Abnormal

Chapter 8- Wilted Rose

Abel.      [descriptive gore warning]

Gloomy.

It was very gloomy today and I couldn't help but wonder what they were up to.

A missing person report would've already been filed. I wonder what picture they chose to hang up.

If any bit of this were comical, I know Meadow would've put up the least flattering picture of me.

I also couldn't help but wonder how close they were to finding me. I don't know if any clues as to where I am now had been left behind. Do the police even know about this place?

I blacked out, I wouldn't know where I am or how to get back.

Jasper would take me outside for a bit each day now, they're trusting me a bit more.

But it seemed that we were so far out in the forest, not even hikers or campers came. Not even for hospitality.

Not to mention it was deathly silent out here. Birds didn't chirp and squirrels weren't heard scrambling into trees. Just rustling grass and bugs every once in a while. I was out where the trees were spread out and dead.

It was eery.

     A loud painful scream came from inside.
A scream that could only belong to Eden.

It made me jump as thoughts ran in and out of my head as my brain ached.

A louder, longer scream came from Eden again. She must be in agonizing pain.

I heard footsteps leading towards the scream, farther away from me and closer to Eden, Jasper.

This was my chance to leave, to escape.

I'd travel as far as I could. Even if I'd go in the wrong direction I was bound to run into somebody.

I slowly stood as another scream came from Eden. I didn't know what was happening or if it was a test to check my loyalty. . .to my kidnappers?

I ran. And I ran. As far as I could.

The dead grass crunching beneath the souls of my shoes. I soon reached a tree, then two, then five before I ran out of breath.

But I didn't stop, I kept running. No matter how my legs burned with exhaustion and muscles cried for help because of malnutrition.

I didn't get far but I was willing to take the risk of crying for help.

Help. I cried out

Help. I cried once more, my chapped, peeling white mouth sore from bleeding.

I shouted, as loud as I could before tripping, falling onto the ground, hard.

I pushed myself up, you're not done yet, I told myself and began to crawl with intent.

My body got thinner each day and the nights became longer. It had rained last night and I was covered in pasty mud which weighed down my hips, my legs.

I heard rustling grass headed my way.

My breath quickened as I stood, running again. The blood that rushed to my head dizzying.

But I soon came to a painful fall, landing on my left arm which bent into a shape an arm should never be in.

I screamed, louder than I ever had before in pain. Hot streaks of tears that I'm sure weren't even salty, made their way down my sore face as I began to crawl with my left arm.

"Your arm doesn't look so good." Jasper's voice rang behind me.

I cried I couldn't help but cry.
"Please. . . I'm sorry. . . just let me leave."

Jasper looked at me as he seemed to tear up.

"I can't."

I consider death at this point. Hope stripped from me at this moment.

I looked Jasper in the eye with the most anger and hate I've given to anyone before his brows drew together with sympathy.

His eyes glowed freakishly once more before I blacked out, it all seeming to be a dream when I woke.

But the consequences showed me otherwise.

Eden, her face pale even through her dark complexion, looked angry.

"What the hell do you need me for?!"
I snapped, shouting at them as my voice cracked.

"I want to live!" Eden screamed back as I noticed her dark circles and an odd trail of purple veins on her legs.

She was sick. And not human. None of them were. From hell? Because one thing was right and that was that this all was real. . .none of it fake. As much as I tried to desperately cling to my belief, there's always a new reason to let go.

I hypothesized as Jasper sat Eden down, she resisted before huffing angrily.

"Hurt him as they hurt me." She growled out angrily pushing Jasper off and limped away, clearly in pain.

Jasper turned to me, his expression sour as if he had no compassion or morals. I couldn't read him or what was going through his head.

I shook my head as he approached me, my arm hot and swelling. Definitely broken.

That wasn't good.

"I told you what I'd have to do if you ran away and you did it anyway." He grabbed my swelling arm roughly, I yelped in pain.

"Stop please!"

Jasper stopped and looked at me before mouthing, 'keep screaming'.

So I did. I screamed as loud as I could, as loud as my body allowed me to.

Beads of sweat ran down my back, shoulders, and head by the time I was done.

I was tired and had no energy as my vision fogged.

   I was hungry, starving. And haven't eaten in three days, occasionally given water by Jasper who only seemed to have moral and not a heart.

    My eyes were closed tiredly. I was back, tied to a chair the next I woke.

    My arm, my one good arm was tied back, and so were my legs. I wasn't going to be able to talk myself out of this one.

    The broken one, however, laid still on my lap, numb and purple. Not like it'd do anything.

   A part of Jasper must've wanted me to leave. And I could've moved my arm, painfully, to untie the rest but I found no motivation.

   I came to the conclusion that I'm going to die here. It was nearly guaranteed and Eden told me this several times.

   I'm going to die.

   Eden's words came to mind as I thought this.

   "I want to live."

    My eyes sunk, I want to live too.

But why at my cost? Why me? Why not anybody else.

    A purple bruise crawled up my arm and scars from needles dotted my arms.

   I'd never be the same.

   It all hurt so badly that I pitied myself. Leave to see everyone or die trying. But at the end of the day, I couldn't do anything about it.

    They were faster, stronger. And they've completely dehumanized me, taking my blood, my hope.

   I couldn't even think right.

   I was running out of options and time.