Sorry for not updating as much as I used to. I'm having problems with the internet and I've been focusing on other things.

P.S. This chapter is from Charon's pov.

Also, check out my friend MatureFetus. They wrote a friendship thing about Charon and Eleanor. It's really good. It's called Companions. While you're at it, read The Weeping Wastes.

Chapter 13

I slammed the metal door to my metal room on this metal boat. Everything is fucking metal. It was too cramped and smelled like fish.

That ungrateful little bitch. I guess I know better to help her from now on.

She wasted her nights drunk and in bed with any disease-riddled rat willing to climb on top of her. She's a disgrace. A waste of flesh and bones. She was destroying herself willingly.

Who the fuck does she think she is?

I kicked my boots off angrily and collapsed on the bed. I shut my eyes in an attempt to force myself to go to sleep. Or anything resembling a sleep-like state. An hour passed and I still found myself staring at the mildewed ceiling.

I tossed and turned in bed and stopped when I heard the door to Eleanor's room open and close. The sound was quickly followed with the echoed noise of skin on skin and clothes dropping to the floor and creaking of the bed.

She was at it again and these walls were no help. Every sound here was only amplified. I could hear Eleanor gasping and more creaking.

After several minutes, I heard her whimper. He hurt her.

I was at the door before I even knew it. My hand stopped when I gripped the wheel of the door. She wouldn't want me to interrupt. I'm only following orders if I stay here. Go home were my orders.

I let go of the wheel and climbed back into the too-smell bed. I lay there with my hands over my stomach, staring at the ceiling waiting for it to stop. I could feel my stomach churning at the thought of that man being rough with her. Even him just touching her made me sick. She wanted it. She doesn't want help. I covered my face with the pillow. Maybe that could stop the sounds.

She needs help.

Eleanor let out a loud groan. Followed by more whimpering. He didn't even care that he was hurting her?

The creaking stopped and a thump on the bed was muffled by the walls. After about five minutes, the door open and closed quietly. I could hear the bed creak again as someone got up and stumbled to another part of the room. Someone was vomiting, I could only assume it was Eleanor after all the booze.

I buried my face deeper in the pillow to silence her crying and vomiting. I sighed exasperatedly as I swung my legs off the bed and opened the door. I made the short walk to her door. I knocked once and heard nothing. I opened the door cautiously and entered the room when nothing was thrown at me.

"I don't want to hear it, Charon. I know what you're going to say." Her voice was muffled by the pillow.

I knelt down by the bed and placed a hand on her shoulder. She jumped at the touch and pulled back. It must have been a pretty long time since she was touched in a friendly way.

"He hurt you."

She was silent for a second before nodding into the pillow.

"I can do whatever you want at the snap of your fingers, Eleanor."

"You don't need to do that. I wanted it."

I thought for a moment before speaking. "No one wants that."

She looked up from the pillow. Her eyeliner was smudged and her pretty face was red and streaked with tears. Her odd pink hair was mussed up and looked like she'd been yanked by her hair.

"You don't have to be nice. I know you're just waiting to say that you told me so." She rested her head on her hands.

I pulled out a rag from my pockets and wiped at her face with little protest. "I will not say anything like that. I wanted to, but I heard you two. You weren't really enjoying it. He hurt you and didn't even care."

She sniffled. "Yeah, I think I'm really fucking stupid. I let him do it."

"No. People like that are sick. It's called rape, Eleanor. You were drunk and he was only trying to get what he wanted."

"It's not rape if I wanted it in the first place."

"At any point, did you want to stop?" Could she really think she wanted to get hurt?

She looked down in shame. "Yeah."

"I need to get you out of here. We're leaving at dawn."

"Alright." She mumbled. She wouldn't look at me.

"Is there anything I can get you?"

She hugged her pillow tightly.

"Do you want me to stay with you," I paused for a moment, "Elle?"

She smiled and nodded, but still didn't look at me. I sat in the seat next to her bed.

"You don't have to sit in the chair if you don't want to. I know it's uncomfortable." She whispered gingerly.

"I was unsure if you wanted me so close."

"Please lay with me." She blurted out. Her eyes widened at her own words. "I'm sorry. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do."

I crawled into bed with her without hesitation. I settled under the blankets with her. She curled up next to me and I placed my arm around her gently. She nuzzled into my neck.

"I'm sorry I was a bitch earlier." She whispered into my neck.

"Sorry I was intruding on your business."

"You were just looking out for me." Her breath was hot on my neck. "I'll try to be less slutty."

"I can help you if you just let me." I looked over to meet her stare.

"Alright." She leaned in and pressed her lips to mine gently.

"Alright." I looked up at the ceiling, barely containing a grin.

"Goodnight, Charon." She mumbled, already half asleep.

"Goodnight, Elle."

"Eleanor, I need you to get up. We need to get going soon. You must eat first."

"Guh mornin" She mumbled drowsily. She rubbed her eyes and rolled over.

I sighed and shook her shoulder. "Wake up!"

She shot up. "What do you fucking want, Charon?"

I was taken by surprise by her harsh words. I guess the liquor was what made her less frigid. "We must go, Mistress."

"God dammit, stop calling me that. What happened to calling me 'Elle'?" She asked with a sly grin.

I paused at the look she gave me. "So you do remember what happened last night?"

"Well, not really. I remember bits and pieces. Do you know why I'm so damn sore?" She adjusted her sitting position.

"You were drunk and brought the security guard home." I answered flatly.

"That explains a lot. But, where is he? I'm usually the one who wakes up early to ditch." She gave me a poorly hidden pained expression. My stomach twisted at the thought of her hurt.

"He left after you two were... finished. You didn't take it well." I fiddled with the strap on my bag to find something to take my mind off the look she gave me.

"Oh, well, I didn't really like him anyway. Besides, I already have someone else." She looked up from her lap at me.

Someone else? I should have known better. I never stood a chance.

I stood up abruptly and slung my bag over my shoulder. "We need to leave."

I walked to the door and didn't turn around before leaving the room. I stopped in front of my door and let out a breath I'd been holding.

I'm not enough.