THE UNEXPECTED

25

Footsteps make our heads snap forward, my heart is still racing and blood is staining my long sleeve top. David comes into view which makes me grimace, what a horrible, horrible man.

"How are you two feeling?" He says, his hands clutch a tray with what looks to be food but I'm not sure I want to eat it after noticing the remains on the table.

Ellie and I lean back against the wall, wanting as much space as possible between us and him. Gripping her hand, I squeezed it.

"Fine." I answered for the both of us.

David audibly sighs but he almost sounded disappointed with my answer, "I apologize for how my men treated you and your daughter earlier. It was never my intention to hurt you two." His words spark something in Ellie, she glances at me and I can only assume she was waiting for me to disprove the daughter comment. I don't.

Part of me is reminded of the words those men spoke of me before I was knocked out. They're sick, all of them.

The silence is uncanny as it pools between us, neither Ellie or I saying a word. David only stares at us, his dark and beady eyes taking us both in. I notice he glanced a little longer at Ellie which reminds of me of when he called her little girl. He really is a horrible man and I needed to protect Ellie at all costs.

"Here." David then says, he sets the tray down on the floor and slid it underneath the small gap of the cage. It lands at Ellie's feet and we both just stare blankly at the food, both of us unsure of what it actually is. "You should eat. I know you're both hungry - been out quite some time." This makes my head snap upwards, Shit, Joel.

Joel - he hasn't a clue where both his girls are. I hope he doesn't think we've abandoned him.

My gaze hardens onto David, I'm suspicious of the food and I'm sure that Ellie is too, "What is it?"

"It's deer," he replies coolly.

"With a bit of human helping on the side?" Ellie then snaps, she glances at the table and then back at David.

"No. No, I promise. It's...it's just the deer meat." He chuckles at her words, he too, glances at the table but then he returns his gaze back to us. For once I actually think he's being genuine.

"Okay..." He was right though, I was starving. Ellie and I quickly dig into the food, devouring it mouthful by mouthful. It tastes like shit but it's something to fill our bellies at least.

"You're insane." The teen mumbles as she stuffs her face with the food, I can't help but agree with her.

David scoffs at that, he cocks his head to the side and stares at us, "Oh...you're awfully quick to judge. Considering how you two and your friend killed how many of my men?" His lips quirk up and I'm starting to think he really is insane.

"They didn't give us a choice." I spat.

"And you think we have a choice, is that it?" He asks through an unamused chuckle.

We don't respond but I believe that everyone has a choice. It's human nature.

He looks down at his hands, massaging them from the cold before carrying on, "You kill to survive and so do we. We have to take care of our own. By any means necessary." He tries to justify his actions but quite frankly it's ridiculous. I shake my head,

"I don't like to kill but they came at us first...So, what? You going to chop us up into little pieces?"   

"I'd rather not," he said, holding my gaze before retracting it and looking Ellie. I didn't like the way he stared at her. His tongue flicked between his lips, "What's your names?" I remember him asking that when he'd first met us and we didn't answer then and we won't answer now.

"You're so full of shit." I roll my eyes, kicking the tray away from us. The food goes flying, splatting onto the tiles and the cutlery clatters away from us.

David stares at me blankly, he almost seemed surprised at me reaction as if he wasn't expecting it, "On the contrary..." He leans forward and begins to clean up the mess I made, and once's he's done he stands. "I've been quite honest with you." His tone changes and it's a little more demanding this time, "Now I think it's your turn."

I stay quiet, analysing what to do next but it's Ellie that jumps forward, she's been silent this whole time and I'm thankful for it. Only now, she decided to intervene. I reach over to pull her back but she shrugs me off almost immediately.

"Fuck off, old man!" Ellie seethed, getting up and close to David which makes me nervous.

Although, he wasn't giving in to Ellie's anger, "Now, that wasn't very nice...it's the only way I'm gonna convince the others." He trails off, eyeing Ellie before motioning to the door.

"Convince them of what?" The teen lowers her voice and mumbles.

"That you two can come around. You both have heart. You're both loyal." He took a step closer to Ellie each time he spoke, in return, my heart hammered in my chest, and a lump formed in my throat. I really didn't like this."And you're special." This time he didn't direct the compliment to me, only Ellie which sickened me and it soon dawned on me that she was his main target - this man was a fucking paedophile. My body tensed at the realisation and I quickly scrambled to my feet as he laid his hand atop of Ellie's. "Your eyes..." His voice dropped to a whisper, "Beautiful." I think I'm gonna be sick.

"Okay that's enough!" I rip Ellie from his grasp, shoving her to the side so that his attention is now on me, I couldn't care less what plan Ellie had in motion but I didn't want her involved whatsoever. "Eyes on me, not her. Do whatever you want to me, j-just not her." David's eyes widen at this, he almost looks excited which makes me grimace. He turns for a moment, composing himself.

Ellie then elbows my side, she gestured to the set of keys which were dangling from David's belt loop. Ah, this was her plan, get him close and try and take the keys. I took a quick second to mentally prepare myself for what I was about to do, and I send a nod to Ellie in understanding. She does the same back.

I lifted my head and send an inviting gaze to David as he turns back, I try to convey that I've come around and that I'm willing to cooperate. My hand snakes through the gaps in the cage to rest atop of his and squeeze it lightly and seems as though he bought the act as his hands relax a little more. I pause for a moment, giving into his illusion that I would ever agree to his terms, before quickly gripping onto his middle finger and snapping it back until a painful crack sounds. Good.

He keels over in pain and cries out, sputtering out curses, and I lunge forward sticking my arm through the small gap to reach for the keys. But ultimately he overpowers me, gripping my arm tightly and repeatedly ramming me into the metal until I've had enough and fall to the floor.

"Fuck!" I hear Ellie curse, as I double over in pain. I clutch at my skull, feeling a sticky substance caked into my hair. Blood is pouring out of me. "You fucking asshole!" She screams violently before grabbing the metal bars and shaking them viciously.

"You stupid girls. You are making it very difficult to keep you alive." He growls, "What am I supposed to tell the others now?" David is now pacing, from what I can see in my peripheral vision.

Turning onto my side, I shuffle closer to the bars to make sure he can definitely hear me, "You...you tell them that Emily is the woman that broke your fucking fingers!" My tone is violent and demanding as I enunciate every word. This man will pay, I tell you that.

David recoils, not expecting me to say this but ultimately then sends me a sinister smirk,

"How'd she put it hm? Tiny little pieces?" He taunts, stepping backwards towards the exit, "See you both in the morning, Emily." And with those last words, he's gone.

"Fuck!" I groan, hissing at the throbbing pain in my skull. Tears leak from my eyes and I just feel defeated, "I'm sorry, Ellie, I failed you." That was the last thing I remember saying before my eyes shut and lulled into darkness.