I had posted an author's note, then took it down and posted an actual chapter. Because I finished it.
They left me on the corner of the street. I stand here, holding on to a light pole and doing my best to look nonchalant. I can hear a car running and my stomach flips. Getting kidnapped and possibly raped is scary, especially considering both of those things have happened to me before. But what if they don't even take me?
I glance at the building I know everyone is hiding in. They're probably watching, their own nerves going haywire. I take a deep breath, disguising it as a sigh. All of this, just to get a prosthetic. Because Newt let my leg get cut off.
Fuck him.
And not in that way.
The black car comes to a stop and two men spill out, their eyes clouded with lust. I can see scratches on their arms and I question their sanity, but it's not like there's anything I can do. If these people are going to take me to King Crank, I'll follow them.
" Hello there, miss…. " He says, trailing off.
" Lo. "
" Lo. " He smiles, revealing a row of yellow teeth. I almost cringe, but I manage to keep a smile plastered on my face.
" Are you new here? " He asks while taking a step closer, and I falter my smile, letting a little of the fear I feel shine through.
" Yea. " I say, looking down at my hand that's clenching my shirt. " I'm lost, and there's no one to help me... "
I hear him shuffle, and resist the urge to scream out for someone to come help, knowing they're so close. I've avoided stuff like this, or as much as I could. And now I can't run. It's like I'm a deer stuck in the headlights, unable to move. Actually, make that deer crippled and you have me.
His hand latches onto my wrist and he pulls me to him, causing me to fall, only to land against his chest.
" You can come with us. " He says as the other man walks behind me and grabs my leg, lifting me off the ground. I struggle against his grip, my heart lurching to my throat. The other man hooks his arms underneath my armpits and they carry me towards the car.
" No! " I scream, " Stop! Please! "
They simply laugh.
I feel a familiar lump form in my throat, paired with an icy fear.
" Stop! " I say, though the word nearly chokes me. What if they aren't taking me to the King Crank? There are so many things wrong with this plan, and I don't want to end up dead in a ditch some where. Who is King Crank anyway? Anyone could claim to be him, and I wouldn't know if they were lying or not.
Suddenly I don't want to do this.
" Stop! "I screech as loudly as I can, but they ignore me as they open the trunk to their car. Minho's name bubbles up in my throat, but I clamp down on it, knowing that I shouldn't expose them. " Stop it! I don't want to go with you disgusting assholes! "
They throw me in the trunk with scowls on their faces. Heat in the trunk is intense, and causes a small sweat to break out along my spine.
" What did you call us? " They one with the yellow teeth says. Well, they both have yellow teeth, but this one has red hair.
" My bad. " I say through gritted teeth, shoving fear deep down inside me. " I meant to say, I don't want to go with you perverse, repulsive, bastards. "
White hot pain courses through my jaw and up to my ear, making me blink away tears. It starts to throb, and I know there's going to be a dark bruise there. I grab it with one hand, gently pressing on it to test it's sensitiveness only to be met with a sharp pain.
" Don't speak to us so lowly concubine. Starting tomorrow, you're King Crank's whore. If he approves of you. " The other one hisses and slams the trunk shut, immersing me in complete, absolute darkness.
My lip wobbles and I bite it to stop it. I'll be fine. I'll be okay. If I'm in danger. Minho will save me if I'm in danger. The rest of the Familiars will. They won't abandon me.
I'll be perfectly okay.
But I'm so scared.
I curl into a ball and focus on not hyperventilating. Being in such a confined space reminds me of a few months ago, when I was sent up into the Maze. I half-expect my mind to just empty itself, and to open my eyes to a bright light, and see Newt's face as he helps me out of the box. And almost kissing Minho.
Common sense tells me I'm trapped in the trunk of a car, and that if I'm in here for too long I'll pass out for heat exhaustion.
This sounds like a grand adventure. Why do I keep getting myself into these situations? It's like God himself is out to get me, to make my life hell. I just want to be like the Familiars. And they're lives are horrible. Sadly, still preferable to what I'm doing. I want my leg back. I want Newt back. I want my mom and brother back.
It's a shame that no matter how hard I might wish it, all of those things are gone.
The car jostles suddenly, hitting a bump, causing my to hit my head on the side. I grimace and clutch my throbbing head with one hand. There better not be anymore bumps on our trip to see King Crank.
King Crank.
Probably some old perverted creep.
Why did I let myself get talked into this?
" Minho… " I whisper, clenching the fabric on my sleeves with my free hand.
I'll be okay.
…..
The car drives away, with Louisa in the trunk. She actually looked petrified. Either she's a really good actor, or she shouldn't have done this. I don't want her to feel scared anymore. But this is all his fault. He let her leg get cut off, and she didn't want to be a deadweight, so she's putting herself in danger just for a prosthetic they might not even have.
I grit my teeth.
" We need to move. " I say, rising from the crouch I was in. " Find Thomas and Brenda, get Louisa, and get out of this damned place. "
" I agree. " Frypan says, sounding a bit shaken up. All of us could hear her piercing screams, the words they told her, and her responses. Now I know one thing for sure.
She's braver than I'll ever be.
" We've been here a week already. We aren't anywhere near the place we're supposed to be. " Aris says from his spot leaning against the wall.
" What are you suggesting? " I ask him while turning to face him. After a couple of seconds of silence, he simply shrugs. To me, it's clear as day what he's suggesting. He wants us to leave Louisa behind and go ahead. To save our own asses.
" What do you have against Louisa? " I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. Aris hasn't said much since we've been in the Scorch, but it's clear enough that he doesn't like Louisa. I can't figure out why, but he seems to know something about her. Something that even Newt doesn't know. Maybe she herself doesn't know.
" I heard some stories about her from a friend. "
" And who was this friend? " Newt butts in, finally deciding to say something to defend Louisa, or at least to find a way to protect her.
Aris just shrugs.
" We don't have time to waste on this. " I say, annoyed with Aris' will to keep his secret. We have to go follow that car. If we don't, then we very well may lose Louisa forever. And she is one thing I refuse to give up. " We're leaving. "
I start to walk out of the room, ready to go get Louisa once she gets what she needs. Or if she needs to be saved. But Aris' voice stops me.
" Do you really want to know why I hate that girl so much? " He asks. I look over my shoulder at him.
" It would be preferable, yeah. " I say, turning completely.
" It's because of what she did to one of my friends. "
" How do you know she was the one that did it? " Newt asks from next to Fry, crossing his arms over his chest. At least now he's trying to do something about a situation that involves Louisa.
" Because he told me himself. "
My jaw ticks, annoyed that Aris keeps using pronouns. Can't he just give us a name already?
Do we really want to know?
" Who told you? " Clint asks, scratching the side of his face, smearing the dirt there. Everyone seemingly leans forward intentively as Aris looks at each one of us, a small smirk appearing on his face as his eyes stop on Newt.
" Does the name Reed ring a bell? "
…..
Just when I think I'm going to suffocate, the trunk opens revealing a night time sky. This marks a week we've been in the Scorch, and I'm off trying to get kidnapped. What kind of friend am I to do that? Now they aren't going to move on with the ' quest ' WICKED gave them.
" Get up. " The man grabs my arm and pulls me out of the trunk, throwing me to the ground. I land very ungracefully, with a thud. I wince as I look around and see a large, abandoned factory made of crumbling red brick. The men approach me, their faces twisted in wicked smiles that seem more like grimaces. They don't even seem to notice that I have half a leg missing.
" You're so beautiful, with the moonlight highlighting all the right features. " The one with red hair says, his eyes raking up and down my body. I shrink under his hungry gaze.
" The old man'll like you. " The other one with brown hair says as he pulls me to my feet-foot-and drags me to a door. My face is swollen from his slap earlier, and it aches with each jarring hop I'm forced to take. My leg is tired, not used to supporting all of my weight for so long, but I push through the pain because if I don't, I'll be hurt by these pigs.
At least I was right about him being old. Or middle-aged.
But that doesn't make this any better.
The rusted metal door is yanked open revealing a dark corridor. I swear I can see shadows dancing in the blackness, taunting my helplessness. As I'm dragged in there a musty smell reaches me, along with the metallic scent of blood. A smell I'm all too familiar with.
" Don't you know how to walk on one leg you stupid bitch? " He growls, yanking on my arm and causing me to lose my balance and nearly fall. My hand darts out a the last second, catching myself on the wall. My hand comes away wet and sticky. I cringe.
So that's where that smell was coming from.
" Sorry, " I say shakily, " Just happened a few days ago. Haven't really moved since. You know, loss of blood and all. "
I lied about how long ago it was, considering it was just yesterday.
" Does it look like I care? " I see the silhouette of his head look over his shoulder, at the man trailing us. " Ricky, grab her leg. We aren't moving fast enough. "
I hand clamps down on my leg and lifts it, and their steps immediately speed up. I'm jostled around with no regard for the injury on my hand or leg. Honestly, how do I manage to always be hurt? First I got bit, then I got glass in my hand, and then my leg got lopped off because I got myself bit. That reminds me. I should probably change the bandages around my hand. Or, rather, remove the dirtied shirt and use proper cloths and meshes.
Light fills the hall and I begin to hear shouting. Or cheering. Maybe both. I squint as the voices carry around me and the light gets brighter, and we enter a seemingly large room from what I can tell by the echo. Loud music is playing, drumming through my head with it's fast rhythm. It's something people could easily dance too.
I open my eyes to see bright, flashing lights and sweaty bodies moving to the rhythm of the music. There's a small stage, and atop it sits a hooded man. All I can see is the smile. I try to imagine that his eyes aren't following me, and that he isn't the King Crank, but there's no telling. The eyes of the people in the crowd drift up to him every so often, hoping they have his attention.
He must be pretty important and well respected for people to do that. Then again… These deranged people don't need a reason to look up to a man like that.
I'm shoved and poked at, but the two carrying me make for the door at the other end of the room. It's hard, and the smell of drugs and alcohol drift in the air, but they push through. A couple cranks shout out at us, wondering who the new girl is. I ignore them and squeeze my eyes shut against the pulsing lights. They're starting to give me a headache.
The fear hasn't subsided. I still feel like curling into a ball and crying until the world ends. But I don't. I have to get the prosthetic and I have to get the Familiars out of the Scorch. Newt has to get the cure. I may be unsure about trusting him, but that doesn't mean I want him to suffer a hellish death. I don't want him to die at all. The best thing he could do would be to live and be happy. I'll still help him.
Him, Minho, and all the others.
But it still doesn't stop my hands form shaking in the man's grip.
I hear the clicking of a lock, and the slamming of a door. The air cools and I'm thrown onto a hard floor. I land on my shoulder, hard, and I wince as I open my eyes. A yellow light flickers above me, and the walls are a pale tan and the floors are stained with blood. My stomach drops as the two men tower over me with clouded eyes. What if I'm not here to see King Crank, but to be murdered in this room that's already tainted?
I scoot back as far as I can, using my hands and single leg. " Don't come any closer! "
" Relax, " The red-head says, grabbing my chin, " We aren't allowed to do anything. "
His words do nothing to calm me down. In fact, it has the exact opposite effect.
" At least, not until King Crank decides what's he wants to do with you. " He drops my chin and kicks my injured leg, causing me to cry out with pain. It shoots up my leg and part of my spine, sharp and cutting. The man simply laughs.
" Stop that. He's coming. " The other man says, darting from the door to stand by my side as stoic as a guard. The other follows suit, and soon enough the door is pulled open. Music and colored lights pour in for the slight second it takes the hooded man that walks in to close it. I tense and clench my fists.
"Ah, " The man says in a rough voice, " Welcome to my palace. "
That insufferable smile spreads across his face and I resist the urge to spit at his feet. That won't get me anywhere. Be nice. Be nice.
" What's your name? " He asks as he crouches down in front of me, his forearms resting on his knees. I try to see underneath his hood, but I can't see anything.
" Louisa. "
He suddenly stands, taking half a step back. The men beside me have shock written across their faces, as if they've never seen this happen before. I was expecting him to touch me, but he didn't.
" Leave. " He says, and the two men in the room hurry out. They fear this man, whoever his is. I knew he had authority, but how much? And why did he order them out?
" Don't come close to me. " I force the words out despite the fact that I had thought I'd be nice. But no. I can't let myself be defenseless. If I can't use my body to attack, I'll use my words. Not that words do much, anyway.
He pulls his hood back, revealing graying brown hair, and green eyes. He reminds me of Noah, but he carries himself differently. He's King Crank. Of course he'll carry himself with arrogance.
" Louisa, what's your last name? " He questions as he squares his jaw. Something about him seems familiar… Something I can't quite pinpoint. He does look like Noah, and that is peculiar, but I think that's why I think he looks familiar. Maybe I'm just trying to cling to something that isn't there.
Does he really need to know my last name? He could know my name since I'm with WICKED. Recognize me. Take me back.
" I won't hurt you. " Strange, he sounds completely normal, even though he's King Crank.
"I don't believe you. " I say, but I see how relaxed his posture his, and how he doesn't seem to have any weapons on him. I guess it won't hurt if he knows my last name. " Kittredge. "
He falls to his knees. His shoulders start to shake and my brows furrow together.
" You've escaped. " The light above us flickers, like it could sputter out at any moment.
" What the hell are you talking about? " I attempt to growl, but it comes out a mere whisper.
" My daughter, you've escaped from WICKED's clutches. "
Shortest chapter I've written in a while. BUT A+ PLOT TWISTS.
Don't be confused guys. You're allowed to be confused, but don't worry. There will be a second draft of this story written, and I'll smooth out the wrinkles but for now I'll make up my own explanations. If you ask the questions, that is. And if you have questions, PM me. I won't spoil anything, but I'll clear away any confusion you might have.
Also, about not updating, Due to the fact that I'm a homeschooled student athlete, I have some assessment tests to take. Forty of them. I have to take them within the month, so I've been super stressed and I feel like hitting my head on a wall. I hadn't been able to concentrate on my writing.
If you want to read a rewritten version of Fighting Against You, check out my profile on Wattpad: Sportsdiamond12. It's not finished, in fact I just started in the beginning of January, but there's four chapters rewritten.
{ review responses }
Swagmaster5000 ~ YESSS SHIP SHIP SHIP
Guest ~ Crap. I don't mind that it's turning into that, but I suppose I could invest more writing in the plot. I was just trying to sort out the love feelings. Now I'm digging deeper into the plot and I really need to write it out because I'm getting confused. Well not really, but I should probably work it out more.
Chipmunk1123 ~ Nooo please don't cry. I get that the feels are overwhelming and that it's sad, and I cried while writing parts of it, but I'll make everything okay. I hope. Also same. I'd like to give my little smol child Louisa a hug. And everyone else. They all need a hug.
{ end of review responses }
I'll update as soon as I can guys.
Have a good day, night, evening, morning, afternoon, I'm going to sleep.