Damned: Chapter 35) Trembling Hands

The smell of smoke tingled through the air and my face and entire body felt numb. I tried to talk but I couldn’t, my voice felt dry and strained and my eyes too tired to properly open- everywhere ached so badly. From what I could see, I noticed my brother laying on the road from afar opposite me. He seemed unconscious. I tried to move to no avail. My face was against the damp, cold, wet ground, and my hair seemed to be sticky with either sweat or blood running down my forehead. It felt cold yet the warmth of the fire blazing from a vehicle afar caught my attention. In that moment, I saw the distinct image of a person wearing dark black shoes near me. I tried to move, I really did, but I couldn’t. The individual stopped in front of me and stooped, yet I still could not have seen his face- but I knew the voice too well.

“Oh Angel,” his raspy voice cooed into my ears as he pushed my bloody hair away from my face and tucked it behind my ear, “I missed you.”

I felt my aching body being scooped into the person’s arms and I could smell the scent of rich spicy cologne as the side of my face rubbed against the soft material of a shirt. I tried to speak but I only faintly groaned in agony.

“And get her brother too,” the man instructed coldly, “I’ll keep her.”

The sound of water dripping near me forced me to painfully attempt to open my eyes. I cradled myself in a ball on the cold hard floor of what seemed to look like a basement except I was locked in one of these jail cells. I groaned as I felt the sudden splash of pain wash across me.

“This wasn’t what we agreed.” Vitaly’s voice echoed through the room.

I could have seen the faint image of him standing with his grandfather as he spoke, while Sevastian and Mikhail stood nearby. I tried to push myself up only to note my brother in another cell next to mine. He sat and buried his face in his knee, not looking at me even once.

“The girl’s awake.” Vitaly’s grandfather stated, looking at me, “The boy would talk now.”

Sevastian nodded, opened my cell, and neared me- he suddenly grabbed me by my hair- and yanked me up. It hurt like hell. Mikhail, turning to Anthony, slammed his hand on Anthony’s cell, “Tell us where the folder is or your sister would pay.”

He didn’t respond. And in that second, Sevastian slammed me murderously against the wall. I wanted to cry but I couldn’t find my voice.

“Tell us!” Mikhail raged.

Not a word from Anthony.

Sevastian, again yanked me up by the hair and threw me back to the ground. Before I could even take a breath, he kicked me mercilessly on the stomach when I finally found my voice to let out a sob.

Vitaly stood still, turning to the side with a frown, and spoke to his grandfather, “Her brother is a coward, he won’t talk.”

Sevastian kicked me again and I almost felt myself cough up blood. I begged in between my pitiful cries for him to stop but he didn’t. I didn’t understand what Vitaly was saying but he kept talking to his grandfather in his native language when his grandfather responded harshly but he overpowered him in the end.

The old man looked disgusted and angry and finished stating one more thing to Vitaly as he left. Sevastian, kicked me once more, stopped, and walked away as I hugged my stomach to stop the pain from seeping out. It was becoming to be too much. The pain- it was killing me. I couldn’t do anything but curl myself in a ball and unwillingly groan in pain mixed with sobs. Mikhail soon after walked away as well as Vitaly moments after.

I heard Anthony’s faint voice call my name over and over until I heard and saw nothing again. The sudden sound of footsteps echoed softly into my aching ears and I felt someone suddenly muffle me from screaming. Painfully opening my eyes, I was startled to see the woman in front of me trying to help me sit up.

“You?” I asked in a confused yet sore voice, “What are you-”

She pushed the hair out of my face and brought the bottle of water to my lips.

“Drink,” Natalia frowned.

I couldn’t refuse, I needed water so badly and to feel the moist hydration travel down my throat was euphoric.

“We have to get you out of there. Can you walk?”

Still, in a dazed and startled start, I almost thought I was dreaming as she helped me attempt to stand.

“Why are you helping me?”

She didn’t answer and turned towards Anthony angrily, “She’s in this state because of you. You don’t care about anyone but yourself.”

“What was I supposed to do?” Anthony retorted frustrated.

“Anything but allow this to happen.”

“It’s not like I-”

“I’m not in the mood to argue, we have to go.” She bitterly stated.

Finding my balance, Natalia helped me out of the cell as she threw the key for Anthony to open his who seemed to struggle at that.

“Walk up the stairs and take the left door, it’ll lead you to the garage.” She instructed as she attempted to help Anthony.

Sucking the pain in, I found my balance again and made my way towards the door while cautiously entering the garage where I saw two vehicles parked and running. The sudden thought of trusting these people again ran through my mind. My own brother would have had me killed just a while ago and now Natalia’s being nice to me? No. I don’t trust them. I don’t trust anyone again. I had to get out of here. I had to get to Marc or James at least. Quickly and achingly, I got into the car and shut the door. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes for a second and did what I had to do. I drove. I drove as fast as I could out of that garage, away from that house, along the highway, and towards my destination- James’ house. No matter what, I had to save myself now. Was I selfish? Perhaps, but maybe just maybe sometimes we need to be to save our own lives. Maybe it was okay. No more of this nonsense. I had enough. It hurt to know my own brother was such a pussy on top of everything. I was in this mess because of him.

 Screw that.

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