, it looked much better and more like an oat bar.
Taking a bite, I grimaced at first from the dry and bland taste. Erik was right, but it still tasted better than the other stuff so I wasn't going to complain. Feeling Erik's eye's still lingering on me, I put down the bar "Yesterday…Gregov took-"
"He took you to see the soldier. I know" finished Erik with a sigh before looking down. He looked slightly angered. Taking a second, he met my gaze again. Feeling my mouth go dry as I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat, I debated whether or not to ask him the question that plagued my mind: Was he responsible for the torture of that woman? "He wasn't supposed to, but Gregov gets a certain thrill when he has little girls like you in his clutches. Ignore him. Ignore whatever he has told you" still kneeled down before me, I stared down into his deep brown eyes.
"Please, help me" my voice crackling just above a whisper. Feeling my eyes sting and brim with tears, my chest started constrict and I could no longer stomach the idea of food. Watching his orbs bore up into mine with a certain glazed look, I could tell he was thinking and feeling things I couldn't understand. Reaching over with my hand, I traced a finger down the side of his face cautiously. I've always wondered what his skin felt like, and I found it to be smooth.
"I'm sorry…but, this…I can't save you from" giving me a sympathetic look, Erik went to get up from the floor but I quickly tug on his forearm to make him stop. That couldn't be all he had to say. Not now, when I needed him the most.
"Please, try. You know what they're going to do to me. I can't go in there" feeling a tear slip down my puffy, red cheek, I pleaded with all that I had in me. Erik is my only chance, if I can't get him to help me, then it's over. I may as well give up now.
"I can't help you Amelia. There's nothing I can do" feeling his warm fingers encase around my thin wrist, he unlatched me from his arm and held it in-between his own; as if he were caressing my hand "be brave. Don't do anything stupid…and whatever do, don't struggle. It'll only make it worse. The less you fight, the faster it will be over"
Feeling my body tremble, I clutched my other hand over the edge of the mattress and started to cry. Hearing my sobs and the stream of salty water run down to drip on the tray on my lap, I couldn't keep it in any longer. I couldn't help but cry. With my head tilted down and my eyes closed, I felt the weight of the tray disappear from my lap before I was pulled into Erik's firm chest.
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I buried my head in his shoulder as he rubbed circles on my back. Feeling the warmth of his body and the comfort of his embrace, I slowly started to calm down "I promise, once this is over. I will take you away. We can go where ever you want to go…you will be happy" he whispered near my ear, his warm breath tickling my skin.
"…Paris" I sobbed "…I want to go to Paris" hearing a faint rumble in his chest, I sniffled and wiped my tears. Letting go of him, I sat back down on the bed as he got up to stand; a small wet patch evident on his shoulder from my tears.
"Paris then…I promise. But before I go" spoke Erik with a squint while reaching into his coat "I wanted to give you this. Make sure no one see's it" nodding my head, he produced a small sketch pad and charcoal sticks. Handing them to me, my eyes widened and a smile graced my lips. He had gotten these for me. He didn't have to.
"Thank you" I said while looking up, Erik had a faint smile on his face. Watching me for another few seconds, he turned and left with not another word. Watching the large metal door close, I couldn't bring myself to ask him the question. Not after that. There was no way a man like Erik could do such a cruel thing to woman. Gregov is wrong, and a liar. Erik, he is kind. He's my angel in a place of darkness.
Finishing my meal a few hours ago, all that I was left to do was wait. Sitting on my bed, I scratched away on the small pad of paper with the black grainy stick. Smearing and smudging, I didn't know it, but art seemed to click with me and I felt proud of the picture I had created. It was a scene of the meadow, the same one me and Garret stood in as we watched the Nazi trucks come toward us. Of course I didn't draw it for that reason. I drew it, because of all the happy memories I had while playing in the grass with my mother and brother.
Sighing, my tongue peeked out the corner of my mouth, but I quickly snapped out of my daze as I heard the sound of many footsteps. Quickly pulling the mattress up on my side, I shoved the evidence of my paper and charcoal underneath. I can't let them know that I have this. Feeling my heartbeat quicken and my eyes go wide, I pressed my back against the cement wall. Not yet. They can't be here for me already.
Hearing my metal door click and groan open with a jingle of keys, two burley guards walked into my room. Pressing my back further into the wall, I could feel it dig into my spine but I didn't care. Striding toward me, the men grabbed an arm each before hurling me off the bed and out of my room. Looking up, Gregov stood leering down at me with a chilling look in his green eyes "Time to go" giving me a short smile, the guards dragged me behind the Doctor as he walked us down the same corridors.
Not able to keep up with the guard's long steps, I found myself stumbling more than a few times. Turning the corner, a shiver ran down my spine and I could taste the tang of bile as it rested in the back of my throat. My stomach felt unsettled, and I couldn't help but feel the pang of fear as the familiar corridor became darker and darker the further we walked.
Standing outside the last thick metal door, Gregov turned around to face the guards after swiping his security card "Оставайся здесь" he ordered in Russian. Letting go of me, Gregov shoved me through the doorway before closing it behind him; leaving us alone to walk the rest of the way "what is that on your fingers?" he asked sceptically. Looking down confused, I didn't realise I still had the charcoal smudged over my hands and fingers.
"Dirt" I snapped immediately. Shying my head away and down to the floor, Gregov groaned before giving a harsh push to my shoulder. I hope he believed me. He must have if he didn't press the matter. Moving forward, we stood at a separate door that led into the room with the glass window.
Swiping his card again, he gestured as the door opened "Go on, girl" he hissed. Why was he being so harsh now? Did something happen? Looking into the pitch black room, with only the light peering through the glass window as my only source, I winced. Feeling a million thoughts run through my mind, one of them was to run, but I know I wouldn't get far "I don't have all day" taking too long, Gregov pushed against my back and I stumbled and tripped into the room. Landing on the cold tiled floor on my hands and knees, I began to shake as I heard the solid door close behind me. There is no escape.
Staying low, I couldn't hear a single sound of another person in the room. Maybe he wasn't here yet. Deciding to lay low, I didn't get up from the floor, but instead went to crawl forward. Feeling my way, I had no idea where I was going when suddenly my hand landed on something hard and made of leather. Shrieking back, the lights to the room made a wining noise as they flickered on dimly and I discovered my hand to be resting on a black shoe.
Gulping, I scurried away instantly. Crawling back on my butt from the daunting pair of shoes that stand in front of me, I wanted to get as far away as possible. Closing my eyes, I didn't want to see. I wish I had stared at those lights in my room for longer. I wish I no longer had the burden of sight, for I didn't want to see the monster that stood in front of me. I didn't want his face to be engrained in my mind. I wanted Erik. I wanted his safety and warmth. I wanted to be away, and free – in Paris.
Warning - Rape Scene
Keeping my eyes closed, my back pressed up against what must have been a wall. Drawing my legs up, I curled myself into a ball as if that would help me hide. Hearing a deaf pause, the sound of boots began to echo and they were coming toward me. Slowly, step by step. Feeling my chest heave up and down, I held back the sobs that wanted to rake my body again. Coming to a stop, the noise of boots stopped and a small wave of heat reached from in front of me. I could feel it. How close he is. Squeezing my eye lids tighter, I wanted to vanish.
Feeling something rough and warm press on my knee, if felt like a finger and I instantly wanted to flitch and wriggled away. Slowly dragging down my leg, it trailed until all of his fingers wrapped around my ankle. Jerking me from the wall viciously, my body dragged forward and my head hit the tiles with a thud. Snapping my eyes open, I couldn't help but open them now.
Temporarily blinded from the light above, the black clad man in front of me clutched my ankle while peering down with those steel eyes of his. Pulling my leg, I whined "Let me go" pulling again and again, the only response I got was his grip getting tighter.
Wincing as I knew there would be bruises, I looked to my right trying to find the man who had entrapped me in here only to see no one. Had Gregov left? Did he not care? What happens if things go wrong? Who's going to help me if he tries to kill me? Feeling even more afraid, I tried with all my might to kick and scream my way out of his grip. Using my other leg, I kicked with my foot and it managed to clip the side of his chin, which is also where his mask is.
Hearing a rumble like growl emit from his chest, I went to kick again but he had dropped to his knees suddenly. Moving his hand from my ankle, he went and grabbed at my upper calf. Using my hand I went to get up from the floor, but he had already leaned to hover of me.
Clenching my thighs together as tight as I could, I tried hard not let him pry them apart but with the force of his strength and metal arm he managed to settle between them. Looking up with fright at his face, his long brown hair dangled from atop his head. Using my fists, I banged at his chest and slapped at his face, but he didn't care. He just seemed to get angrier, as if this were annoying and childish. As if I were an irritating fly that kept buzzing around him.
Moving his hands from my legs, he grabbed at the watery grey material of my thin dress. Trying to push it up, I swatted with my hands and tug it back down. Not giving up, I could tell he was frustrated before I felt a sharp sting land on my cheek. Not able to see the action before it had happened, all I had to tell me that he had struck, was the sharp pain left behind. Letting out a gasp, I began to taste a small amount of iron leak into my mouth.
Using my stunned form to his advantage, the end of my dress had been pushed up. Feeling a hand move near my inner thighs, I groaned as the solid man leaned further down. Feeling my breath become compressed as his weight was now on top of me, my mind started to come to and I began to squirm and panic as something dull poked me from between my legs.
Feeling it push into me, I screamed and thrashed as I felt as if someone where clawing and scrapping at my insides. Pushing on his shoulder, he didn't care as I tried to get away but continued to hold me down with the weight of his body. Not getting over the pain, it felt as if a blunt knife had been driven into my uterus over and over again. Feeling the jolt and tug of my body from the motions, the man continued until I felt numb from the waist down and by then – I had blacked out.