Continue from chapter 5^

ᴏʜ ᴡᴏᴡ. 3383 ᴡᴏʀᴅs!

ᴇxᴄᴜsᴇ ᴀɴʏ ᴍɪsᴛᴀᴋᴇs.

ɪɴ ᴠᴀʟᴏʀ
ᴀᴠɪʟᴀ

The girls all crowd the bathroom in sessions to fix their hair, their dresses and put on whatever makeup they have.

I stare at my reflection in the large mirror, running my finger across the black line around my neck.

Joan behind me begged to brush my hair so that's what she's been doing for the past few minutes, "did what Ronan say get to you?" She asks glancing at me in the mirror.

She's referring to how he basically said this ink proves they own me.

I laugh and lower my hand, "No no. I'm still getting used to it."

A girl beside me putting on lipstick nods, "trust me you'll forget it's there."

"Maybe." I grin.

Joan nods, "trust me the first time I got it, I did." She smiles at me in the mirror.

I turn around as she finishes brushing, "were you also brought here?"

Joan nods her smile shifting to a frown, "yeah my mom was attacked when I was really young. The Boss found me, he's not as mean as he seems. My mom was... turning."

I nod for her to continue, she clears her throat and starts.

"I was raised here since I was a child, then I met The Boss son." She smiles wide, "you know him. Azrael my first love."

I look away.

Joan takes a second, "They told me the only way a girl can stay here is to get inked, so when I was old enough they inked me." Joan says staring at the tiled floor.

She leans against the sink, "of course, in the beginning, I hated doing this. But I knew Azrael and I will take over this place- and we can change its rules."

I'm shocked at her hope to change this place, it makes me smile, "you've ever wanted to leave?"

Joan nods, "my Azrael was going to leave." Her expression changes, she seems hurt, betrayed.

I bite my tongue as a second of anger hits me as she claims Azrael. I shake it off and listen to her continue.

"He told me I can leave with him." Joan laughs, "honestly I was so afraid. It's scary out there, I'm so lucky to be safe in Valor."

"Very," I say.

Joan nods, "Azrael may have decided to leave... But I knew I never lost my best friend, I knew when he left, we would find ourselves together again."

"Fate," Joan whispers.

I bite my lip and nod, "fate."

×

ᴀᴢʀᴀᴇʟ

My dad sits in his chair, I stand a few feet in front of him waiting for what he has to say.

"Azrael!" Ronan shouts entering the room, "Avila tastes good."

I take a deep breath as I clench my jaw, I glance over at my dad. I'm going to knock Ronan's head off his shoulders.

"Ronan shut it and go downstairs as I told you to do before." My dad shouts.

"Now Azrael, you know what I'm going to give you?" My dad asks smiling.

I pretend I don't know and shake my head.

"The machete everyone in Valor uses to fight that turd monster." My dad smiles wider, "it's an honor to hand you this."

He hands it over to me, I take it from his hands and nod, "thanks?"

My dad looks up at me, his face already plastered with anger. Great what now?

My dad stands up. I don't understand why he even needs to sit down, "You're my son, it's in your blood to survive this. If not you'll make an embarrassment of me. My own son can't even kill an ugly beast."

"I've witnessed many survive this," I say taking in every inch of the machete.

My dad chuckles, "I have faith in you, but not that much faith."

I laugh and shake my head, "Well okay then, maybe I should embarrass you."

×

ᴀᴠɪʟᴀ

The kitchen is filled with quiet whispers of gossip, a few girls chat about which guy they like, or which guys they want to be with.

The brown couch I'm on is much softer than my bed. I sit with my legs crossed and watch Joan finish washing the dishes.

"Joan! Let's go!" Ronan shouts at the doorway, Joan quickly dries her hands and runs over to Ronan.

I guess she isn't fast enough for him that he snatches her arm and yanks her out the room. I look around to see worried faces, the girls know their place, and it's in silence.

ᴀ ғᴇᴡ ʜᴏᴜʀs ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ

Lady Beth walks into the kitchen I'm still sitting in, a few different girls sit in corners of the room in their own personal boredom.

"Lady Beth?" I call out.

She turns to me, "yes dear?" She asks quietly.

"I overheard some guys talking about a game upstairs... do we get to see that?" I ask pretending I have no clue.

Lady Beth shakes her head sincerely, "No sorry hun, we stay down here."

"Where do they play their games? Does it interrupt our job?" I ask innocently.

"Yes it does interrupt sadly, and they play outside by the bridge..." Lady Beth swallows, "that's all I can say."

I nod with a smile, and look away, "it's fine."

She smiles and leaves.

The bridge is in the front of Valor, meaning it will be empty through the back. I'll be able to find Azrael and get to the weapon room.

×

ᴀᴢʀᴀᴇʟ

My dad speaks, "This new base isn't like the original since we are in an underbridge we are gonna go on top of the bridge for the game."

We walk out the door they brought me and Avila through, shit she doesn't know I'm going to be here...

I follow them up to the top of the bridge, my dad overlooks the block we're on, "This is going to all be mine."

"Huh?" I ask.

"I'm spreading Valor, it shouldn't stay in one spot, it deserves a whole street and more." My dad says leaning against the railing, overlooking the block.

I look over to how far the bridge goes, with the abandoned cars on it, I'm sure this leads over to the route we were taking with Jeremiah.

I look up to the small skyline, passed small tattered buildings, I can see the cathedral point peak out.

I wonder what the group thinks happened to us, I wonder if they even noticed.

×

ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴜɪɴs
sᴀsʜᴀ

We exit the building Jeremiah had us stay in, though we barely got any sleep since Micah screamed with every nightmare she had.

Which after that continued with us quieting her.

The afternoon sky is clearer than usual, I have a good feeling for today.

Jeremiah leads the group down another street, "the flags." He states pointing up.

Azrael was right about the flags, it means territory, and we are in one right now.

"I think that's the place!" Devon shouts pointing to an underbridge that's at the end of the block.

"The bridge?" I ask, "how can they be in a bridge? Especially that small."

Devon laughs, "Vanessa and I came across bridges like that before, they sometimes have rooms and bunkers and shit...."

Jeremiah looks at us, "we aren't sure- we can hide out and watch. I'm telling you guys now, this is the last day we are spending looking for them. Then we will go back on track to the city."

I nod, "okay."

Micah sighs, "my papa?"

"I'm sorry Micah." Jeremiah says, "I'm sure the city has people to send to them."

×

ᴀᴠɪʟᴀ

I sit at the top of the stairs, the rest of the girls are all in the bathroom playing with makeup or in their rooms reading old magazines.

This is their break from the guys, and chores.

I hear silence up there, everyone must've already left. I look back down the stairs if anyone is there, no one.

I loosen my grip on the kitchen knife I stole and head upstairs.

The hallway is quiet, muffled voices speak and turn silent the further I walk away.

I tiptoe through the last hall before I turn to the Azraels room.

My shoes tap gently across the floor, I grip the knife as a quiet step sounds behind me - I'm being followed.

I spin around raising the knife to the estimated height of whoever's following. A gasp escapes the redhead's throat as I place it against their throat. My nerves skyrocketing.

"Joan?" I whisper through the empty hallway, she gulps and nods.

"Avila, why do you have a knife?" Joan chokes back.

"I- Why are you following me?" I ask lowering it slowly.

"You're not supposed to be up here so I followed you in case you were in trouble." She mutters taking a step back, "Is this why Lady Beth doesn't give you knives?"

When Lady Beth serves dinner she gives everyone a knife to aid in cutting their food but for me.

"I just wanted to take a walk," I whisper. I turn away from her and continue down the hall, "go back."

"I wanna follow you," Joan says aloud.

I quickly turn and shush her, "Joan quiet-"

A door creaks open, I see room 308 and yank Joan inside with me. I shut the door quietly and look around the room, no harm in having Joan with us. But Azrael isn't here.

Maybe he's at the weapons room.

Joan begins to whisper what I assume is a prayer.

"You know if we would've been caught we would be in big trouble." Joan mumbles, "even worse if Lady Beth or The Boss caught us."

"Joan..." I had the feeling of asking her if she wants to leave... but something tells me she truly does like it here.

"Avila, are you going to return the knife?" She asks tilting her head with a smile.

I nod, "I'll return it-"

"-why did you have it in the first place?" She whispers looking back at me. I want to yell because I don't have my dagger.

"Danger?" I say, we both laugh.

"I'm going to go back, be careful," Joan whispers turning away.

As she leaves I rush down the hall to the weapons room, the gate is open, Azrael must be down here.

×

ᴀᴢʀᴀᴇʟ

The evening sky looms above as everyone swarms the bridge in excitement. Speaking amongst themselves carefully to not attract a creature.

Even if one does happen by, everyone has a well-trained aim to kill it.

A few guys stay behind in Valor to watch over the place, I look down at the bottom of the bridge, Avila is in there. She probably is in the weapons room for all I know.

A few of my dad's guards bring the creatures unconscious body out, dragging it across the concrete. I can tell it's waking up from how it's arm twitches, I take a deep breath and tighten my hand around the machete.

The guards all back up from the creature and I. They stand on both sides of the bridge. Basically surrounding me, watching a show.

My dad shouts from the crowd he's in, "Azrael! My son, the next in line-"

Then gunshots fire into the air, we all quickly spin around looking for where it's coming from. None of us fired it.

Sometimes it's just other people around, but there's an ensemble of growls coming across the bridge. It's a group of creatures running towards us.

Everyone takes a few steps back, those in front begin to shoot at some of them, but as Jeremiah said, they're invincible.

I look at the creature with us, who everyone seemed to forget about stand up. I slash the machete through the air, but it moved just in time that I only cut off a chunk of its head.

I take a step back as it jumps at the men who aren't shooting. Its unnerving growl combines with a series of gunfire.

I run out of the group of shooters, passed my dad who didn't notice, and back into Valor.

ᴊᴏᴀɴ

I run through the hall, perfect timing because he's running towards me.

"Ronan!" I shout.

He seems tired, "what?" He asks sternly.

I can hear gunshots echoing outside, my heart begins to race. Oh my god... oh my god...

"Is everyone okay?" I ask shaking.

He nods, "Joan what do you want?"

"It's Avila. She has a knife and is in the halls by Azraels room." I say shaking, "she's going to hurt him." I cry.

Ronan pushes me to the side and walks slowly down the hall.

×

ᴀᴠɪʟᴀ

I grab a rifle off the wall and check it for ammo, once I'm done I step away from the wall but my dress latches onto something. I yank it off. Shit, this dress is really going to slow me down.

I walk towards the door, I swear I can hear gunfire. As I get closer the echoes get louder.

It's just a game, I remind myself.

I need to change my clothes. They must be in the laundry room with the Ladies of Pleasure, I need to go back.

I can return this knife while I'm at it. Just don't get caught with the gun.

×

ᴀᴢʀᴀᴇʟ

My room was empty, and the weapons room door is open. There is no sign of Avila except a gun missing from the wall. I place the machete onto the table and walk down a different aisle. Where the hell is she?

I hear footsteps running up from behind me, but I'm met with someone swinging at me, I block the punch.

It's fucking Ronan.

"Azrael... hmm weird Joan said Avila was down here." Ronan snickers.

"Don't know why she would be down here," I say reaching for the machete.

Ronan rips a handgun off the wall and aims it at me.

"Don't! Now walk back there." He says forcing me into another area of the weapons room, that, of course, has a place to lock someone up. Ronan shuts the fences door and locks it.

Ronan smiles, "Now I'm going to find Avila."

This area of the weapons room is much darker and quiet, so it comes as a surprise to hear movement behind me. I quickly turn around, it's a man sitting on the floor in a white uniform.

He's dressed like the people who drive the vans and take kids for the offering.

My dad has a van. Did he take this man?

The man smiles as he stands up on a bad leg, I can tell he was beaten up pretty badly, "Azrael?" He says.

He just said my name. A man from inside the walls just said my name.

"How-how do you know my name?" I ask.

I remember anyone here could've told him.

"This is unbelievable." The man says laughing, "where's Avila?" He asks.

My heart skips a beat, "how do you know our names?"

"Oh, Siobhan hasn't gotten her yet. We've been watching you guys, Siobhan is just taking her property back." The man in white laughs.

I stare at him thinking up any and every horrid idea, how do they know us.

"Azrael?" Avila says behind me, bringing me back to reality. She is on the other side of the fence, clothes changed and carrying a rifle.

The Avila I know.

"Stand back." She says, and I do so.

She aims the rifle at the lock and shoots it, its echo shouts through the silent room.

"Avila?" The man is starstruck, he rushes forward to exit first.

I shove him against the wall and snatch Avila's rifle from her and point it at his chest.

Avila steps back and grabs another rifle.

"I'll ask you again, how do you know our names?" I shout.

The man smiles, "I said it already. We've been watching you. By the way is your dad The Boss? Because when I told him your name he freaked."

Does that mean my dad never spotted us outside, this man and his friend Sarah? Sally? Whatever saw us.

Avila clears her throat, "watching us?"

"Yes, I can't believe you are here." He says smiling, a few of his teeth missing.

"Why did my dad want you?" I ask.

He smiles at me, "No reason. Just information."

"Why were you watching us?" Avila shouts behind me, "how do you know us!?"

He doesn't answer he just stares at Avila.

Ronan behind us laughs, "because you're important, and that makes you worth a lot to us. Good trade. Life behind the walls for you."

Avila laughs, "he probably just said that so he can live."

The man behind us laughs in agreement.

Ronan doesn't care, he raises his handgun, but the man runs in front of us both before we're able to think.

"Azrael you can't protect her, Siobhan is coming for you, Avila!" The man says pushing Ronan to the floor.

This is our chance to go, we run off to the room with the crates. A gunshot fires behind us.

That man let himself get shot for her. What's so special about Avila?

Avila and I run up to the lever at the metal door and pull it down. The door pulls open and we are finally back outside.

Ronan yells, "hey!" Making us turn around.

"Don't you want this?" Ronan shouts raising Avila's dagger in the air.  Avila told me a little about it, the importance it shared within her memory. A family, a person to look up to. A home. A gift to always stand tall and fight. And he has it.

Ronan laughs loudly, "Remember when I was sliding it up your leg Avila. I could've gotten higher if it wasn't for our little interruption."

I clench my jaw.

Ronan tosses the handgun to the side, "Don't you want it back? C'mon takes it from me. Give me a little action." He yells.

"Azrael ignore him." Avila whispers, I drop the rifle and run straight for Ronan.

He smiles as I get closer, I knock him to the floor. Ronan gasps for air and raises the dagger up trying to stab me, but I pull it from his hands, dropping it on the floor beside us, I punch him in the face.

"Azrael!!" Avila shouts.

"I wrapped my hand around her neck Azrael." Ronan smiles, he raises his hands to try and choke me. But I knock his arm loose and hit him at the side of his jaw. 

He turns to face the floor, spitting his blood out.

"You were a good friend Azrael! But I don't understand how The Boss believes in you so much! You don't even care for Valor! I do! This is my life, my home! I deserve this, not you!" Ronan shouts.

Joan runs in screaming, I stand up to reach for the dagger but Ronan slides his leg and kicks it across the room. He lays on the floor laughing. I can't get it, he'll be up by then

"Azrael you hurt him!" Joan cries, wiping the blood from his nose and mouth.

The look of betrayal crosses his face as if he just realized where we both stand, and what he just stated.

"Rael let's go!" Avila shouts approaching me.

"Your dagger—" I mutter, she pulls at my arm and hands a rifle.

"Leave it," she says.

Vila and I hurry across the room, to the exit.

"You're leaving again!? You're asking for the Boss to teach you a lesson Azrael! Just like when we killed your mother!" Joan shouts.

For a second my foot doesn't hit the ground and I have the urge to turn back around, but I ignore Joan.

Avila stays quiet.

I look back to see if we are being followed, but the lights of Valor have officially gone out of view and the red flags lessened.

I look up at the sky hitting it's the perfect shade of dark blue, though it's a clear night, the air isn't as clear. There's always something wrong lurking somewhere.

Just like how I can't get my mind off of the man from the walled city.

Azrael you can't protect her, Siobhan is coming for you, Avila.

That man was so quick to jump in front of a gun for Avila.

We run and don't stop.

Avila breaks the silence, "I—" and she doesn't finish.

×

ᴛʜᴀɴᴋs ғᴏʀ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ɪᴛ sᴏ ғᴀʀ!

sᴏ ᴊᴏᴀɴ ɪs ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴄᴏɴғᴜsɪɴɢ..

ᴅᴏɴᴛ ғᴏʀɢᴇᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴠᴏᴛᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɢᴏᴇs ᴀ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴡᴀʏ!

ᴇxᴄᴜsᴇ ᴀɴʏ ᴍɪsᴛᴀᴋᴇs.

ʙʏʏʏᴇᴇ