End: Chapter 12 - Screwed Up World
The two guards flanking Kelly didn't speak, the ropes binding her wrists bit into her skin with every stumble she made on the uneven ground. The looming shadow of the Citadel's main building grew closer with each step, its towering walls swallowing the morning light and casting everything in a cold, grey pallor.
Once they crossed the threshold of the main building, one guard exchanged a glance with the other. Without a word, the second guard turned down a side corridor, disappearing into the dimly lit labyrinth of the Citadel. Kelly blinked after him, her breath catching in her throat as the remaining guard, the one gripping her arm, slowed his pace.
"Ethan," the guard said suddenly, his voice a low murmur. Kelly glanced up at him, startled by the sound of his name. His grip on her arm loosened, and he looked around quickly before leaning closer to her ear. "That's my name. And you're going to listen to me very carefully." Before she could respond, Kelly felt the subtle press of something cold and metallic against her palm.
"What-"
"Shut up and listen," he hissed, his voice barely above a whisper. "What's in your hand is a knife and keep it hidden. When you're in there with Briggs, don't speak unless he makes you. He likes to get close when he talks.. it's his way of intimidating people. Use that. Cut the rope and wait for your moment. When he's close enough, do it."
"Why are you helping me?" Kelly whispered.
Ethan's eyes flickered with something unreadable—anger, perhaps, or resolve. "Because someone has to," he said simply. "And because that bastard deserves it."
For a moment, Kelly wanted to argue, to question his motives, to demand answers. But the weight of the blade in her hand and the urgency in Ethan's tone pressed against her hesitation. She nodded once, a small, sharp movement, her fingers curling tightly around the knife's hilt.
Ethan straightened, his expression hardening once more. "Good," he said quietly. "Now keep quiet and follow my lead."
-_-_-
Ethan knocked on Briggs' door, the sound reverberating through the hallway.
"Enter."
Ethan pushed the door open and stepped inside, pulling Kelly with him.
"Sit," Briggs said, gesturing toward the chair across from him. His voice carried an almost fatherly tone, but the malice beneath it was unmistakable. Kelly hesitated, her muscles tight, but finally sank into the chair.
Briggs leaned back in his chair, studying her with the cool detachment of a predator. "You've made quite the impression, you know. The cafeteria incident.. bold, reckless, foolish. But bold nonetheless."
Kelly didn't answer. Her eyes stayed fixed on him, watching every movement, searching for an opening.
"You're quiet," Briggs observed, folding his hands on the desk. "Why?"
Her fingers tightened around the knife, her knuckles whitening. "I just don't feel like talking to a killer." she said, her voice low but steady.
Briggs chuckled, the sound unnervingly calm. "A murderer? That's rich, coming from someone who just killed a man this morning."
"Joseph was already dead. You made sure of that."
Briggs suddenly stood and walked around the desk, his footsteps echoing faintly against the polished stone floor. He leaned against the desk, crossing his arms. "I hear you want to go to Lockheaven." Kelly's fingers adjusted their grip on the knife. Briggs tilted his head, his sharp eyes scrutinizing her like a specimen under a magnifying glass. "Nothing to say again?" he asked, his tone softening as if he were speaking to a frightened child. "You've got potential," he continued, gesturing vaguely toward her. "The way you fought to save Justin, the risks you've taken… it's admirable, in a way. Misguided, but admirable." Briggs leaned down slightly, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial murmur. "I can see, that fire." He stepped back, spreading his arms as though addressing an invisible audience.
Kelly jump to her feet and her hand shot forward, the knife flashing in the dim light. She aimed for his chest, putting every ounce of strength behind the blow. Briggs's eyes widened in shock as the blade sank into his chest, the force of the impact driving him back against the desk. He clutched at the handle, his fingers fumbling uselessly as blood seeped through his shirt. Kelly stepped back, breathing hard as she watched him struggle to stay upright. His legs buckled, and he collapsed to the floor, his body crumpling like a marionette with its strings cut with blood pooling around the hilt and staining the polished wood floor of the office.
Kelly stepped back, her hand trembling as she stared at his lifeless body. The room is silent except for the faint, uneven rhythm of her breathing. Her fingers twitch, still feeling the phantom weight of the knife. Ethan moved swiftly, crossing the room in long strides. Without a word, he yankex open the office window, the hinges groaning in protest. A gust of cool air rushes in, carrying with it the acrid tang of smoke and faint, distant shouts.
Kelly turned to him, her voice cutting through the stillness like a blade. "What's going on out there?"
Ethan glanced back at her. "We're taking over the Citadel. Me and a few others—we've had enough of Briggs and his way of doing things. We're clearing out anyone still loyal to him, anyone who stands in our way."
"I don't want to stay here," Kelly said, the words spilling from her lips with an intensity that even surprised her. She hadn't meant to sound so resolute, but it was the truth. "I need to get to Lockheaven. My parents might be there. And my friend Justin."
"We're planning on taking down Lockheaven as well," Ethan said slowly, as though weighing every syllable. "You can come with us if you want."
"I want to," Kelly answered quickly. "I have to find out what happened to them. To Justin." Ethan nodded, his eyes never leaving hers.
-_-_-
The van rolled to a stop in front of the towering wooden gates of Lockheaven Farm, its engine sputtering into silence. Kelly sat tensely in the back, her hands gripping the worn fabric of the seat beneath her. The air inside the vehicle was heavy, filled with the mingling scents of oil and sweat, but it was the weight of unspoken fears that pressed hardest against her chest.
Ethan turned slightly from the front passenger seat, his voice low and measured. "Here's how this works," he began, his eyes fixed on the gates ahead. "Lockheaven's run by Gregory and his family. They don't take kindly to surprises. That's why we're giving them exactly what they expect, a package." Kelly didn't respond, her jaw tightening as his words settled over her like a heavy shroud. "They're expecting you. To them, you're just another trade. If your parents are alive, Gregory's the one who'll lead you to them. But if they're not.." His voice trailed off, leaving the unspoken truth hanging in the air.
Nora, seated beside him, turned in her seat to face Kelly. Her dark eyes held a mixture of determination and quiet empathy. "Listen," she said, her tone gentler than Ethan's. "Once you're inside, we'll watch to see where you be taken. Once we see, we'll do what we can to get you out. But you have to keep your head down. No heroics. Understand?"
Kelly met Nora's gaze, the knot of anxiety in her stomach tightening. "And Justin?"
Nora exchanged a quick glance with Ethan. "We'll get him out too." Kelly nodded silently.
Ethan reached into the duffel bag at his feet, pulling out a coarse burlap sack. He held it up, the rough fabric catching the dim light filtering through the van's windows. "This is for your protection as much as ours," he said. "If they think you've been blindfolded the whole way, they'll trust the story more."
Kelly's heart thudded in her chest as he moved toward her. She forced herself to stay still, her breathing shallow as he slipped the sack over her head. The world went dark, the faint scent of dust and burlap filling her nostrils.
Ethan's hands were firm but not rough as he secured her wrists with a rope. The coarse fibers bit into her skin, a sharp reminder of her precarious position. "Just stay calm and you'll be fine."
Kelly nodded once, forcing herself to focus on the rhythm of the rope tightening around her wrists.
-_-_-
The sound of the gate creaking open filled Kelly's ears, the groaning wood echoing like a warning. Beneath the coarse sack covering her head, her world was suffocatingly dark. She could only hear.. the groan of the van door sliding open, the crunch of heavy footsteps on gravel, and the low murmur of voices. Her pulse quickened as the weight of her situation sank in.
"You're early," a voice said, sharp and edged with suspicion.
"Briggs wanted this one gone immediately," Ethan answered.
"Okay, hm.. Open it up."
The van doors clanged and Kelly felt the floor of the van shudder beneath her, footsteps drawing closer. Without warning, Ethan's hand clamped onto her arm, the grip far rougher than it needed to be. "Move," he barked, his voice colder than she'd ever heard it. Kelly stumbled as she was yanked from the van, her footing unsteady on the gravel below. The sack twisted slightly, brushing against her cheek.
A low chuckle sounded close by.. Gregory. His voice was smooth, like oil over steel, laced with an unsettling amusement. "She'll do," he said with a tone of dismissal.
Ethan's grip tightened momentarily then he released her abruptly, she felt herself shoved forward. Another hand caught her—larger, stronger, and unfamiliar.
"She's in your care now," Ethan said coolly, his footsteps retreating toward the van.
"Good," Gregory replied, his voice as smug as it was commanding. Kelly could hear the smirk in it, the unspoken implication that Ethan had served his purpose.
The crunch of Ethan's boots faded, followed by the metallic clunk of the van doors closing. Kelly bit the inside of her cheek, willing herself to remain silent as she was dragged forward.
"You're tense," Gregory observed, his hand firm on her arm. He sounded amused, as if her fear was just another part of his entertainment.
Kelly's heart thundered as the gate groaned shut behind her, the sound reverberating like a death knell. She was in, and Ethan was gone.
Gregory's grip tightened briefly as he guided her down what felt like a path of loose gravel.
-_-_-
"John!" Gregory called out. "Get in here."
The footsteps grow louder until a figure emerged from the shadows. John is tall and lean, his face pale and angular under the low light. His expression is a mask of indifference, his eyes dark and unfeeling as they sweep over Kelly. She flinched as he strided forward, reaching for the burlap sack over her head. The fabric is yanked away roughly, the sudden light making her blink and squint. Kelly's gaze darts around the shed, taking in every detail.. crates stacked haphazardly in one corner, tools hanging on the walls, and, at the center, a large trapdoor set into the wooden floor.
"Untie her," Gregory ordered, his tone clipped.
John stepped closer, his movements unhurried but deliberate. Kelly felt his cold fingers brush her skin as he worked at the knots binding her wrists. The ropes fell away and Kelly resisted the urge to rub her raw wrists, keeping her arms stiff at her sides.
"You'll do what you're told, girl," Gregory said, his gaze fixed on Kelly.. "If you don't, things will get messy. Do you understand?"
Kelly met his eyes, her jaw tightening as she gave a small nod. "I understand."
"Good," Gregory said, gesturing toward the trapdoor. "Open it."
John moved without hesitation, crossing the shed and gripping the iron ring set into the trapdoor. The wood groaned in protest as he pulled it open, revealing a dark passage below. A faint, musty smell wafted up, and Kelly took an involuntary step back.
"Down," Gregory ordered.
Kelly hesitated, her gaze fixed on the gaping hole. "What's down there?"
Gregory's eyes narrow. "You'll find out soon enough. Move."
John stepped behind her, giving her a small shove, his fingers pressing into her shoulder. Kelly stumbled forward, catching herself just before the edge of the trapdoor. She peered into the darkness below. Wooden stairs lead down, their edges uneven and worn. She placed one foot on the first step, the wood creaking ominously under her weight.
"Keep going," Gregory snapped.
Kelly swallowed hard and descended further, the darkness swallowing her bit by bit. The air grew colder with each step, the walls closing in around her. The faint light from the shed above faded quickly, leaving her in near-total darkness.
-_-_-
The passage underground was colder than Kelly expected, each step feeling heavier as the chill seeped into her bones. Gregory strode ahead, his boots echoing against the damp stone walls.
When they reached a metel door, Gregory yanked the door open and a gust of icy air spilled out. "Inside,"
Kelly peered into the dimly lit room. The air inside was colder than anything she'd felt before, a biting frost that clawed at her skin. Before she could steady herself, Gregory gave her a hard shove, and she stumbled forward. The cold hit her like a wall. Behind her, the door clanged shut, sealing her in with an oppressive silence. Her breath puffed in short, scanning the room.
The faint hum of a generator buzzed in the background, mingling with the crackle of frost forming on the freezer walls. The space was cramped, with steel shelves lining one side and scattered debris littering the floor. It felt lifeless.. until her eyes landed on a figure huddled in the corner.
Kelly froze, her breath catching in her throat. "Justin?" Kelly whispered, taking a tentative step forward.
The figure didn't move. Her heart hammered as she closed the distance, her boots crunching against a thin layer of ice. When she was close enough to make out his features, her chest tightened. Justin's pale face was slack, his eyes closed. He was curled against the cold metal wall, his arm.. what was left of it.. was wrapped in bloodied bandages. The sight of the abrupt stump where his forearm made her stomach twist.
Kelly knelt beside Justin, her fingers trembling as she adjusted the torn blanket draped over his emaciated form. The cold bit into her knees through the thin fabric of her jeans, it was nothing compared to the icy dread pooling in her chest. "Justin," Kelly whispered urgently, her breath puffing in small clouds. Her hands hovered over his pale face, unsure where to start. "What happened to you?"
Justin's eyelids fluttered open, his green eyes glassy. "They… they cut it off." His gaze drifted to the stump where his left forearm should have been, wrapped in bloodstained bandages. "They.. said.. they are going to eat it."
Kelly recoiled. "What? Eae..?" Her voice cracked. "Justin, I—" She stopped, shaking her head, unsure what to say, what to feel.
Justin's head nodded weakly, the movement so slight it could've been mistaken for a tremor. "Said it was better than wasting me," he murmured.
A dull, muffled crack of gunfire echoed through the walls, faint but unmistakable. Kelly's head shot up, her senses sharpening. She glanced at the freezer door, her heart hammering. "They're fighting out there," Kelly muttered. She gripped Justin's thin arm, her voice firm. "Justin, listen to me. Have you seen anyone else? My mom, my dad.. anyone?"
Justin's head lolled to the side, his eyes unfocused. His lips trembled, but no words came. Instead, he gave a slow, despondent shake of his head. Kelly felt a pang of despair clawing at her, but she shoved it down. She couldn't afford to feel it. Not now.
"Okay," Kelly said, taking a breath. "Okay, then we get out of here." She slid her arms under his shoulders, gritting her teeth as she hauled him to his feet. He groaned softly, his weight sagging against her like a sack of bones.
As they shuffled toward the door, Justin stumbled, his breath hitching. "Kelly.." His voice was barely audible, a fragile thread stretched thin. "Is my my dad here.."
Kelly tightened her grip on Justin. "Justin.. he's not here."
Justin's knees buckled as though her words had cut his strings. Kelly struggled to hold him up, but his body was dead weight, crumpling to the icy floor.
"Justin, no—" She dropped to her knees, shaking him lightly. "We don't have time for this! You can't… you can't give up, okay? Not now!" Her voice rose, desperate, as tears pricked at her eyes. "I need you. You hear me? I need you."
But Justin didn't respond. He curled into himself, his breaths shallow and ragged. Kelly pressed her forehead against his, closing her eyes. For a long moment, the only sound was the faint hiss of her own breath and the distant, sporadic pops of gunfire outside.
"I know he's dead."
Kelly pulled back a little, wiping her eyes.. Her head tilted toward him, dark green eyes searching his pale, tear-streaked face. "How?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper, hoarse from the cold and the suffocating dread.
Justin's shoulders rose and fell in sharp, shallow breaths, and he couldn't meet her eyes. "Briggs," he finally said, the name slipping through his lips like poison. "He.. he killed him. Right in front of me. Told me it was a lesson.." His words trembled as his face twisted with the memory. "Then they sent me here."
"Justin," Kelly managed, her voice cracking, "I'm so-"
"My mom.." Justin interrupted, his tone sharper than she'd ever heard before. It wasn't anger.. it was something deeper, rawer. "She died because of me, too."
"What?" Kelly's hand froze on his shoulder, her brow furrowing. "What are you talking about?"
Justin closed his eyes, squeezing them shut. "It was a long time ago… before all of this. I was.. God, I was so stupid. I begged her to take me to the library. She didn't want to, but I wouldn't stop whining. We went, and on the way back.. some guy tried to mug us." His breath hitched, and a sob broke through. "She told me to run, and I did. I didn't even look back, Kelly. I just ran.. They shot her," he said, his voice trembling. "She didn't even have anything to give them, but they shot her anyway. I heard it while I was hiding, and I.. I didn't do anything. I just stayed there. She died because of me."
"That's not true," Kelly said, her grip on his shoulder tightened, her nails biting into his jacket. "You couldn't have done anything."
Justin shook his head violently, his orange hair plastered to his damp forehead. "It is true! If I hadn't begged to go out, if I hadn't run, she'd still be alive! And now my dad.. my dad's gone because we tried to leave the tent, Kelly. I shouldn't have—I should've just stayed in bed. He'd still be alive if I'd stayed."
Kelly watched as he crumpled, his body shaking with sobs that echoed off the steel walls. Her own tears burned hot trails down her face, falling silently as she dropped to the ground beside him. She pulled him into a hug without thinking, her arms wrapping tightly around his trembling frame. "It's not your fault," she finally said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. "You were just a kid, Justin. We are just kids in this screwed up world..."
Justin's trembled against her, his frail body barely holding itself together. She tightened her arms around him. "I just want it to be over," Justin whispered.
"It's not over yet, Justin," Kellu murmured. "We're going to get out of this. I promise."
Justin face buried against her shoulder, his grip on her like a lifeline. She stared past him at the frozen walls, her breath fogging in the icy air.
The creak of the freezer door startled them both. Kelly's head snapped up, her heart slamming in her chest as cold air rushed out into the dim light beyond. She tensed, instinctively shifting to shield Justin, but the sight of Ethan and Nora standing in the doorway stopped her.
Relief flooded her, but it was brief. Ethan's face was grim as he stepped into the freezer, his boots crunching against the frost-covered floor. Without hesitation, he crouched and scooped Justin into his arms, holding him as though the boy were made of glass.
"Let's move," Ethan said, his eyes flicked to Kelly.
Nora reached out a hand to Kelly, her eyes searching her face. "Come on, kid." she said quietly.
Kelly hesitated for a heartbeat, her gaze flickering back to Justin. His head lolled against Ethan's chest, his eyes fluttering shut. As Nora pulled her to her feet, Kelly winced, her body stiff from the cold and the countless bruises that never seemed to have time to heal. She let Nora steady her, but her eyes never left Justin. "Is he going to be okay?"
Ethan glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "He's alive. That's what matters right now."
"That's not an answer," Kelly shot back.
Ethan's steps faltered for a moment, but he didn't look at her. "I don't have one. Not yet."
Nora placed a hand on Kelly's shoulder, her touch grounding. "We'll do what we can for him, Kelly." she said gently. "But we need to get out of here first."
-_-_-
The four of them moved quickly. Ethan carried Justin's limp form, his arms tense with the effort. Kelly walked alongside Nora, her mind racing, each thought tangling into the next until they became an incomprehensible blur. The only sound was the crunch of snow beneath their hurried footsteps and the occasional groan of the wind.
Kelly's voice broke the silence, small and brittle. "What about my parents?"
Ethan didn't turn to face her, his eyes fixed on the path ahead. "There's no sign of them," he muttered, his tone clipped and pragmatic.
Kelly's chest tightened, her breath hitching as she tried to push back the rising tide of despair. "But... they could still be-"
"They're most likely dead." Ethan's voice was cold, his words sharp and deliberate, as if cutting through any false hope was an act of mercy.
Kelly stopped in her tracks, the world spun around her as the enormity of Ethan's words sank in. The faint, fragile hope she'd held onto, the belief that her mother might still be out there, alive, was crushed under the weight of reality. She sank to the ground, her breath coming in shallow gasps.
Nora was at her side in an instant, kneeling and wrapping an arm around Kelly's trembling shoulders. "It's okay," Nora murmured softly. "Let it out."
"I-" Kelly's voice cracked, and the tears came, hot and uncontrollable. Her face pressed into her hands as the sobs wracked her body. "I thought.. I thought I'd find her."
Nora's grip tightened, her hand rubbing gentle circles on Kelly's back. "I know," Nora whispered. "I know it hurts. But you're not alone. We're here."
Justin stirred faintly in Ethan arms. "We need to get to the van," Ethan said, his voice softer now.
Nora glanced up at him. "Give her a minute."
Ethan hesitated but gave a curt nod, shifting Justin slightly to redistribute his weight. Kelly's sobs had quieted to muffled sniffles, her face still buried in her hands. "I don't know if I can do this," she whimpered.
Nora gently tilted Kelly's chin up, forcing her to meet her gaze. "The point is you. You're alive. You're strong. And there are people who care about you.. who need you. Justin needs you."
Kelly looked over at Justin, his frail form so still in Ethan's arms. The sight of him, so broken yet still fighting to stay alive, sent a jolt of guilt and resolve through her. She wiped her face roughly with her sleeve and nodded. Nora helped her to her feet, steadying her as they resumed their hurried pace.
They reached the gates moments later, the van coming into full view. Ethan opened the back door and carefully laid Justin inside, covering him with a threadbare blanket. Kelly climbed in after him, sitting close and watching his shallow breaths.