LIES
Chapter Four
Interactive
’s POV:
I woke to being shaken violently. I opened my eyes slowly to dim light. I was yanked up by the front of my shirt. Pain shot through my head as it slammed against the wall.
“Where is , you bastard?!� ’s voice rang in my ears. I looked at his face, barely able to keep my eyes open. “What have you done to her?!� My head rolled to the side and I saw leaning against the wall just staring at me. I couldn’t answer, words wouldn’t form in my throat. All I could see were those big scared eyes and the blood staining her cheek. slammed me against the wall again, his prized pocket knife whipped out of his pocket and was put at the base of my throat. I could feel the metal stinging my skin.
“Answer me .� demanded. “I don’t want to have to do this.�
“Do us all a favor, .� voiced from beside the grim faced . His hands were balled into fists at his side. “Find somebody else to blame. You know would never hurt anyone, especially not your sister.�
He paused and looked at me as if I were the scum of the earth. Me, his best friend, reduced to an excused killer. “Where is she? Where is my sister?� His voice got softer as if he were going to cry and he dropped the blade and just stared at his hands, unable to believe what he had just almost done.
“They… have… her.� I croaked letting myself fall back onto the table. I didn’t know how long I had been out cold, what day was it? Where was ? I am such a failure. I couldn’t even protect her. I should be the one missing, not her.
backed off from the table. I sat up and stretched my arms. They were stiff, just like the rest of me. I bent my left leg, pain shot up, clouding my brain. I bet over and rolled up the leg of my ragged grey jeans. They were bloodstained. My eyes caught sight of a bloodstained bandana serving as a makeshift bandage.
“Welcome to hell.� said breaking the silence. “Everyday it’ll just get worse. You’ll always be wondering ‘Is she alive? What have they done to her? Is she one of them? Is she happy?’ It’ll never stop.�
“No.� fell to his knees. “It can’t be true. is lying!� He looked so lost. His eyes glossed over in unshed tears. He wiped his eyes as if he didn’t want us to see him as weak. “I’ve already lost so much. I can’t loose . Not my little sister.�
I swung my legs to the side of the table, ignoring the second shot of pain that burned in my brain. I pushed myself off, stumbling when I applied weight to my wounded leg. I gripped the edge of the wooden table and attempted to stand up straighter.
“Where are you going?� looked up, a grim frown set onto his face.
“I’m going to get back.�
“No, !� exclaimed darting in front of me. Though he was the shortest out of us, he stood firm. “That’s suicide! You can’t just walking into the Iron Werks alone. They‘ll kill you or worse.�
“I’d rather die trying.� I spat. I took a shaky step towards the door to the room I shared with the guys. I had a slight limp. That’d slow me down. I hope no running would be involved, if so, I was screwed.
“I think you are being stupid.� Harry said from his place on the wall. He stepped into the light. “Remember when I tried to go find ? All I got was this and that was only because I was lucky.� He brought a finger up to his face and traced the long scar that marred his cheek.
“Why do you even care?� asked callously. He crossed his arms across his chest and his eyes narrowed and I could feel him staring at the back of my head. “What does matter to you?�
“I love her, damn it!� I spun around and stared straight at him. “There, I said it. I love your sister, .�
“Like we didn’t already know that.� mumbled to himself.
“That’s fine and dandy.� replied. “But we aren’t going to let you go in there blind. We’ll sleep on it tonight and figure out where to go from there.�
A high pitch scream of sorrow pierced the air. Sounds of crying came from next door. ran outside as a bell began to ring. We didn’t say a word. We knew the sound. The death knell. Hard faced, returned a few moments later.
“The twin girls next door just passed.� He said quietly. “Their mother discovered they were sick last night. They died within 12 hours. It’s getting stronger. Those are the tenth deaths in a week.�
“They were only ten.� I heard say. fell back into the only seat. New of another death always affected him like this. How many months ago had it been since the bell sounded to announce ’s death?
The virus started with headaches, slightly blurred vision, elevated tempers and coughing before the fever set in. Out of all of the cases in Wonderland, no one had survived. People died everyday. It was almost as if the bell rang every hour. No one knew what caused it. We Wonderlanders blamed the water from the Iron Werks. The Iron Virus, we called it. Though not always, I had more than once detected an off taste to the water they brought.
The bell stopped and silence rang through the city. Across ’s face flashed remorse and pain. He had known the girls better than we had. He was always around the house making games for the children. Though he was 22, he had always just been a kid at heart.
“I’ll see you in the morning.� He said softly. took the few steps to the blanket serving as our door. He brushed it back and went inside.
“ ,� jogged after him.
“We should all go to bed now.� stood again. He rubbed his face with his hand and let it fall to his side again. He sighed.
“We’ll figure it out.� He said. “I promise. I’m not going to let them get away with any of this. I’m going to save .�
“Is it alright if I sleep in her room? I really need some time to think by myself.� I said.
nodded and I turned away from him. I started towards ’s room and brushed her curtain back. Like a robot, I walked to her cot and sat down. I sighed. Winching, I pulled off my left boot and then my right. I threw them to the floor. I leaned back, letting my head fall on ’s pillow. On her ceiling were hand drawn pictures of stars. I had never noticed it before.
I rolled over and faced the wall. The dirty clay brick wall was the same as every other small room in what the town deemed a house. I really missed my house. The wide open spaces, clean windows, white walls, my dogs barking in the back yard. It seemed so far away. I didn’t even know if my home was still there. The whole McFly Village had probably been destroyed when fires had broken out in London.
I ran my hand across the brick, feeling each indention and sign of wear and tear. My hand stopped as it traced through an perfect brick. I knocked on the brick. It was hollow. I propped myself up on my elbow. I pushed in and it popped out. The brick fell out onto the bed and I picked it up. Plastic. Where in the hell did get a plastic brick? I set it down on the cot and stuck my hand in the whole.
My fingers wrapped around a piece of paper. I pulled it out, and held it in front of my face. Squinting, I saw a yellowed photo strip from a photo booth. Six shots of me and together. A smile cracked onto my face. That souvenir shop by the park had installed it. While waiting for , , and to buy their ice cream, had pulled me in.
I held the strip of pictures against my heart. I should have fought harder. I could have saved her! I shouldn’t have been so scared, I shouldn’t have doubted myself. The pain on her face, the way she screamed my name before I fell to the ground. Her scream echoed in my ears. I tried to push it away.
I put the brick back and turned away from the wall, not letting go of her picture. I tried to close my eyes. There were no noises outside. It was completely silent. The guys in the other room were even silent.
Then it echoed through the walls of our small home. My eyes shot open and my heart tripled in speed.
groaned and started coughing.
I hope it was just a cold. But something in my gut told me otherwise.