Page 37 of Poison

"May I help you?" I asked, eager to be left alone.

The woman strode over to my dresser and began pulling out clothing. "I've been instructed to help you pack."

Well, that got my attention. "Pack for what?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. Don't care." Her tone was dismissive. Shrugging, I lay backdownon the bed and picked up the book. I may have offered to help had she not been so snobby.

My door swung open, and Hobbs marched in with a glare. I winced as he approached me. "Get dressed."

I was wearing a pair of blue fuzzy shorts and a baggy T-shirt, my comfy clothes. Nothing Starburst would ever be caught out in public wearing. My hair was getting shaggy, and the pink was fadingfrom my hair. My appearance did not match the Starburst brand. "What do you want me to wear?"

"Something presentable," he instructed, walking out of the room and closing the door behind him.

I stomped over to the dresser and began tossing things onto my bed. The maid looked irritated, but I didn't care. Fuck her, fuck this, and fuck my life. Eventually, I found a cropped baby blue T-shirtthat said,"Power Bottom," a pair of white pants to match, and sneakers.

I didn't bother going to the bathroom as I took the cozy clothing off. Why bother at this point? Everyone has seen me naked or has the opportunity to if they please. The maid only stared, visibly offended, but remained silent as she stuffed more of my clothing into a bag.

I crawled onto the bed once more and picked up the book I had been reading. As the maid lugged one of the bags out, Hobbs stepped inside.

I paid him no mind until he violently grabbed my wrist. I bit my tongue as he slid a key into my shackle, and it popped off. Confusion and hope filled my chest as he did the same to the other. Sitting up, I rubbed my wrists, still confused, until he walked over to the dresser and pulled out the pair of intact shackles.

Jumping from the bed, I pleaded, "No, please, Trevor." I couldn't fight the tears as they fell.

He grabbed my wrists again and bound one of them. I fought, trying to pull away, but he grabbed my hair to pull me close. "You did this to yourself." The other shackle locked with a loud click.

I dropped to my knees, tears blurring my vision. Hobbs yanked me to my feet by my hair. "We're moving. Perhaps a change of scenery will help you behave."

Everyone in the hallways stared at us as Trevor dragged me along, but he didn't care. He was proving his point.Heowned me, and there was nothing I or anyone else could do about it. By law, I had to do everything he said as part of my penance.

When we hit the streets, he released my hair but grabbed my arm instead. I looked down at the bright orange shackles as tears slipped from my eyes. I had lost the small ounce of freedom I once had. I would be treated like the prisoners of old. Locked up and hidden away like an animal.

A parked car waited for us right in front of the building's front doors, and Hobbs wasted no time in violently shoving me inside. Once he settled beside me, not bothering to give me a single glance, the vehicle moved forward.

"Where are we going?"

"We're moving to a nice part of town. The club on Top Hill is already being built. I got us a penthouse there."

My heart sank. Top Hill wasnice; there was no doubt about that, but it was walled in. Especially with the shackles, I wouldn't be able to visit the Sin District. I wouldn't get to see Cherry. For some strange reason, it even bothered me that I wouldn't see Alex again. I was still on the fence with Vic. I wanted to hate him, but he and Alex had been working on freeing me.Should I even be upset with Vic?I was coming onto him pretty hard, giving it everything I had and practically shoving my ass into his face begging him to take a bite. Could I forgive his moment of weakness? Sighing, I stared at the shackles. Did it matter anymore? I wouldn't see him again. Trevor would make sure of that.

We were getting closer to the wall. It wasn't the same way we had entered Top Hill before. No, we were entering a part of the city known as Swappers Village. It was near where the scavengers came in from the Wastes to sell their wares. Average citizens would also come here to sell things they didn't want or things they created. It was always packed.

As we neared the boundary to the nine rings of Heaven, my breathing quickened. The moment I entered those gates, there was no escape. The security was much tighter beyond those walls. It would be even more so now that I had to wear the intact shackles.

The outer wall wasn't that far off. What would Hobbs do if I jumped from the car and just ran? I had been on top of the wall beforewhen I wasa teenager. I was in good shape. I could make it if I just ran.

Then what? I couldn't climb down from the outside. I would have to jump. My eyes dropped to the shackles. I had tried to kill myself a few days prior and failed. This time, I could do it. All I had to do was make it to the wall, climb, then jump. I wasn't sure how much it would hurt, but I didn't care. Even a slow, painful death was better than this life.

As the car came to a stop, I snuck a glance at Trevor.He was looking out hisownwindow, not paying anymindto me. Raising a shaky hand, I pulled on the door handle. It swung open, and Trevor's eyes snapped to me. He reached out to grab me but missed by a few inches as I jumped out of the car.

He screamed at me, but the sound was muffled by the beating of my heart pounding in my ears. I didn't have time to take in my surroundings. I had to run to the wall. This was my last chance.Please, legs, don't fail me now!

I dared a glance behind me as I picked up on the sound of approaching footsteps. Trevor was gaining on me, as was the driver. I picked up my pace, running faster than I had ever run before. Iducked down an alleyway, then shoved my way through a crowd of people on the other side, knocking people down in the process. Trevor stayed on my tail, yelling at me to stop.

"Fuck that!"

I didn't gauge the distance between the car and the wall. If I didn't reach it quickly, I would collapse. There was a stitch in my side, and my legs cramped with every long stride I took. I heard a whistle blow, and I snapped my head to the left. Two officers in bright green had joined the pursuit.No, no, no, no. NO!That was all I could think.

Finally, I could see asection of wallwith a maintenance ladder nestled at the edge of a tiny nature park. I could do this. Only a few more feet. As I barreled closer, I nearly smashed into the wall, barely able to stop my momentum.

---