Page 18 of Eat Me

“Just forget it.” I don’t want to be a part of this conversation anymore. I know with how she’s acting, anything I say would end up in an argument.

“I bet you’re not even in the same situation as us. You seem close to those guys... are you a part of the test?” Amber snaps, eyes almost glowing in rage.

“You have to be fucking kidding me…” The words left my lips before I can stop them. This girl is something else. I’m shocked at her comment because I’m quite literally in the same situation as her. To insinuate I’m working with these psychotic people is low. I walked closer to the group, my body tense with anger.

“I am not with them. I am here trying to survive, the same as you. I'm sorry if I don’t want to go through with something so stupid that it could cost me my life,” I snarl. I’m not above hitting her even if we are doing a so-called ‘test’. I don’t give a fuck.

“Then help us, or you’re being a stupid sheep by not doing anything,” Amber spits out. Taking a step closer, we’re almost standing toe-to-toe. She’s so close I can see the small freckles on her cheeks.

“No. I’m not going to help you. I'm following‘directions’this time. I want to survive and no offense but helpingyouwon’t helpME,survive. I’m not going to jeopardize my life by helping any of you.” I tell her, glancing at every one of them.

“Do what you want… just leave me out of it.” I didn’t yell, but I came close to it. Just because they’re scared doesn’t mean I’m going to let them walk all over me. I left the years of being walked over behind me and I’m not going to let this situation change that. All the girls stay silent. I turn my back and make my way back to the corner away from the girls.

As I’m almost back to the corner I hear movement behind me– thenpain. Black dots dance across my eyes as I stumble forward, my arms reaching out to prepare myself to fall, but end up leaning against the wall. It takes me a minute to get my bearings before I’m able to stand straight and let my hand go to the side of my head. I can feel something warm running down.

Blood.

Turning around and looking at one of the girls, Jennifer, is looking at me with an expression of surprise. There’s a half-broken vase still clutched in her hand.

“What the fuck was that for?” I yell, my temper is now in full effect. I can still feel the blood running down from the side of my head. The small stream is making its way down the side of my face and neck. She smashed the fucking vase on the left side of my temple.

“I was just trying to knock you out! If there is a chance, you’re working with them it would be better to have you knocked out,” Jennifer speaks in a panic, letting the other half of the vase drop out of her hand. She takes a few steps back, so she’s standing by Cami who’s brown eyes are wide looking at Jennifer in complete shock.

“Fuck you and fuck off. If you try anything else, I’ll make sure you don’t walk away with just an injury… you’ll need a fucking body bag,” I snarled. I’m still a bit unsteady on my feet and I can still see black spots. The bitch has an arm on her, that was for sure.

“It works in the movies. People get knocked out by them all the time!” Jennifer looks to the other three girls, as if looking for support.

“Why don’t you just go back to your corner,” Amy spoke, coming forward and pushing Jennifer over to where Amber is. I give them all a dirty look.

“I was doing that before someone decided to try something stupid.” I snap out, trying to get my body to listen to me. Taking a deep breath, I force myself to calm down. I really want to hit Jennifer, but know I’m outnumbered right now. I also don’t have the extra energy to physically fight right now.

“Just stay away from me and we will be fine.” Moving further away from them, I lean my back against the wall, and let myself slide down to the floor. I'll just sit here, as I can see the rest of the room and what they were doing. Learning not to turn my back with any of them around was a painful lesson. I’d rather be safe than sorry.

I don’t have any allies here, but a deep part of me… adarkpart, hoped none of these girls passed the test. I didn’t want to have to deal with them if I survived this.

Chapter Sixteen

Victoria

Ikeep my eyes on the other girls as they frantically search the room for any possible way out. Amber is still cursing up a storm as she yanks on the boarded-up windows, trying to pry the wood off with her bare hands. Jennifer and Cami are examining the large machine in the corner, debating if they can use it to break down the door somehow. Amy’s pacing anxiously, wiggling her hands while muttering to herself.

My head is throbbing where Jennifer hit me with the vase. The bleeding has mostly stopped, but I can feel dried blood caked on the side of my face. I chose to stay alert, not trusting any of them to not try something else stupid.

"This is pointless!" Amber finally screams, kicking a wall in frustration. "There's no way out of this fucking room!"

"Maybe we should just wait like Victoria said," Cami suggests. I watch as Amber whirls around to glare at Cami, her face flushed with anger.

"Are you fucking kidding me? You want to just sit here and do nothing while those psychos decide what to do with us next?" Amber snarls.

Cami flinches back, adjusting her glasses nervously. "I-I just think maybe we shouldn't make them angry..."

"Oh, so you're a coward too," Amber spats as she storms over to where I’m sitting, pointing an accusing finger at me. "This is all your fault! You've got them all too scared to even try to escape!"

I stare up at her coldly. "I haven't done anything except try to survive. If you want to throw yourself at locked doors and barred windows, be my guest. But leave me the fuck out of your tantrum.”

Amber's face contorts in rage, her pink hair almost sparking with the heat of her anger. "You little bitch!" She lunges at me, hands outstretched as if to grab my throat.

I was ready for her this time and as she reaches for me, I kick out hard, catching her in the stomach. She lets out a whoosh of air and stumbles backwards.

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