An Angel's Hell - Chapter Six
Sorry for the delay. Sad stuff.
Gagging on the water that claws down my throat and into my lungs in mouthfuls, I desperately flail my limbs this way and that, hoping to surface soon. Usually, I would have already made it to the other side but this time I am not so lucky. The water scorches my throat as if it were fire as my eyelids grow heavy. I must stay awake, but unconsciousness is threatening to devour me at any time. Idly, I wonder what it would be like to drown, to die, and then as if the thoughts give me a scary resolution, I push with all my strength. I have to live; if not for me, then for my family and Jill. But no matter how hard you fight death, sometimes you just have no power against it.
Jill was a hunter, a warrior. At a young age she knew it was either fight or die. Never did her brother grow hungry, no matter if it made her own bones stick out of her skin. A long time ago she had learned to stop all emotions so that it was possible for her to live in this hell; that was why this emotion was killing her now. Loren had been her friend for as long as she could remember. How could he not pick her? With a grunt, she hoisted herself up onto the rooftop and began jumping across the town. At this height it would make it less probable for a guard to see her. Loren had not come by to apologize, this unnerved her. Okay, so maybe he did not love her. That she could live with. But how could he not want to choose her?
The morning sun had breached the darkened sky, illuminating it with a variety of beautiful colors. It was mocking to her. There was only one thing she wanted to do at this moment and that was to find Loren and give her a piece of her mind. But as Jill stumbled onto another rooftop that stood less than ten feet above the river below, she paused to question what her argument was. ‘Hey, Loren, you are a jerk for not choosing me.’ No, because he had the right to choose whomever he wanted. ‘So, Loren, you know, with the two of us, it would be more likely to survive.’ That did not sound sufficient or emotional enough. Who wanted to hear something like that when it came to marriage? That left her with the honest factor. ‘Loren, we have known each other for quite some time now and I kinda, maybe, really love you.’ Nothing sounded okay to her.
Stalling at the roof’s edge, Jill sucked in a large breath of air before jumping. It was simple to know where he was considering he was not at home and this would be the only other place he could be. Fishing outside was her favorite thing in the world but if Jill did it constantly, it would feel as though she was stealing it away from Loren. Never, could she take something that he loved away from him. If only she was something he treasured.
With a jealous glance thrown at the wall as if she could see through it to where the wooded area was, she stole a moment to summon enough guts to confront him; that was when she noticed it. It was a very slight discoloration in the water and a rusty smell that tainted the morning dewy air. Everything else that did not pertain to Loren evaporated in her mind as she dived into the poisoned water. It took her less than a second to feel the pain. Every nerve prickled with discomfort that soon turned into agonizing and uncontrollable pain. Her eyes felt like they could melt out of their sockets any second; this was pure hell. What was more was that even though she was not breathing it felt as though her lungs were being squeezed of all air. Like a robot with a short fuse, she thrust her arms in abrupt and broken gestures. ‘Loren, where is he!?’ she thought as she plummeted further into the dark water.
Just when all hope seemed to be loss, she saw him. Loren lay motionlessly at the bottom. Seeing him sent a wave of adrenaline and without thinking, Jill managed to push past her physical restraints and rescue him from the water’s grasp. This proved to be a job since his body weight outweighed hers so much. When she finally made it to the shore, she was gasping for air. Each inhale and exhale was more painful than the last but she had not the time to think about the hurt. Instead, she flung herself onto Loren and pushed air into his mouth; willing him to breathe, to live. Time seemed to drag on for what seemed to be hours but really was just a few minutes and then finally Loren spat up water and begun to breathe again. Jill collapsed onto his chest, breathing heavily through the agony. After several more gulps of air, Loren opened his eyes and stared down at her, fixating his eyes within the tears that swam in her eyes. His jaw flexed as if he were attempting to speak but before either of them could summon up any statement, a guard stumbled upon them.
The malicious gleam within the guards’ glowering stare told Jill three things. One, he was not about to let them off easily. Two, she would have to guide him away from Loren. And three, she was going to be severely punished. Jill glanced down at Loren and raised her left eyebrow. When they were younger they set up a code just meant for the two of them. This particular signal, the raising of the left eyebrow, told the other to run. Loren reached up but she was faster. Within a second she was standing, though not exactly steadily, and running wildly at the guard. Taken back, the guard took a step back but then thought better and raised a gun. Jill had always been faster than anyone in her class before, even Loren, but not bullets. The metal tore into her chest unmercifully, piercing her flesh as if it were as feeble as paper. Really, it did not hurt. Jill died before the pain could be felt.
I am already on my feet before the damned guard raises his gun but what good can I do now? I watch as if I am watching a movie in slow motion as the guard aims and then pull the trigger. The bullet cannot be stop and has already made its’ way into Jill’s body by the time I reach her. Tears begin to pour down my cheeks like rain as I hug my best friend to my chest. Though I know she is already gone by now, I still cling to her. When I look down I do not see just my best friend, I see what could have been my future. Everything stretched out in my mind; a home, a wife, a reason to live. It was then I picture her by my side. And it was then I am able to come to terms with the truth I knew deep down all along. I love Jill. I bend down and rest my lips against her own, hoping that she can feel this even though I know she cannot. Before I can dwell too long, the guards’ voice breaks the ringing that had been so loud in my ears just only a moment ago.
"Damn girl. That’s what she gets for trying to run. Boy, get back and get home unless you wanna end up just like her," the guard warned, gnashing his teeth as he waved the gun to back up the threat.
I snap. I jump up and run at him, despite knowing there is a gun in his hand. At this moment I could not give a damn, I just want to avenged Jill’s unjust death and this hell on earth. The guard points the weapon and pulls the trigger but only empty clicking replies. Baffled, the guard pulls the trigger again, and again, as if it were a ‘fun’ game of Russian roulette. I do not wait to find out if there are any bullets left but instead, jump with my hands tensed into claws, and aim for his throat. I am barely aware as to what I am gripping or tearing I just know the guard is dying by my hands and that alone suffices my mind. After several long minutes, I am tugged free from the bloody body and thrown harshly against the brick road. I look up in time to see a large wooded pole coming at me then I am thrown into darkness.
Jill was a hunter, a warrior. At a young age she knew it was either fight or die. Never did her brother grow hungry, no matter if it made her own bones stick out of her skin. A long time ago she had learned to stop all emotions so that it was possible for her to live in this hell; that was why this emotion was killing her now. Loren had been her friend for as long as she could remember. How could he not pick her? With a grunt, she hoisted herself up onto the rooftop and began jumping across the town. At this height it would make it less probable for a guard to see her. Loren had not come by to apologize, this unnerved her. Okay, so maybe he did not love her. That she could live with. But how could he not want to choose her?
The morning sun had breached the darkened sky, illuminating it with a variety of beautiful colors. It was mocking to her. There was only one thing she wanted to do at this moment and that was to find Loren and give her a piece of her mind. But as Jill stumbled onto another rooftop that stood less than ten feet above the river below, she paused to question what her argument was. ‘Hey, Loren, you are a jerk for not choosing me.’ No, because he had the right to choose whomever he wanted. ‘So, Loren, you know, with the two of us, it would be more likely to survive.’ That did not sound sufficient or emotional enough. Who wanted to hear something like that when it came to marriage? That left her with the honest factor. ‘Loren, we have known each other for quite some time now and I kinda, maybe, really love you.’ Nothing sounded okay to her.
Stalling at the roof’s edge, Jill sucked in a large breath of air before jumping. It was simple to know where he was considering he was not at home and this would be the only other place he could be. Fishing outside was her favorite thing in the world but if Jill did it constantly, it would feel as though she was stealing it away from Loren. Never, could she take something that he loved away from him. If only she was something he treasured.
With a jealous glance thrown at the wall as if she could see through it to where the wooded area was, she stole a moment to summon enough guts to confront him; that was when she noticed it. It was a very slight discoloration in the water and a rusty smell that tainted the morning dewy air. Everything else that did not pertain to Loren evaporated in her mind as she dived into the poisoned water. It took her less than a second to feel the pain. Every nerve prickled with discomfort that soon turned into agonizing and uncontrollable pain. Her eyes felt like they could melt out of their sockets any second; this was pure hell. What was more was that even though she was not breathing it felt as though her lungs were being squeezed of all air. Like a robot with a short fuse, she thrust her arms in abrupt and broken gestures. ‘Loren, where is he!?’ she thought as she plummeted further into the dark water.
Just when all hope seemed to be loss, she saw him. Loren lay motionlessly at the bottom. Seeing him sent a wave of adrenaline and without thinking, Jill managed to push past her physical restraints and rescue him from the water’s grasp. This proved to be a job since his body weight outweighed hers so much. When she finally made it to the shore, she was gasping for air. Each inhale and exhale was more painful than the last but she had not the time to think about the hurt. Instead, she flung herself onto Loren and pushed air into his mouth; willing him to breathe, to live. Time seemed to drag on for what seemed to be hours but really was just a few minutes and then finally Loren spat up water and begun to breathe again. Jill collapsed onto his chest, breathing heavily through the agony. After several more gulps of air, Loren opened his eyes and stared down at her, fixating his eyes within the tears that swam in her eyes. His jaw flexed as if he were attempting to speak but before either of them could summon up any statement, a guard stumbled upon them.
The malicious gleam within the guards’ glowering stare told Jill three things. One, he was not about to let them off easily. Two, she would have to guide him away from Loren. And three, she was going to be severely punished. Jill glanced down at Loren and raised her left eyebrow. When they were younger they set up a code just meant for the two of them. This particular signal, the raising of the left eyebrow, told the other to run. Loren reached up but she was faster. Within a second she was standing, though not exactly steadily, and running wildly at the guard. Taken back, the guard took a step back but then thought better and raised a gun. Jill had always been faster than anyone in her class before, even Loren, but not bullets. The metal tore into her chest unmercifully, piercing her flesh as if it were as feeble as paper. Really, it did not hurt. Jill died before the pain could be felt.
I am already on my feet before the damned guard raises his gun but what good can I do now? I watch as if I am watching a movie in slow motion as the guard aims and then pull the trigger. The bullet cannot be stop and has already made its’ way into Jill’s body by the time I reach her. Tears begin to pour down my cheeks like rain as I hug my best friend to my chest. Though I know she is already gone by now, I still cling to her. When I look down I do not see just my best friend, I see what could have been my future. Everything stretched out in my mind; a home, a wife, a reason to live. It was then I picture her by my side. And it was then I am able to come to terms with the truth I knew deep down all along. I love Jill. I bend down and rest my lips against her own, hoping that she can feel this even though I know she cannot. Before I can dwell too long, the guards’ voice breaks the ringing that had been so loud in my ears just only a moment ago.
"Damn girl. That’s what she gets for trying to run. Boy, get back and get home unless you wanna end up just like her," the guard warned, gnashing his teeth as he waved the gun to back up the threat.
I snap. I jump up and run at him, despite knowing there is a gun in his hand. At this moment I could not give a damn, I just want to avenged Jill’s unjust death and this hell on earth. The guard points the weapon and pulls the trigger but only empty clicking replies. Baffled, the guard pulls the trigger again, and again, as if it were a ‘fun’ game of Russian roulette. I do not wait to find out if there are any bullets left but instead, jump with my hands tensed into claws, and aim for his throat. I am barely aware as to what I am gripping or tearing I just know the guard is dying by my hands and that alone suffices my mind. After several long minutes, I am tugged free from the bloody body and thrown harshly against the brick road. I look up in time to see a large wooded pole coming at me then I am thrown into darkness.
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