Page 4 of Corrupted Torment

Fliss seems to have taken a liking to me, and after her help today, I’m eternally grateful for her generous spirit. The fire flickers, catching the light in her rich brown eyes that reflect the dancing flame right back. Maybe it’s just because she helped me, but she seems so different from everyone else here.

Her kindness and beauty are a balance of one another. Her olive complexion and black hair are a striking combination along with her sharp cheekbones. She’s way older than me, in her twenties, and has gained respect that I could never hope to earn.

Since she helped me this morning, things have been a little lighter. Everyone seems to respect Fliss, and from watching her, it really appears like she cares. I get the impression she’s someone I could trust, and I think Zee would approve of her too. Not that I’ll ever see my best friend again. At least I assume I won’t.

I bring my knees up to my chest and wrap my arms around them. Nothing here makes sense to me. I’m nothing like Fliss. My hair is a tangled brown mess, my eyes are a boring blue, and I’m still a child. I’m not exactly dumb but I’m neither smart nor quick-witted either and so far, I only feel like a burden.

I don’t understand why I am here, or how I came to be here. The only thing I can guess is that I’m on some insane reality TV show. One with only young girls and women. I’ve asked questions since I’ve been here, but no one’s been open to giving me any answers.

Theymustknow something.

“Fliss?”

She hums her acknowledgement.

“Please, I need to know. What is this place? Why am I here?”

Pity enters her gaze before she looks away from me. I watch as she swallows, and I can see the thoughts flitting through her mind as she takes her time to answer. She stiffens, and the morsel of hope I had for information disappears at the lie I can sense she’s ready to spout.

“I don’t know what this place is. None of us do. We don’t know why we’re here or what they want. It just is this way,” she speaks softly. It’s the non-answer I’d expected, one I’d received through clenched teeth and glowering eyes when I’d asked the others.

Disappointment fills me. I’d hoped this time I’d get more. Fliss isn’t like them. I look up at her, imploring her to continue. She’s reluctant and I’m positive it’s all I will get out of her, at least for tonight.

“This place is hell.” The raw truth escapes her lips on a sigh, her eyes downcast as she continues on.

“We’ve always been sent new girls—and always kids—every few months. Some we find on the beach. Some we don’t. We always try our best to help them, but we never know when they’re coming.”

Her words are steady, but Fliss refuses to meet my eyes and I know why. I heard Aggs that day, and I know at least one thing she says is a lie. Sometimes they get there in time; sometimes they just leave them there to die.

Aggs is a harsh woman, and an unofficial leader. A figurehead here. What Aggs says is law. It seems my face doesn’t fit; she’s certainly taken an instant dislike to me. I’m an outsider until she says otherwise. I have yet to understand if this pack mentality has reason and what makes Aggs so powerful in this community, and I’m scared to find out. Things are bad enough as it is. The others follow in her wake without thought, reason, or logic.

All except Fliss.

Not once has she taken any notice of the distrustful eyes lingering on me as we’ve walked around camp today. She didn’t let the hateful stares bring her to anger as she gave me my ration of food at dinner. Fliss merely tuts as some completely turn their backs on me. She just dismisses their antics as we warm ourselves by the fire.

I can’t stand the secrets and lies though. Unease churns inside me. There’s so much I don’t know, so much I don’t understand.

A blaring sound rings out, shrieking across the village, stirring chaotic movement in its wake. Women and girls start to run in different directions, each knowing its meaning. Birds fly from the trees above from fright, cawing into the night sky. They join the sirens in a symphony of terror. I cover my ears and watch in strange fascination as one by one the women disappear into the cover of trees or into the shelter of their homes.

I rise to my feet, chasing Fliss and knowing for certain she’ll tell me what to do and what’s happening. Sprinting, I follow close behind towards her home, my bare feet pounding on the cracked earth beneath me. She goes inside, and her hazel eyes catch mine as she turns. Sympathy and pity shine through as she closes the door on me.

My breath stutters. That can’t be right.

I reach her door in seconds and pound on it. I know I could force my way in, but that wouldn’t be right. Why won’t she answer? Why won’t she let me in?

“Run, kid. It’s the only way now,” her hissed words come through the door. This makes no sense. I thought she was my friend.

I take a step back from her door, then another. A root catches my foot, and I come crashing to the floor, landing on my elbows. I let out a yelp as my ankle twists and I rub lightly at the painful throb. Once again, I’m injured and alone. I rise and move aimlessly; I have nowhere else to go, nowhere to hide. My home is in pieces, still yet to be built. The only thing I can think to do is keep warm as I limp my way over to the closest campfire.

It feels like someone has cut off my oxygen as breathing becomes difficult. I try not to let the panic overwhelm me and take in deep breaths to calm my thudding heart. It’s an impossible feat as I try to imagine what has these women so frightened.

The longer I wait, I swear I make out monsters hiding in the darkness of my surroundings. Ones that prowl through the forest landscape of this island. With only the campfire’s eerie dancing shadows that slowly burn down to embers combined with the trilling sirens for company, I stay immobile, anticipating the worst.

Sound stops, sudden and abrupt, only the silence of the night can be heard for achingly long seconds. Then the distant wailing screams of fear. I can only remain frozen to see what horror awaits me tonight.

CHAPTER2

RAFFERTY

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