Page 22 of Corrupted Torment

Ignoring her presence, I glance over to the left, checking on the others. The small group we’ve saved from death is currently over with Chris at a fire. They’re safe. They haven’t noticed the commotion going on over here. I’d like to keep it that way.

Sitting alone next to my run-down shack on the stone step I built myself, I finally acknowledge Aggs’ presence. Resting both arms above her on an overhanging branch above my shack, Aggs eyes me nastily. I raise an eyebrow, checking the branches’ sturdiness. This tree has done me well so far, keeping my home safe from natural causes.

Shame it couldn’t keep people away.

My eyes narrow, trying to figure out her game. I wouldn’t put it past her to knock my shack down. It’s not the first time she’s pulled this kind of stunt. Aggs stretches, leaning down towards me, applying more weight to the wood, the bark creaking in protest. Maybe she’s trying to pull the branch down onto my home this time.

I look around, noting none of her friends are surrounding us to cheer her on with taunting jabs. In fact, it’s just me and her in this quiet area of the village. It’s a new move for her to come at me with no mocking hyenas at her heels.

I’m almost impressed.

I know there are words her little minions would never believe. No, the words that she liked to spew could never come from the almighty Aggs’ mouth. I’d tried to tell them before. Of course, they had never believed me. Her venom has only gotten worse over the years.

“What do you want, Aggs?”

“Just being friendly is all. Another newbie. Pretty one, isn’t she? That devil is going to eat her right up. He left the little one crying for days. I’m sure he’s desperate for something with a little more fight. Bit more like you, so I heard.”

Her laughter is a nasty dark thing that claws at my skin. Bile creeps up my throat as I glare daggers her way. The devil, as she calls him. The one with black eyes and blacker hair, whose desire is others utmost agony and despair. He matches Aggs more than any other, and even then, I wouldn’t wish his merciless soul on anyone.

Not even her.

Aggs would happily push someone down to get herself away when the sirens ring out. It was her decision to let all newcomers remain unaware. It was her decision to allow the girls to become cannon fodder. Never actually stopping anyone from being caught in the end, but at least the ones who run get a head start. I will never understand the logic of her madness.

I’m certain hers had been amongst the screams that first night and many, many times since. If it weren’t for that, I’d swear she was part of the sadistic mess of people who keep us here. She certainly has the tendencies. I let out a shudder, trying to forget the images that revolve round my mind. Time after time, I painstakingly fought battles, that in the end, had not been worth fighting.

“I don’t think I will ever understand you, Aggs,” I comment. Doing nothing but stare at the woman, trying to piece together what makes this woman tick. My eyes flit across her broad frame and up to her eyes. They burn back at me with such hatred that I almost recoil. Once, she had been able to make me shudder with fear. Now I stand strong. She is bigger than me and that is her advantage, but she no longer scares me. There are things much more frightening out there than this woman.

She is just a bully.

Aggs makes her move, taking a menacing step closer to me. She wraps a fist around my messy auburn hair. The tangles knot between her fingers. I slam my hand onto hers, trying in vain to remove her grip, but it's useless. This bully wants to take me down, but I won’t go down without fighting back.

Like a kitten raised indignantly by its scruff, she raises me by my hair. Strands rip violently from my scalp. My eyes blur with tears. My nails bite into her skin, but she refuses to let go. Up on my toes that barely scrape the ground, I slip on the slick mud beneath me. Letting out another anguished cry as a chunk of hair is ripped out into her grasp.

“I always knew I should’ve left you on that beach to rot. Word to the wise little girl. Stop trying to cross me.” Spittle hits my face as she hisses her words. Wrenching her grip from my hair, she slings me, sending my back crashing into my makeshift shelter. She storms off, leaving me to deal with the fallout of her destruction. I don’t need to look; I felt it. Knowing already that my home is once again a crumpled pile of metal, wood and plastic.

What a fucking waste.

Sitting up, I pull my legs to my chest, rest my forehead on my knees, and sigh deeply. A headache can be added to my list of joys for today. Just another day in paradise. I lift my head at the faint sound of padding feet to see Alice approaching.

“She did a number on you, huh?” I nod. As she sits opposite me, her cheeks turn a bright shade of red and my face morphs into a look of confusion. What has her so flustered?

“Oh I, I didn’t mean to look but…,” she squeaks. Rattled, Alice waves a hand at my legs. I can’t help but to grin. Hell, my legs had mostly got me covered, and she’s all upset about my dress riding up showing a bit of skin. I hadn’t even noticed. Definitely going to need to take her to the bathing pool when it’s quieter, or we could have a problem. Can’t have her not washing.

“Sorry, you forget about modesty around here,” I shrug, but lower my legs, covering myself back up so she’s more comfortable. She’d get used to it soon enough. Poor kid. The girl was lucky that me and Chris had changed from our wet clothes after the storm earlier or she’d have had even more of an eyeful. White dresses with no bras or knickers. It was a no-brainer which species had made that decision when supplies were organised.

Any smile I had vanishes at the realisation that this is all so new to her, and after the story I gave her today, it’s going to be a really rough adjustment period. It’s been so long since I’d been that frightened, broken little girl and I really tried to forget it was me in the story I told. It’s part of why I had to get it out without interruption. There’s no time to think it through.

“Hey, you okay?” Alice’s voice breaks through my thoughts.

“Aren’t I supposed to be asking you that?” I deflect the question back at her and she chuckles. The kid seems sweet; I hope it's something she doesn't lose.

I let out a startled squeak at the roar of the siren suddenly shrieking through the air. My heart stutters and I look up at a wide-eyed Alice. The fear in her hazel eyes looks as deeply embedded as my own, but we can’t stop this, despite the lack of time to prepare. It’s here.

“Shit, there’s no more time. I’m sorry. Quickly, come with me.” I jump to my feet, cursing the bastards. They never blare the siren this early after they have brought a new girl to the island. I grip her hand, tug her to her feet, and drag her behind me. We pass swiftly across the camp with our hands clenched tightly together as women run inside their homes. Others run out into the woods. Panic is etched onto their faces and the beat of chaotic footfalls and shrieking tones fill the air in a riotous cacophony.

“Was it like this your first time?” Alice’s nervous voice penetrates the noise.

“It’s always this way. The silence is worse. Keep moving,” I demand, not meaning to scare her, but the time is now. I only have one last thing I can offer her, and it’ll be her choice of what she does after that.

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