Page 68 of Fury

Glancing down, I see that what I thought was sweat, is actually blood. It’s soaking my shorts and staining my legs. Fear, unlike anything I’ve ever felt consumes my body as I make a gasping sound. Instinctively, I reach down, and my fingers run through the warm blood. I bring it to my face and stare at it. It’s as if my brain doesn’t want to comprehend what I’m seeing.

“Alexis?”

Ellie’s voice is a whisper as she pushes her face against the cage, staring over to try and get a better look.

“Are you bleeding?” Her voice is full of concern.

“I-I-I ... I’m pregnant.”

Her eyes widen and she shakes her head slightly, almost in disbelief.

“Oh, oh no.”

I stare at her, scared and frozen. “What do I do? Ellie ... what ...”

She moves quickly, curling her fingers around the cage and shouting. She shouts and she shouts, over and over until her voice grows hoarse. Nobody comes in. It doesn’t matter what she does, there is no one around. Tears well in my eyes and then slide down my cheeks as the cramping becomes worse. I know what’s happening, and I know there isn’t a single thing I can do to stop it.

It's in this moment, I realize I was growing attached to the idea of having a baby.

I don’t realize I’m sobbing until Ellie’s soft voice fills my ears. “It’s okay. Alexis, I promise I’ll get you out of here.”

I cry until my body shakes and until my tears dry up. That doesn’t take long, considering I haven’t had water for a few days now. I know I should stop, to save my strength, but I can’t seem to make myself. Ellie soothes me the entire time, her kind voice flowing through my cage until my sobs subside. She’s kind, an incredible soul.

The tent doors flap open.

Her head whips over in the direction, and I lift my head, weakly.

Marek is walking in, his coat roaring behind him as he strides towards the cage. His face is bloodied, and so are his hands. Whatever happened to him, it doesn’t look good. Pausing at the cage, he glances down at me, panting with some kind of wild rage. Then, he unlocks the cage and reaches in, hauling me out.

“Your time is up.”

I freeze, terrified at his cold, clipped tone.

“W-w-w-what?”

“Nobody came for you. You’re of no use to me.”

What does that mean?

What is he saying?

“Please,” I whisper. “Just let me go.”

“I’ll make it quick.”

No.

No.

“No!” Ellie screams, curling her fingers around the cage. “No, please. Let her go.”

Marek ignores her as he drags me toward the exit. I dig my heels into the ground, thrashing and fighting, doing anything I can to make him stop, but he’s too strong.

“Please,” I beg. “Please, no.”

“Marek,” Ellie bellows, her voice strong and determined. “Let her go. If you let her go, I’ll dance. I’ll do what you want.”

Pausing, Marek stiffens and turns slowly, his fingers still gripping me so tightly I can’t get away.

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