'What about the cannibal's boss?' Cyrus asked nervously.
'Get them in the dining room, we'll talk to them,' I told him. I hurried down the dining room, I needed to keep the cannibal's on side if I had any hopes of getting Maggie back. I took a seat at the head of the table, as the rest of my men and the cannibal's took their seats.
'So what do we do now, we want the food you promised,' the cannibal's leader said hungrily. Alfie was a tall, older man, in his late fifties. He had long white hair, that fell to his waist, his matching beard was the same length. His face was sullen and pale, his pale brown eyes stared blankly ahead. He was as slender as he was tall. All of his people shared that same hungry, primitive look, their eyes only lighting up at the prospect of food.
'We've got a plan, but we'll need your help to orchestrate it,' I told him calmly.
'We want food,' one his men muttered licking his lips. 'Easy, Bart. We'll get our food, one way or the other,' Alfie told him. I didn't like the tone of his voice, I knew that if we didn't get them what they wanted Alfie would have his men eat us. I smiled to myself thinking that they'd never stand a chance against us, but still I needed to keep them on side for now as we couldn't take Sanctuary without them.
'There's an army base a few hours from here, assuming no one's touched it, there should be a shit load of weapons there. With guns, we'll take Sanctuary with no trouble,' I replied smiling.
'How long do we have to wait?' Alfie asked.
'Not long, just long enough for me to find the rest of my men and get them ready.' Just then we heard screams from outside, I jumped up weapon in hand, and raced to the front doors. I opened the door to find the remainder of the cannibal's running towards the gate, they were holding on to a woman who at first glance I didn't recognise, but as they neared I saw who it was. Jade, the woman I'd let go. Of all the people, she would know where Maggie was.
'Get her in here, now!' I shouted at them. As they tried to pull Jade towards the gate, I saw a large group of people running after them. I recognised some of the others from the battle at my compound, the tall, pale, red haired girl was one of them. A tall blond-haired girl raced to the cannibal's and stabbed one in back, he let out a loud scream as he fell to the floor. Jade used this chance to kick her captors and make a break for it, she ran into the arms of young boy that I knew was Maggie's brother. It was only because he was her blood family that I didn't kill him myself.
As I watched those people fight with the cannibal's, I remembered, what I still had after all these years, I'd not used it since the day all this began. I shouted at Maddox to go and get my bag, and told the rest of my men to go out there and capture Jade.
I watched as my men ran towards the group of cannibal's, trying to intercept the women. I stood watching, waiting for Maddox to return. Now as the woman I loved had been torn away from me, I would do anything to get her back. I'd show these people that I meant business.
'Here it is,' Maddox said a few minutes later. I took out the gun, it still had three bullets left inside. I saw the woman who'd taken my Maggie, the tall, golden haired girl. I would kill her for destroying my world. I saw that some of my men had grabbed hold of Jade again and were trying to pull her back.
I took aim making sure I had a clear shot.
'He's got a gun!' The golden hair girl shouted. In the panic they all ducked, but the red headed girl grabbed Jade and pulled her from the clutches of my allies. I felt the fury rise within me, at every turn they thwarted my plan to get Maggie back, well no more. I raised my gun, aiming it so I'd get an upper torso shot. I wanted her to turn, I wanted her family to see her turn, for them to feel even an ounce of what I'd felt since losing Maggie.
I stood smiling as I watched them try to run, I fired the gun looking proudly at the carnage that I'd created. I let out a laugh, and walked towards the gate to collect my prize. They fled, screaming, tears spilling down their faces while the girl Id shot slumped to the ground.
I waited a few moments before walking over to the long haired girl, I wanted her family to believe she was dead, so that when I paraded her in front of her people it be that much more heartbreaking for them.
I looked down at the girl on the floor, she lay there eyes open in fear. I knew now, that if I wanted to get Maggie back I would to up my game. I'd have to truly make these people fear me. I knelt down beside her and whispered, 'I'm going to fuck you till your raw, then Ill find your bitch girlfriend and screw her while you watch. When I'm finished with the pair of you, I'll let you turn and hang your bodies from the gates of Sanctuary.'
If it meant getting Maggie back, I would do that one thing I swore I wouldn't. The scary thing was, as I thought it, I didn't feel a thing. The girl said nothing as I ordered my men to tie this one up, she struggled as they did but in her injured condition she couldn't put up much of a fight. I noticed how quiet she was being, no doubt she also wanted them to think she was dead so that they wouldn't come looking for her.
Despite all the awful things I'd done, I have never truly become a monster like most of my men but that day I let go of whatever remaining morals I had left.
Chapter 14
Frankie
The memories came flooding back, as my family pulled me away from my love. I could still see the day we met in my mind, before then I was just a meek little kid whose life was surprisingly ordinary.
I was just sitting in the park, writing in my journal as sun shone down on an unusually warm September day. I was wearing my favourite pair of royal blue jeans, aqua blue one sleeved top and my black steel toe capped boots. I wore my hair in long braids, even back then I kept my hair long the braids fell half way down my back. I wore no make up, I never did.
I was just sitting there minding my own business when a bunch arseholes from my school stared on me. Dylan grabbed my journal from me and began reading aloud passages from it.
Dylan was a tall pimply boy with short chestnut brown hair and pale blue eyes, he often bullied people and could usually found tormenting the lower class men at our school.
'Oh how I wish I could leave this dreary place, I know there has to be so much out there than this,' he said mockingly.
'Hey, give that back back!' I shouted.
'You want it, come and get it,' he replied throwing it to Paul.
Paul was a short fat kid with greasy black hair and dark brown eyes, he was a part of Dylan's little gang and loved nothing more than picking on those who couldn't defend themselves. I got up and tried to take my journal back from him, but he pushed me away causing me to fall into a puddle. Mud splashed all over my jeans, ruining them. I felt the tears stinging my eyes but refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing my hurt, but somehow they sensed my pain.
'Aww, look at the little girl, she's going to cry,' Rachael mocked laughing. Rachael was by far the worst bully, she tormented those who she considered 'ugly' or 'vulnerable' and she took great pleasure in it. She was a tall slender girl with a naturally bronze complexion, long poker straight golden blond hair and baby blue eyes.
No spot ever dared mar her skin and she wore the fashionable and expensive clothes.
I tried to get up out of the puddle but Rachael shoved me back down.
'Stay in the dirt, its where you belong,' she sneered.
'Oh look here's another entry, and it's about you Rach,' Paul said laughing. 'Oh yeah, and what the little baby have to say about me?' She asked curiously. I knew if he read that passage out loud I'd be done for, somehow my parents knew her parents and I happened to know that Rachael's dad had lost his job and they were weeks away from losing their house. If Rachael found out that I knew, she'd beat me bloody.
Luckily for me someone came to my rescue, I heard them before I saw them. 'Oi you lot, why don't you pick on someone your own size,' a loud voice bellowed. I looked up to see their startled faces, through the crowd I could see a face, a face more beautiful than any I'd ever seen. She was a tall pale girl with long flaming red hair and eyes of meadow green. She marc
h up to the jeering group and shoved Paul out of the way while grabbing my journal out of his hands.
'And who the hell are you?' Rachael demanded.
'Let's just say I'm a friend, and I don't like when people bully my friends,' the girl answered fiercely.
'Well tough luck, coz we're not done with her yet and anyone who gets in our way is gonna get it.' The girl simply smiled as she walked up to Rachael and gave her a good slap, that was hard enough to send her flying. The rest of the bullies looked at each other and fled, leaving Rachael on the floor by herself.
'Now get lost, before I do some real damage,' the girl smiled.
'You'll regret this, I'll get you and your little baby friend,' Rachael shouted as she fled.
The girl shook her head as she held out her hand and pulled me up.
'Thank you,' I said graciously.
'No problem, I just hate bullies. Oh, I'm Nikkita by the way,' she smiled happily.
'I-I'm Frankie,' I told her.
And on that day I truly became myself, as of that day I was Frankie the real Frankie.
I snapped back to reality, knowing that I would never see her again.
'No, I won't leave her,' I screamed and cried as they dragged me away.
'She's gone, there's nothing we can do for her now,' Tamara said crying.
I screamed and struggled against them, I fought to get free of their grips. I couldn't leave her, I wouldn't, she was going to turn and I couldn't let her become one of those things. 'No, I won't let her turn,' I cried. I fell to the floor, tears streaming down my eyes. We were barely ten minutes from the castle, but I couldn't hold on, she was my life, my love and now she was gone. Because of that bastard, I would kill him even if I died in process, I would end him.
'Frankie, come on we need to go,' Jade told me softly.
'No I can't, just leave me here please,' I begged them.
'Don't be stupid lass, we'll not be leaving you. Now move,' Tamara almost shouted. I lay on the ground, just crying, wailing, I'd only just found her, how could she be gone? I pounded the floor, I felt beyond sad, beyond angry, it was as though my very soul had been destroyed. I kept on hitting the floor, until my fists were raw and bloody. This was too much, how could the universe do this to me? To bring her back only to take her away again, it was beyond cruel.
'No, I won't let him get away with this,' I screamed as I jumped up and ran back to the castle. Before I could get too far, I felt someone's arms around me, pulling me to the floor. My face slammed into the cold, hard ground. I felt the blood pour from my nose but I didn't care, I had to get up, I had to kill him. I tried my hardest to get free, but the arms around me kept a tight hold. I was pulled round so I could see who had hold of me, it was Jensen who held me down, but in his eyes wasn't anger, it was sadness, and pain. As I looked into those green eyes, I knew that despite my leaving he still loved me. For a moment I stopped feeling angry, I just let the tears fall as I clung to him.
'She can't be gone,' I cried clutching his shirt.
He held me in arms, stroking my hair, doing his best to comfort me in my darkest hour.
'Shh it's alright, it's going to be okay. I'm here,' he said gently.
'It's all my fault, if I'd just sent her away, she'd still be alive,' I wailed.
'No Frankie, it's not your fault,' he replied softly.
He lifted my head so that I looked into his eyes, there was only kindness and gentleness in them.
'She loved you, and coming from someone who loves you as well, I know she'd rather have had a little time with you, than none at all,' he smiled and for just a moment I felt a little better. If there was anyone who could understand Nikkita's feelings for me, it was Jensen. When I'd first met him, I thought him nothing more than a simple teenage boy. Yet looking at him now, I saw the man hidden beneath. I saw his bravery, his kindness, his love and loyalty. Still holding on to him, I walked back to the cars. I didn't want to be alone, and it seemed that in my hardest moments, the only person who could help me was Jensen.
I slept for the entirety of the journey back to Sanctuary. I woke to find myself in a strange bed. I bolted upright, feeling fearful that I was alone. I felt in my belt, to find my knife where I'd left it. I pulled it out and crept to the door, I heard voices coming from downstairs. Thankfully they were the voices of my family, I couldn't help but listen in.
'Do you think she'll be alright?' Jade asked.
'She needs time, this isn't something she can just be okay with,' Jensen replied.
'Aye, she's a tough lass, but this will have done a number on her emotionally and mentally,' Tamara told them.
'I think she needs you at the moment,' Jade said.
'I'm just afraid, I don't want her to mistake my caring for something else. I still love her, but right now I just want to be there for her,' Jensen replied softly. He could be so daft sometimes, I knew him well enough to know he would never make a move on me at a time like this. I felt the tears sting my eyes, even after I'd left him, without saying goodbye he still loved me, still wanted to take care of me.
'Just do what you can lad, she needs you now. Can I ask what on earth we're going to do about Izzy? She damn near killed you Jade,' Tamara said a little too loudly.
Wait, what? Izzy had tried to kill Jade? This was news to me.
'That's not up to me, we're part of this community now. Vera will decide,' Jade told them.
'I just can't believe she did that,' Finn piped up.
'Me neither, in a way its a good thing those cannibal's got hold of me, otherwise I wouldn't be alive.'
Just then I heard a knock at the door.
'Tessa, Brooke what's up?' Finn asked.
'Vera wants you in the war room,' Brooke said nervously.
'How's Frankie doing?' Tessa asked kindly.
'She's still sleeping, poor thing she slept all night,' Tamara replied.
I put my knife back in my belt and padded downstairs, they all turned to me as I entered the living room. I was stunned by the sight of Jade's face, it was badly bruised and swollen.
'Hey,' I said quietly.
'How you feeling?' Jade asked kindly.
'Hungry,' I replied.
'It's a little late, but I'll get you some food, be right back,' Tessa smiled. I sat down next to Jensen on the sofa, I felt shaky and nervous. I didn't know anyone else here, I didn't feel at home here. I smiled at the blond girl as she turned to walk out the door. The older dark haired woman who stood inside introduced herself, 'I'm Brooke by the way and that was Tessa.'
'Nice to meet you,' I replied smiling weakly.
After Brooke left, Jade told me that she was going to head over to Vera's to hear Izzy's fate. I decided to ask the others what had happened.
'It's because of me,' Maggie mumbled unhappily.
'It's not your fault Hayley died, so stop blaming yourself,' Tamara scolded her.
I gave them all a confused look, clearly I'd missed some stuff while being asleep.
'Izzy blamed Jade for Hayley dying. The way she sees it is that if Jade hadn't gone with Nathaniel's group to be with Maggie then she could have gone with Hayley and saved her,' Finn told me sadly.
'But to try and kill her, in the midst of a battle no less,' I was shocked, I knew Izzy wasn't the most rational of people but I never though she'd do something like this.
'Tell me about it, she kidnapped Jade, beat her and then tied her to the pier left her for dead,' Tamara told me angrily.
'Fuck, is Jade alright?' I asked worryingly.
'She's a little battered but other than that she seems alright,' Jensen replied.
We sat for a few minutes not saying anything, I felt lost and empty. I was in a strange place and didn't know how to begin to process all of this.
'Do you need anything lass?' Tamara asked breaking the silence.
'No I'm fine, I just want to keep busy,' I told her.
'Why don't you come on the run with us,' Finn offered.
'What run?' I asked confuse
d.
Before he could answer the others gave him a look and shook their heads, oh great now they were going to treat me as if I were an invalid.
'I'm not sure she's up to that yet,' Tamara said.
'I'm not going to have a nervous breakdown. I'm perfectly capable of going on a run,' I told them fiercely.
'We didn't mean anything by it, we just think you should take it easy,' Tamara replied. 'No, I want to keep busy,' I argued. 'Alright if that's what you want, we're going back to the Isle of Skye to get the rest of the people that were there,' Jensen answered softly.
I felt my blood boil, they were going to welcome in the people who'd given Nikkita and I up!
'What! You mean to tell me, you're going to roll out the welcome mat for the people who gave us up,' I shouted.
'Hey, listen to me. You saw what those men did, they nearly killed a toddler. You can't blame them for protecting their own,' Finn reasoned.
'Hell yes I blame them,' I yelled. I stormed back upstairs not wanting to continue this conversation, how could they help those people? If they hadn't given us up, we could have escaped, Nikkita might not have died. I sat on the bed, fists clenched, tears pouring down my face. I brushed my golden hair out of my face, it was too long now. I went into the bathroom, frantically searching the draws and cupboards. I found some scissors in the cupboard, I closed the door and looked at myself in the mirror. My face was still as pale as ever, my eyes were red and tear stained. My hair was far too long, it came to my waist. Nikkita never wanted me to cut it, but now she was gone. I pulled my hair round, holding it in my hands, I cut a large chunk of it off. I kept cutting it, until it barely reached my chin. I made sure it was even, I looked in the mirror to find that I actually liked it.
I walked back downstairs feeling calmer than I did earlier, I still didn't want to help those people but I needed to get out. I couldn't just sit around and do nothing. I could hear them talking, when I walked in they all stared at me. I smiled and sat down.
'You cut your hair,' Jensen said in shock.
'It l-looks nice,' Tamara stammered.
Dead World Rising Page 14