T W O / N I N E

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SOTC: to the grave — Bea Miller
couldn't keep it locked away

The two burst from the cusp of the audience. They ran like guilty criminals afraid of jail time, raw emotion blistering across their legs—I will not be caught, I will die if I'm captured—

Slam. The doors whipped open from behind them, a duo of Savior guards in their wake.

"Shit," April panted. She gestured to the right, where she knew the exit soon awaited them.

But can we make it before—?

A burly arm enclosed April neck. It took her a moment to register it—the rapidly spreading numbness in her face, her vision slanting.

She fumbled blindly for her switchblade as the feeling drained from her skin, and she began to weaken. At the last moment, as her face was beginning to feel purple, she summoned a jolt of strength. Flipping open the blade, she slashed a line at his palm. Red and wet, like the halving of a fruit.

Crying out in pain, he clutched his hand. April sprang from her position, whipping around, shoving his head backwards. She made a run for it, following Carl.

Her muscles were screaming, but she bared the pain as they raced down toward the stairwell. They were nearly there—

Before she knew what was happening, she was overcome by the same guard, who knocked her down to her chest. Thrashing, she attempted to kick him off, the dread and fear making her adrenaline pump harder. But a zip-tie soon roped around her arms, and she was rendered harmless.

—but... I was so close... I was about to leave this hell, forsake it—

Carl, beside her, had fallen into the same trap. He gave April a look of shock.

They were slowly walked back to the room. Each step felt like she was falling away. Dread sent firecrackers through her body.

She was still in denial. Left at base zero, instincts screaming to run, to buck and pull like a hardened bull.

And yet, she didn't react. Didn't object. Only followed the steady gestures offered by the guards.

One clutched his arm in pain, blood dripping between his fingers and leaving a trail of small red dots. He was glaring ominously at her. April couldn't help but grin.

They were marched into the room.

The atmosphere immediately darkened, bleeding into hard black ink. Shadows stretched down cold, sallow cheeks.

A disparity of emotions: some rioted, some bleary, some confused.

Wait. April took a shaky breath, the soles of her feet following tender steps. Some part of her subconscious was roiling, I'm the daughter of Negan! I'm powerful! I'm supposed to be dealing punishments, not taking them!

The people looked down at them like they were roadkill, like it was too late to save them.

A scorching burn in her chest. The ugly black snake inside her seemed to writhe.

Whether it was a blessing or a curse, the tables had turned.

She was, now, the prey.

DEVILS  ♛  C. G. 〖 #wattys2018 〗Where stories live. Discover now