"After the Fall"
Part 3
by Rose and Beryll
- Dom’s POV -
The old piece of roofing used as a door is pulled away and the unearthly darkness of day seeps in. Why is the door open, what are they doing?
The sun used to dance. I remember sitting under the trees in it. Now there is only the dark and yet, any change in schedule is more worrying to me than our eternal darkness. They haven’t changed the rules since we got here. Even if Billy, my master - the words makes me choke - wanted to, The Boss wouldn’t let him. I find a small comfort in that thought. He may control my life but even he cannot do entirely as he wishes.
Nobody can anymore.
The voices stop outside our cell. It’s an old cellar; the only structurally sound room in this God forsaken village. I dare to lift my head slightly, moving as little as possible for my love is asleep upon my chest and I would not wake him for the world. That saying means a great deal more to me than it once did.
Legs appear dropping into the cellar. Legs I know so well and
I hold Hugh to me tighter. What are they doing here the invisible sun is still
awake. Why are they here?
What do they want?
I breathe deeply though my ribs still ache and try desperately to stay calm. I try to think of a reason for their being here now that doesn’t result in panic. I can’t.
“Wakey, Wakey Darlin’s and outta bed with ya. I’ve got a treat for the both of you.”
Hugh starts at his Master's voice, jerking from my embrace and I do nothing to stop him. Fear is holding me too tight. The look on The Bosses face is like nothing I have ever seen before. He signals and Billy steps forward grabbing Hugh. He signals for me to follow, his eyes piecing, threatening me, telling me what would happen if I were to disobey. It is unnecessary. I would follow Hugh were ever he goes, in life or in death. Billy drags Hugh out of the dank cellar, following The Boss and I scramble after, even the dark assaulting my eyes after our hole in the earth.
We stand surrounded by the ruined village, burnt to rubble from the gang wars after the Fall, myself, my love, Billy and The Boss. Everyone else is standing back, pretending to work but really watching us.
The Boss walks up to Hugh and grabs him roughly, forcing his tongue into my love’s mouth. I turn away, the sight before me made that much worse by the surrounding world. At Hugh's pained moan my eyes betray me and fly back to my lover. The red stains of blood slide thickly from my love’s lips, dark against his deathly pale complexion. The Boss tips his head in my direction and Billy walks towards me. He is what I might once have called gently handsome. Thin face, strong bones, dusty brown hair, piecing green eyes and lips that can make him look like the Devil himself when he smiles. No more though, now he is what revolts me and scares me most in the world. He is also who I need most in this world for without him I would be dead and my Hugh would be alone in the dark.
Billy smiles now and the fear I feel starts to close in on
me. To choke me. What is going on? I want to scream, to cry out, yet I know
the rules and fear the consequences.
They think us stupid, Hugh and myself. We are unlucky and though I would have
fought I cannot. I could never risk Hugh's life nor could I deny him and he
begged me not to fight them for fear of my life.
Billy guides me away from Hugh, his hand suggesting the pain
he could cause me. When he considers us far enough away he turns to watch the
events unfold before us.
The Boss is talking to my Hugh, whispering into his ear words I cannot hear.
I do not need to. I can see Hughes pain, his fear, he begins to struggle, to
fight against The Boss he has never done before. The Boss is laughing and I
turn my head between him and Billy, unsure and panicked. The Boss says something
quietly and Hugh begins to violently shake his head, pleading, begging. For
what I do not know.
The Boss looks over at us and raises an eyebrow. I see Billy
smirk, then turn to me.
“He‘s leaving precious. The Boss is letting him go, wave goodbye
to your pretty love, my boy, you won't see him again.”
I feel the blood drain from my face. This can’t be real; they must be planning some trick. But then my eyes find Hugh and I understand. Trick or not, he has a chance. Across the distance I look my lover, my light in the eye, trying to convey all my love, my desire, my hope. Trying to tell him to look after himself, to survive for me. The tears on his face mix with drying blood and I nod once at him. He turns and runs.
“Release the dogs.” The Bosses voice sounds and my legs fail me as I watch Hugh disappear into the distance. The laughter of the camp filled with my chocked sobs.
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go to PART 4