Page 6 of Mistress Mayhem

“Hey! Stop right there!”

A gunshot sounds out, but we just duck and keep running. We make it around and onto the down ramp as the echo of running footsteps rings out behind us. It’s followed by girls screaming and more gunshots. The others must have taken our escape attempt to fight back themselves. As much as I want to see what’s happening, I know we can’t stop.

We rush down the ramp and over to the edge that faces out onto the city, realizing we’re only on the second floor. Before we get a chance to run again, a bullet flies into the pillar beside my head.

I glance back to see four guards all moving toward us. We’re out of time. Glancing over the edge, I see bushes beneath us. The fall might kill us, but there’s a chance that the bushes might break our fall. It’s a risk I’m willing to take.

“We’re going to have to jump,” I tell Charlotte, already ducking down so she can put her foot in my cupped hands. She only hesitates for a second before using my hands to boost herself up and over the railing.

More gunshots sound out, and I hear Charlotte yelp, but I don’t have time to hesitate as I launch myself up onto the railing and over the side. I can’t fight back the scream as I flail in the sky before crashing into the bushes. Luckily, I somehow manage to miss Charlotte so there’s that.

Bullets whiz by my head, and I scramble to pull myself from the bushes. Every part of my body is throbbing, but that’s not much different from how I’ve felt the last few weeks. I can’t seem to put any pressure on my left wrist, but at least it’s not my dominant hand.

Charlotte helps me out of the bushes, and as soon as we’re both on our feet, we take off for the road. There aren’t any cars on the road, making it easy for us to dash across and into the wooded area. We run as fast as we can for the next ten minutes or so before Charlotte falls to her knees.

“Charlotte!” If we weren’t running for our lives, I would’ve screamed it, but stealth is a necessity right now.

Rolling her onto her side, I see blood has bloomed over her negligee, turning it red. I push it up, ignoring the fact that she’s naked beneath it. There’s a wound on her stomach, telling me she must’ve been shot. She’s also unconscious.

“Fuck,” I curse under my breath, eyes scanning the area. The sun is low on the horizon, and in this deeply wooded area, most of the sun is blocked. Mayhem will start in a matter of minutes, and I have to find somewhere safe to ride it out because there’s no way either of us is going to be able to put up a fight after being abused and mostly starved for the last three weeks.

Not seeing anything helpful, I shake Charlotte’s shoulder. “Char, I need you to wake up. I don’t think I can carry you.”

But shaking her doesn’t seem to do any good. What am I supposed to do now?

Finally, I grab her by her wrists and start dragging her across the forest floor, letting out a shriek at the pain that shoots through my wrist. I’d completely forgotten I’d hurt myself. I almost drop her, but grit my teeth through the pain. I don’t have any other choice here. I have to keep both of us safe.

She lets out a groan but doesn’t wake up. There’s no way this is good for her gunshot wound, but I have no idea what else to do. I guess we’re both kind of screwed.

I keep pulling her, looking out for any kind of shelter, but it grows darker and darker by the moment. I can barely see around me which is probably how I end up tumbling down an embankment and into a stream, pulling Charlotte along with me. We land with a splash, and I’m thankful it isn’t very deep as I grab Charlotte’s wrists again, tugging her out of the water.

I hesitate for a moment, squinting in the dark. Is that a cave?

Not wanting to waste any energy as I’m beginning to flag, I lay Charlotte down gently before dashing over, and sure enough, it’s a cave. It’s not big, but I hope it’ll be enough to keep us safe for the night.

Hurrying back out, I run to Charlotte before pulling her to the shelter of the cave. I wish I could start a fire since the temperature is already dropping, but not only would it draw attention, I also don’t have a lighter or anything else to start it.

Instead, I lead us to the back corner of the cave and curl my body around Charlotte’s. I’m a little worried that she hasn’t woken up yet. I know what she really needs is a hospital, but they’re on lockdown now. Nobody in and nobody out until the sun rises.

“I need you to hold on for me, Charlotte. Just hold on until the morning, and then I’ll get you to the hospital. Please don’t die on me. I don’t think I could handle it. We’re free now. You’re safe.”

Of course, she doesn’t respond, but that’s okay. She should sleep while she can. We only have to make it a few hours and then I’ll get us help. Until then, I should probably sleep too.

As soon as I close my eyes, I can feel sleep tugging me under, and I send up one last prayer that Charlotte can last until the morning.

Chapter Four

Sage

October 31st, 2284

TonightisthenightI finally get my vengeance.

After ten years, I can finally make those bastards pay for what they did to me—to my best friend.

Glancing in the mirror, I smile. There’s no way anyone will recognize me from my old life. Gone is the blond beauty with bountiful curves. In her place is a brunette with sharp lines and hate in her heart. I don’t even know if my parents would recognize me right now. But that’s just how I want it.

Ten years ago, I was stolen from my perfect life, and everything I knew was shattered.

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