Infected Chronicles Chapter Two

A/N this is a rough draft and has not been edited yet, so yall know. Also the chapters over lap one another in showing the life of each character so there's no confusion.

Don't know if im using this right but this chapter has some Trigger warnings.

Selena

My heart curdled as Rachel approached my work bench. In her hand a red letter. You have been chosen for a progress report. I looked at Rachel shaking. Rachel's mascara was smudged bruises played tag across her worn skin, her small black shirt was to big hanging past her knobby knees. “ Mr. Westler wishes to see you. Sandra will take over your shift for an hour. You will head toward the left wing to become presentable.” she said her voice shattering as she gave yet another girl her death.

My voice cracked, “ No, No he can't want me, you must be confused”. But one look from Rachel's tormented eyes told me there was no mistake. I would have to survive the night with the devil. With a defeated look I pass Rachel an Sandra, ignoring the look of the women in her sector watching some with pity in their glaze as another girl walks down the hall of shame.

My batter soled shoes scuffed across the yellowing tiles toward the showers. I took my sweet time getting undressed and relishing of the crisp warm water raced over my head in fat droplets. I made sure no dirt was shown and scrubbed hard. After that I reached toward the rustic faucet turning the water off and moved to brush my teeth spitting out the red tinged water and foam and smiled to my broken reflection. My teeth wereslightly stained yellow but nothing noticeable they were presentable. I stare at my reflection longer my hands clutching the edges of the sinks. My knuckles drained to porcelain white, “ You are a survivor. You are a Fighter. You will not Crumble. He can't have his way.” I say to myself over and over until my shaking limbs cease to shake.

With a shaky breath I moved using mouth wash, breathing into my hand. Minty fresh. My appearance is now acceptable. I look toward the tan paper hiding the choke collar that he would use to strangle her. A short strapless black dress. Laces strapped across my back revealing my shoulder blades. I looked the part of a prostitute I thought bitterly to myself. It will be a cold day in hell before I ever submit to this. I thought slipping out of my workable shoes to thin black heels gaining a few inches in height before walking out to confront the enemy. My chin tilted upward. I would not give him the rise of seeing a weak girl. He wanted to play, well then lets play I thought.

I made my way to his office that was located in the men's section. None of them even acknowledged me which I thanked, none of them but one. Ryder. He saw and jumped straight up looking at me with a look that could kill.

“ I'm going to kill him. He can do this to anyone else but you” he growled his veins bulging in his face with fury.

I look at him shaking my head, “ No, you'll lose your job you need this job. Beside. Who knows maybe he just wants to talk” I say not even believing my own lie.

Ryder looked “ I don't care.” he said grounding his jaw as he looked back seeing they had no other option. “ Don't let him go near you. Talk the whole hour. Don't let him do this Selena.” he said his eyes looking at the yardmen lumbering their way.

“ I won't now go before you get hurt” I say. Hugging him goodbye before I began once again taking my time on the stairwell up. My hand froze centimeters from the door to knock, Breathing in one last time I knocked awaiting the loud voice of Come in, Come in.

I walk in closing the door behind me turning to Mr. Westler dipping my head. “ sir” I chime hoping the venom dripped off my voice.

Mr. Westler was a middle aged man that lived off his paycheck and the bribes taken to give tips on his workers from the trackers. His large beer belly traced the edge of his desk threatening to lay down on top. His reclining hairline went back revealing a greasy skin lined with liver spots. His eyes did not meet my eyes as he talked. No, they rested lustfully on my chest. His fingers wiggling eagerly his tongue licking his hideous lips. “ Yes. As I'm sure your aware due to lack of profits we have decided to cut down the work force. And I must pick who will stay and who will go. “ he said.

I nod playing the role, my eyes darting toward the door that would destroy me. Whatever you do Don't make it past that door. I thought “ And I am sure you are aware , I rather be taken by trackers than be involved with your progress report” I stated a snarl forming over my face.

His laughter echoed through the office. “ Still a wild Philly I see. Excellent your not yet broke. And as your threat I really doubt you would not go through it.” He stated and looked down at his office at a piece of paper. “ But as I am now aware you will not let that faith happen to What was her name Savannah? Lanna?“ he asked.

My face drained of color as I choked out the words. “ Hannah.”

His face sneered “ Ah, yes. As you know with just a small tip of her name the trackers will find her and then she's as good as dead. That's if you even care about her.” he said his eyes gleamed, he knew he already knew he won this war.

I look at him , he had to be bluffing. There was no way someone would betray my trust. People weren't that disgusting were they? I thought. “ Drop dead you bastard.” I snarl. As soon as he spoke Hannah's name the hinged of my sanity has snapped into a rabid animal, that would destroy all in my wake to protect my world, Hannah.

He looked “ Alright then have it your way” he said moving to pick up a phone near by and dialed in the four digit number to the tracker hot line his fat fingers leaving trails as he watched Selena squirm.

I breathed out the numbers and listened to the dials, to a gruff voice saying, “ Tracking services keeping our streets urchin free, do you have Intel?

My voice rose in a shaky yell “ Enough. All do it. All do it. Just stop” I said.

Mr. Wrestler chuckled “ I'm sorry it seemed your services are no longer needed, have a nice day.” he said before hanging up. “ I must admit my dear I did not think you had the moxy to last that long” he said grinning oh he would enjoy breaking this one he thought.

I try to stop myself from shaking, the ounce of courage I once had was drained. I watch as his form came closer to me.

“ Come my dear we only have an hour for your progress report. And I plan to thoroughly examine it.” he sneered

A shutter ran through my whole being as I followed defeated into the other room.

Inside stood in the center a looming mattress that swiveled around the velvet blankets. Air vents sent swirls of sweet smoke clouding my visions. Then it was like a switch flipped and I could no longer tell whether I was up or down everything was distorted. One look from wrestler sent me shocked. He looked younger his normal appearance evaporated into a hallucinogen.

It was as if I was in a dream state my frighten body evaporating like the smoke, a swirl of mist moving on their own. I felt my body lay on top the the bed the velvet blankets brushing against my shivering form.

A voice interrupted my dismembered thoughts, gruff hands took a hold of my small wrist smothering me in the intoxicating fumes the pillows brought back up, “ relax dear, it's normal for this to happen” he chuckled darkly.

That voice, That horrid voice brought me back to reality breathing in the rank stench of his stale breath. Gotta get out of this. Gotta get out. Then a sick thought entered my thoughts with my free legs I bent them up to create a hard impact zone and thrust with the little space damaging his boys. The hesitation of his yowls was enough to maneuver myself out of his grasp and closer to the door.

A hard yanked pulled me off balance as I laid on the floor staring out at an avenging angel, his flames piercing down at my searing soul. “ your going to pay for that dear” he seethed, his once yellow teeth turned into jagged daggers.

His hand met my  cheek with the intentions of pure evil. Again and again his hand came like a cat playing with the broken mouse. One last try to end this I thought trying to focus, then I saw it. What looked like a stapler, must have been left when this room functioned as the secretary desk long ago.

My hands clutched it; swinging upward it struck the side of his left temple hard, I stared as Goliath fell down for the count on the pristine crimson carpet. I looked down rage filled my broken being as I stare down at the scum. He stole so many from the others. The rest was a blur of repetitive hits anywhere I could  find, before I laid crumbled in a heap, my eyes scanning down the bruised body that speckled the marks he gave me.

I need to leave before he wakes up. The sudden rush of adrenaline flees my body as I move automatic grabbing my clothes from the restroom and racing out of the factory, thankfully Ryder was no where to be found.

I made my way home tossing the shreds of the afternoon incident in the dumpster moving toward their bathroom. My eyes trailed what was left of the sunken girl staring back, purple shades appearing along my collar bone and down toward my back, I moved my hair parting it to cover the bruise that was forming over my eyes. At least my bags will hide the brunt, now just need to deal with what were going to do.

I moved sitting down by the table waiting for Hannah to return, my thoughts trailing mindlessly forgetting everything that happened, or at least tried to.

I laughed “ Life's a bitch” I mutter. My ears caught the shutter of the door opening seeing Hannah, I know I should have been worried but all I could think was she was still safe, she wasn't taken, my world is still intact. Just by staring in the endless void of terror I knew that she met them but escaped, we'd have to be careful but for right now I'm going to embrace that I can see her again.

Hannah looked her fist bunching up in holding back the rush of emotions, “ there coming closer to the warehouse, were going to have to be more careful.” she said.

I nod moving forward wrapping my arms in a gentle hug comforting her, my hands working rubbing her back to soothe her nerves, “ I know, but right now were safe, they won't get us.” I say gently.

She nodded her head resting on my shoulder, “ so who's house are we going to today?” she asked flashing that smile that lets me know all Is right again.

I laugh, “ actually were going to a friend's house, his name's Ryder, he's a friend from the factory” I state pushing Hannah sisterly, “ come on its just a three minute walk from here” I say already leading the way to the house.

The walk was as if a dream one minute we walked along the shadows areas of the abandon streets hoping, praying not to be seen by the trackers then we were staring at the crackling two story brick house Ryder lived, my hands moved knocking on the mahogany door.

A smile past over my face as I saw the head of Ryder pop out, his soften blue eyes trailing the two hiding what I knew was that goofy smile that made me laugh every time, and brightens my day. “ Hey Ryder I want to introduce you to Hannah, Hannah this is Ryder.” I say.

Ryder smiled at Hannah glancing back to me as if to make sure I was alright, that nothing happened. Thankfully he couldn't read minds. “ Come in supper ready” he said extending the doorway for us to pass by before closing the door.

I watch Hannah with curious eyes ravage the details of the house to satisfy her need to know, while she was busy I turned to Ryder whispering, “ Don't say anything about today okay”. My eyes pleading his silence. The sudden tenseness in his jaws relax showing me there secret was kept.

The evening progressed onward, I watched as Ryder's mom, Maggie enters the kitchen, I move following her close behind to help.

I look to her, “ is there anyway that I can work maintaining the house? the payment can be meals?” I ask hoping she says yes.

Maggie stared at her averting her attention away from the food, “ How about this, if you and your friend can be my son's friend outside work and make sure he's happy you can come here when you need to. Take him to that new park they opened, anything. Deal?” she asked.

I nodded grateful, “ Yes, yes deal.” I say extending my hand, shaking hers.

Maggie smiled, “ Great now help me bring the food out” she said bringing some of the bowls out toward the table, I followed right behind setting the table.

I moved sitting in front of Hannah smiling toward my right was Ryder tow the left was his Father Micheal. I looked to Ryder curious, “ so Ryder did you finish school?” I asked, for level two citizens they had the ability to go to school for half the day and then work the rest, for some families they hired tutors to teach them after working a full day of work.

Ryder looked to me smiling, “ yea I stopped going a couple years ago, factory needed workers, books only needed wasted time” he said.

I nod he was right there work was more important “ yea, still can't believe they wanted the quota for the year done in a week” I said making things up to ignore what happened today, the memories still scarring my heart over.

Ryder nodded “ I know right, the boss must real-” he stopped mid-sentence after seeing his mother's death glare her voice came out shrill.

“ I told you there is no talking about work in this house.” she said grounding down the turkey with vengeance.

I looked down sheepishly eating the rest of the night in silence. Soon it was time for Hannah and me to leave as we made our way to the door I stopped wanting to ask Ryder, “ Hey if your not busy tomorrow, we could try to go to the new park?” I ask.

Ryder grinned, “ Yea sounds fun all see the two of you here tomorrow” he said shutting the door behind us.

 the walk home drifted silently until Hannah curled up beside me on our bed, I faced away to fake sleep, allowing my body to rise and fall smoothly, it wasn't until I felt the shift of the bed did I relax sinking into do bottomless nightmares, this began the endless turmoil's of savage terrors in my unholy dreams.