by Layla Pierce
A knock sounds on my door, and I turn around to see Matthew standing there. “Lisa expressed concern about you tonight. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. Today just shook me up a bit, that’s all. I thought for a moment that living here might be carefree, but it’s proven already that there are other things to worry about.”
He comes up and wraps his arms around me, but I turn back to look out the window. He rests his head on top of mine. “I shouldn’t have allowed you to be at the meeting.”
“I’m living here, you can’t just shut me out, and if you do, I’m going to have to find something to do or I’m going to go crazy.”
“Pick up a hobby, read a book, those still exist.” He chuckles, and it rumbles through me. I relax against him.
“I’ll find something to do, but I rather not be left out of the loop.”
He kisses the side of my neck, and I tilt my head to the side. “I think having a woman’s view on things would be great for the city. Help us figure out how you think.” He kisses down to my shoulder, nipping gently at my skin. “Remind us how important you are to our survival.”
I spin around and pull him in for a deep kiss, I am done playing right now. I want pleasure to take my mind off everything going on. I want to ride the high of an orgasm either with sex, or the teasing Matthew can offer. I don’t care which.
Another knock comes on the door, and I close my eyes, irritated at the interruption. Lucas walks in with a smirk on his face. “I see that Matthew has already beaten me here to check on you.”
“He’s kissing my woes away.” I run a hand down Matthew’s arm and look over at Lucas. “Do you want to join us? The proper way this time?”
Matthew raises a brow, and Lucas stalks forward. That’s the only word I have for it, there’s something dangerous in the way he moves, and it excites me. My heart speeds up, and I lick my lip, not even flinching when my tongue hits the cut.
Matthew’s hands are suddenly on my hips sliding my shirt over my head. He tosses it to the side, and Lucas grabs my chin in a firm grip and kisses me.
I had expected Lucas to be the gentle one, but this time his kiss is demanding and forceful. Letting me know that he is in control. I should have expected this with the way he led at the campsite. His fingers tangle in my hair, and he pulls enough for me to give a moan, it’s not painful, but on the edge and the moisture between my legs grow.
Matthew chuckles as he slips his fingers into the waistband of my jeans, he traces the fabric to the front and undoes the button there. “I think she likes it, Lucas.”
He pushes my pants down and guides me out of them, his fingers trails over the front of my panties, causing me to shiver. I let out an involuntary noise that’s almost a begging sound. Lucas lets go of my hair and undoes my bra.
My breasts don’t even get a chance to fall, his hands are right there cupping them. I lean against Matthew as Lucas seals his lips around a nipple, twirling his tongue against it until it’s tight in his mouth. He repeats his actions on the other side, drawing a moan from me. I arch my body as he continues switching between each breast.
Matthew dips his fingers into my panties, stroking the wetness there. My breath catches in my throat as he strokes my clit, teasing me by barely dipping a finger further into my sex.
I gasp.
“I want you. Both of you.”
Matthew pulls his hand away and leads me to the bed. “As you wish.”
Lucas gives my ass a playful slap that only adds to my want as I move to the bed. I crawl up, and Matthew follows. “On your hands and knees.”
He guides me so that he’s behind me and Lucas is standing in front of me at the edge of the bed.
I lick my lips knowing exactly where this is going. I had tease Lucas a little in the woods when I had grabbed his cock, and now it was time to make good on that teasing. He quickly disrobes, and his throbbing dick is at the perfect height for me to wrap my mouth around him and twirl my tongue around the head.
Lucas growls in pleasure and grips my hair, tugging as I continue to work him with my mouth. Matthew’s hands suddenly trail over my spine, and I arch my back. I assume he’s been away so that he could get undressed as well.
His fingertips dig into me as he thrust forward and his cock fills me. I moan around Lucas as I arch my back further, urging Matthew to go deeper. He slowly pulls out before slamming back into me, his fingernails biting into my skin, adding just enough pain to the pleasure.
I work Lucas with my mouth as all three of us find a rhythm that works. The pleasure starts to build in me as Matthew thrust and Lucas pulls at my hair and pushes himself further into my throat.
Matthew pulls me close, and I feel him tense and curl over me with the power of his orgasm, I let go of Lucas and throw my head back as my sex tightens around him, drawing him and his seed deeper. He pulls out, and Lucas guides me to roll over on my back. Him and Matthew trade places, but instead of me sucking Matthew, his hands roam and tease my body, drawing whimpers of pleasure from me.
I wrap my legs around Lucas as he plunges into me. I cry out in surprise and lift my hips to meet him. He holds my legs as we work together. My bliss is almost too much as it builds in me and threatens to explode. I close my eyes as my breath comes quicker and Lucas picks up his pace and thrusts in and out of me. Matthew’s hands wander my body, gripping my breasts, pinching my nipples, teasing me. His fingers brush down my body and find my clitoris, stroking it to throw me over the edge.
My orgasm explodes, stealing my breath and making my heart pound. Lucas keeps me in the throes of ecstasy as he thrusts deeply, finding his own release. He pulls out of me and Matthew climbs on to the bed with us. Matthew holds me from the front while Lucas is curled against my back.
I lean my head against Matthew’s shoulder with Lucas’ arm around my waist. My body still shakes with the power of my orgasm, and for a few moments, I forget about the waiting danger of the purge.
CHAPTER SIX
I wake the next morning to shouting and screaming in the marketplace. I throw on my robe and look out the window to see soldiers tearing apart the booths. Women are running as soldiers are trying to grab them. The red jackets on the soldiers catch my attention telling me precisely what is going on. The purge.
I throw on my clothes and run out of my room to find the men. I don’t know what is going on or why it’s happening so quickly, but the shouts outside heighten my anxiety, and my first thought is to hide and not find the others, but I know their priority is the city and to keep me safe.
Antony comes running down the hall. “Go find Lisa in the kitchen, she’ll get you to a safe place.” He urges. “We’re trying to figure out what is going on.”
I rush down the stairs and to the kitchen, just as I hear the front doors of the manor burst open. I try to calm the panic that’s climbing through me. My heart pounds as I try to find Lisa, but she’s gone. A soldier shoves through one of the side doors of the kitchen with Lisa in his grasp.
“Run Bella.” She cries out, and my flight or fight instincts kick in.
I’m not familiar enough with the manor to know where to hide and where is safe, but I dart out of the kitchen. If I could avoid the soldier in the wasteland, I can avoid them here. Survival means leaving people behind. Lisa isn’t a drain on society so the solider won’t keep her. So I hope and so I keep telling myself as I dodge through the mansion finding another door that leads outside.
The alleyway behind the mansion leads to the Main Street where all the chaos is now. I can hear the screaming and yelling of the people around me. I sneak through the city, hiding in vendor stalls and behind boxes, avoiding the soldiers. I can see the gate from where I am, but it is swarming with guards shoving women toward vans and trucks.
I turn and come face to face with Galbraith. My breath catches as he snags the front of my shirt and pulls me to him. “What do we have here?”
I bring my knee up to his stomach, and he jerks with t
he force, letting me go, and I dart out into the panic of the street hoping to avoid him further.
I run into Antony as he’s trying to usher people to safety. He grabs my arm and meets my gaze. “What are you doing out here?”
“Lisa was taken, I had to run.” I try to catch my breath, and he nods, looking over me through the crowd as he sees Galbraith coming our way.
“Shit, get back to the manor. Now. Remember the way?”
I nod, and he shoves me toward a crowd. I squeeze in and disappear with them as they make their way through the city. I jump out of them where I need to to get back to the manor.
The manor is eerily quiet as I approach it. The front doors are still open, and no one is around. No soldiers, no Xavier, Lucas, or Matthew and I assume they are out trying to help with the chaos that the purge is causing. I go back to my room since I know nowhere else to hide.
I quickly slip in and find Lucas sitting on the bed. He turns to face me.
“Oh, thank god, you’re safe.” He walks up to me and pulls me into a tight hug. “We were worried about you. Matthew went to talk to the sergeant, and Xavier went to search for you while Antony is handling the crowd.”
I nod. “I know, he sent me to go find Lisa, but when I got to the kitchen, she was already in the grasp of a soldier. I did what I normally do during the purge. I ran.”
“You can’t leave the manor right now.” He kisses my lips gently. They’ve already searched here, so you’ll be safe if you hear them hide.”
“And where are you going?”
He sighs. “I’m going to go do my job. Just stay here, stay safe.”
I swallow as he disappears out the door and back into the chaos. He was going to go do his job, which meant that he was going to protect who he could and make the choice of who was going to be victim to the purge. The screams and cries grow worse, and I shut the window and the curtains to try and block out some of the sounds.
I hear people downstairs again, and I swallow. I silently pray that they don’t come upstairs to look for me.
“This house has been cleared already.” I hear one of the soldiers say, and then the voices disappear. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding and sit down behind my bed to hide from the view of the door and make sure that I’m below the vantage point of the window as well. I count the minutes and then hours that the chaos ensues down in the city and try not to imagine the women who are being taken.
The cries die down and turn into a few people calling out after a few hours. My heart breaks for those who have been taken, for the children whose mothers have disappeared during the chaos to the parents whose daughters have been taken to God, knows where just because of a demand that the government makes.
A knock on the door has me raising my head from my knees, and I stand when the door opens. Lucas walks in and holds his hand out to me. “It’s over.”
And I’ve survived another purge. I take his hand, and he pulls me close. Holding me tight. I wrap my arms around him and squeeze. His exhausted body leans into me, allowing me to feel the tension of his muscles as he holds me. I don’t dare speak because I feel like he might fall apart if I do. It’s Lucas who shows the most sensitivity to the purge and those affected by it. Antony cares, but he’s very much about the numbers, while Matthew holds everyone together. Xavier seems to goof off, being serious only when he has to, but it’s Lucas who is the sensitive one.
He finally pulls away from me. “We have to go over what’s been done. Do you want to come to the meeting?”
I debate for a moment, but then I remember the conversation that Matthew and I had before. “Yes.”
He wraps his fingers around mine and leads me to the meeting room. We both freeze as Galbraith is standing there. Matthew is less than pleased with his lips in a hard frown. Antony crosses his arms and Xavier tries to give a shake of his head, but it’s too late. The sergeant has already turned around.
He smiles at me. “Hello, scavenger, nice to run into you again.”
My heart drops as I try to think of something to say. My tongue darts out, touching the cut on my lip from when he backhanded me. “Can’t say the same.”
“You’re lucky that the city officials have taken a liking to you.” He stalks towards me, and I step back into Lucas’ arms. He wraps them around me protectively, and for the moment I know that Galbraith can’t touch me.
Galbraith spins around to face the other men. “I’m extending an invite to you all, to join me in Purgatory. You resist, and you fight saying that we don’t need the drugs, that we don’t need to take your women because you can prosper here. It’s time that you learn what happens.” He glances over his shoulder at me. “Including you scavenger. I’m sure you’ll all find it a fascinating visit.”
Everyone’s faces are blank as if they expected him to just announce this. I, on the other hand, am trying to process what he said. Why is he inviting us to where the government sits high on their seats and looks down on the small cities?
“Then we shall make plans to come join you.” Matthew nods. “After we clean up from the purge. We need to take a count of our people and adjust our numbers for food rations and water.”
My heart breaks at the thought of everyone who is gone, but I keep my mouth shut.
“I’d like to stay to see the final numbers. Are you allowing the scavenger to stay and listen in on this?”
“Yes, she has shown interest in how the city is run. Therefore she must be here for the meetings to get that.” Antony chuckles. “She’s strong-willed, and honestly her insights may prove valuable.”
Galbraith sneered. “The only value a woman holds is as a carrier of male offspring.”
I roll my eyes, and Matthew closes his, and I swear he’s offering up a silent prayer that I won’t speak out. I oblige and just take my seat and fold my hands on the table, waiting for the others to sit and join us.
“We need to see what percentage of the female population was rounded up over the last twenty-four hours. Soon the soldiers will have the numbers for us, and we can compare it to our population.” Antony laid out the papers on the table. “Our estimation after seeing the purge is about fifty-five percent.”
Because we didn’t have a chance to protect that extra forty percent that we wanted to. I press my lips together and take a deep breath. There seems to be mourning all around the table. “If that is the case,” Matthew continues, “then the food rations will be bigger as will the water rations, and we’ll be able to survive a couple more years if the government continues to give us the same amount as they have been.” I notice that they are leaving out that the city is basically a self-sustaining ecosystem and that they can survive a few years without government help, but there must be a reason for leaving it out.
“Because of the number of women taken, we’ll be avoiding another purge in the next couple years because our population will not boom as quickly.” Antony tapped his fingers on the table. “So, despite what we’re all feeling, this bigger purge may not be a bad thing.”
I’m not sure how I feel about him at this moment. He’s talking about sending women and children off to an unknown fate. On the one hand I should be appalled, but on the other, it goes back to the idea that sacrificing a few lives could help the greater cause and save more.
There’s a murmur around the table, but I’m not sure that it’s in agreement.
“While we wait for the numbers, let us get started on making plans for you to visit Purgatory.” Galbraith’s eyes land on me and I feel the need to flinch back. “You will be the first officials welcomed into the city to see what goes on behind doors. If you’d like to see the processing of the women from this purge, then you need to make arrangements to travel there within the next couple days.”
I have only traveled by foot with the occasional stowing away on freight trains when I can get away with it. Traveling that far seems almost impossible.
“We can set up train travel to get there,” Matthew says easily. “Shoul
d take us right to the city, yes?”
“And I will meet you there upon your arrival. I suggest that your scavenger is on her best behavior or she might just end up as a processed female.” There’s something feral in his eyes as he looks over at me.
I sit up tall and meet his gaze. He doesn’t scare me, I know how to play by rules, I know that I’m willing to do what I have to to survive. Disappointment crosses his face, and I wonder if it’s because I haven’t given him the reaction that he wants.
There’s a knock at the door, and Xavier stands to answer it. A soldier walks in and hands Galbraith a sheet of paper. He passes it to Antony after a quick look. Antony sighs and lets Matthew see it. “Forty percent.”
Not one of those women managed to escape or hide. I swallow and stand. “If you would excuse me.”
“Can’t take it, scavenger? Feel guilty that you weren’t shoved into one of the vans or the trucks?” Galbraith asks.
I close my eyes. “Survivor’s guilt is a real thing, and I’ve had it each and every time I’ve survived a purge.”
I leave it at that and walk out. I go to the bathroom intending on drawing myself a bath to try and wipe my anger and grief out. I walk in, and to my surprise, Lisa is in there putting up fresh towels.
My heart jumps, and I run to hug her. She wraps me in her arms and smiles. “Don’t worry, I’m too old for them to take, they only take the younger ones.” She winks at me. “Plus let’s face it, Xavier, Antony, Matthew, and Lucas would all be lost without me.”
I’m so grateful that she’s still there that it lifts my spirits a little bit. “The purge happened early.”
“Yes, it did, and I feel like it will continue this way every year until something is done about it. There’s nothing we really can do though, not now, not until we know exactly what the government is doing to the women.” She glances at me. “I’ll get you a warm bath drawn, you go get yourself some clean clothes.”