CHAPTER 26: Hell and High Water

I was woken up by the voices of the undead. I saw Roosevelta, Carol, Albert, Brian, Peater and Crazy Dave with me, still sleeping soundly. They came, just for me. Even if they'd have to endure hell and high water with me, they still didn't back down. How courageous . . .

"You! Yes you, Goose! Start moving the rest of them!" Zomboss yelled, taking me out of my thoughts.

And sure enough, that tall zombie that I encountered in the graveyard was shuffling to my cell, and started unlocking the doors, only to catch Roosevelta's attention.

"Let us out!" she screamed.

"Not on my watch!" Goose snarled. With that, he, and a team of other zombies, dragged everyone out of the cell.

Everyone, that is, but Peater.

For that, I was thankful.

"Here ― some food." Goose muttered as he tossed a half-empty box of crackers and a can of water at me.

"I hate working for Zomboss. He's evil. But can I do anything? Not if it's gonna kill me. I want brains. Brains, brains, brains . . ."

I was simply disgusted and miffed at the zombie's statements.

"What on earth . . ." Peater had woken up, probably because of the shouting.

"Earth, heaven, whatever!" Ash had unlocked the door, and in his leaf, he held a whip and a strange looking gun.

"Ash, I'm practically dead. I see no need for this." I said sharply.

"Trying to avoid pain, aren't you?" Ash asked as he raised the whip, ready to start beating me up.

"Ash, don't you dare harm her." Peater growled from behind me.

"And what are you gonna do about it, Peater? Break me?" Ash taunted.

"Just watch, and you'll see the real wrath. My real wrath."

"I'll break you, kill you . . . I'll rip you apart and feed your ruts to the dogs if I have to!" Peater yelled.

"Ah, well. Too bad your mother's spirit is still haunting this very cell." Ash snickered as he grabbed me.

Next thing I knew, I was being whipped. Hard. I did my best not to scream out at the pain . . .

But it was as harder than anything I had ever done.

My screams began to pierce the air, causing Peater to recoil in fear.

"Not so high and mighty now, are we?" Ash asked as he picked me up by the throat for what I knew wasn't the first time.

"Ash, I recommend that you stop. Now." Peater snarled as he threatened to jump Ash.

"Not if I don't want to! Remember ― I'm the boss." He smirked as he kicked Peater down.

"Peater!" I somehow managed to scream.

"And . . . I'm not weak!"

I tried to fire a tiny blast of ice, when Ash let go of me, leaving me to stagger backwards.

"Sure . . . you ain't." Ash cackled as he aimed the gun at me and pulled the trigger.

But strangely enough, I didn't feel ― or see ― a bullet come at me. Instead, I felt as if a million and one vines were tightening their grips around me. My leaves became weak, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't use my ability. At all.

"Exactly, Elyssia." With that, Ash pointed his gun at the ceiling, leaving me to fall backwards.

"Elyssia!" Peater cried as he rushed to my side.

He cradled my head, which was filled with cuts and bruises.

"It'll be fine, Elyssia. Don't worry . . ."

"This is no time for any sappy scenes, cousin. Get off her." Ash jeered as he tugged Peater off of me.

I gasped. "You two are family? Why would you be so hostile?" I asked.

"Times change, you spoiled brat." Ash answered simply as he pulled me into a standing position.

"Do you know the only reason why I haven't killed you while you were fast asleep, dreaming about God knows what?"

I shook my head quickly.

"I've always been wondering. The thought kept me awake all night long, and I'd have to rely on sugar to keep me alert all day long. Well, I can finally conclude that the reason is none other . . . than you." Ash explained.

"Me?!" I squeaked in disbelief.

"Yes, you." Ash replied, grabbing my face menacingly.

"I never thought that I'd see it, but . . . you're beautiful. You're brave. You have a prophecy on your head. I've always wanted you by my side the second I first saw you, and . . . that's what I'll get."

I resisted the urge to make a face at what Ash was implying, but it was like making the rain stop pouring, or making the temperature go up and down to my pleasure. That is to say, it was impossible. My face morphed into a grimace, out of sheer impulse.

"Please . . . Ash . . . no . . ."

"Whyever not, Elyssia?" Ash asked.

"I . . . don't love you. You're not my beloved." I answered.

Ash narrowed his eyes into slits, a sure sign that he was miffed.

"And the reason being . . . ?"

"I love Peater."

I had to force that sentence out, like it was something difficult I had to kick aside. Because I knew that telling the truth was always best.

"He's my one true love. You weren't there when I almost died. You always seemed so busy with your evil deeds that I'd never even get half a chance to . . . to talk to you!" I screamed.

"And you think . . . you think that I'd love you?"

Ash's face formed a nasty, ugly scowl.

"Which only shows how much you are showing absolutely no gratitude. Wasn't I the one who tried to ease your cries? Wasn't I the one who showed you ―"

"Yes, you were, but that's small potatoes compared to a real bond!" I spat.

"Well . . . that adds somebody to my list of enemies . . . and something to my to do list. So that you . . ." Ash trailed off and pulled me close.

"Will be mine . . ." he muttered before he gave me one final shove and went out the door.

I fell backwards, and I hit the mirror, giving me a few cuts. I allowed the tears to flow freely down my cheeks as I stared at the floor.

"Elyssia . . . I'm so sorry . . ." Peater mumbled as he tried to hug me, although I was in no condition to be pulled into an embrace. I let his warmth wrap itself around me as I said, "I should be the one that's sorry. I shouldn't have been so damn careless, and gotten myself kidnapped. You didn't have to come here and watch me suffer. You could've ignored my pleas―" Peater cut me off.

"Don't speak like that, Elyssia. You deserve a life, and I'll go to any great length to give you one." I smiled at him, and then looked at the time on the clock above me.

According to the hands, it was going on eleven in the evening.

"What the . . . this can't be true . . ." I mumbled.

Peater grabbed a cracker from the half empty box and handed it to me. I refused it with a sigh.

"I'm gonna die, Peater. Best enjoy your life in here while you can, and . . . let me starve."

"Elyssia, the abuse has been getting to you." Peater said sternly.

"Eat ― or I'll kill you."

I nodded in response as I took the salty cracker and nibbled at it, feeling somewhat grateful that I had some good food to eat. Peater then opened the can of water and brought it to my lips. I took a small sip, because I wanted to save the water for any emergencies. As Peater walked towards the mattress in our cell, he frowned, then lay down on the floor to sleep.

"Peater! What in hell are you doing?" I asked.

"Making yet another sacrifice for you." Peater answered.

"Why must you be so protective over me? Why must you make so many . . . sacrifices?" I squeaked.

"Because there's nothing left to lose in my life, Elyssia." Peater replied.

Sighing, I climbed into my makeshift bed, and closed my eyes.

Somewhere, deep down, I knew that we plants were going to be eye-deep in trouble. The sudden jump in time scared me, and although I tried not to think about it, it was about as easy as holding one's breath. The zombies weren't our only threat.

It was something that I couldn't touch. But I had a feeling that the zombies would be involved.