A Loaded Gun

Chapter 39

A/N Y'all this is a ridiculously cringey, totally unrealistic chapter. Welcome to my brain when it's food-deprived.  Also if you criticize me too much I will cry, just a heads up.  Childhood trauma for the win, right?

Also there's some POV jumping around, sorry

Brooke POV

It was my–gag–wedding day. I was finally let out of the stupid cell that had been my home for the past 12 days, according to Molly.

She was in charge of getting me ready, which translated to "make sure she doesn't look like a drowned rat when she comes down the aisle."

A pretty tall order, considering that my head had to be bandaged and my foot wrapped, and I hadn't washed my hair in 12 days.

She did her best, staying silent throughout the process due to the two guards keeping a close eye on both of us.

Finally when it came time to me to get into the all-important white dress, she turned to the guards. "Richard wouldn't like that you watched his bride change, so I suggest you leave."

They hesitated but their fear of disobeying orders was eventually outweighed by the fear of being targeted by Richard.

As soon as they left, she turned to me frantically. "You have the gun, right?"

I nodded, patting my waistband discreetly. How those stupid guards didn't notice, I had no idea.

"Don't react to this, but I managed to get into contact with your brothers. Sort of. I didn't tell him that you were getting married, but they know something's going down today and they're ready to strike."

My eyes widened but I stayed silent.

"You're gonna hate this part, but it's necessary. There's some lingerie–"

"Excuse me?" I blinked, staring at her blankly.

She winced. "Order from Richard. But," she hurried on when she saw the brewing storm on my face. "I managed to sew a small pouch into the lower half for you to keep the gun. Use that if he tries anything.

"Hopefully your brothers will come before the actual vows, but until they show up you need to pretend you're going along with the whole marriage thing. If Richard suspects for a second that something's off..." her voice faded away, her eyes haunted.

"Anyway, we need to get you into your...outfit before the guards get impatient. Just play along until help comes."

I nodded, and she helped me into the disgusting, flowy short white dress that showed an unnerving amount of skin.

"I tried to get a couple sizes bigger so it would be easier to hide the gun. It looks like it worked," she sighed in relief.

I just needed to keep my stomach sucked in and the gun wouldn't show.

I turned to her. "Molly...I don't know what to say. Why are you helping me?"

She closed her eyes and shuddered. "I'll tell you after this is over. You don't need to thank me. Just do me a favor and make sure Richard dies. Come on, the guards are getting impatient."

She opened the door, nodding to the guards and saying "she's ready."

With Molly leading me, the two guards walking behind me staying uncomfortably close.

She stopped in front of a door that to my frazzled mind looked like a portal to hell.

She hesitated a split second before knocking and turning the knob, sending me one final glance that I couldn't read.