Bad for You

Four

S he sleeps like the dead. And perhaps she wishes she was.

I don’t know what she’s endured, but I know it’s bad. I know she’s broken, and I don’t think she’ll ever heal. But she isn’t a victim. She has fire behind her eyes, and one day, I have no doubt that fire will burn this kingdom to the ground.

And I can’t wait to be by her side when she does.

I don’t understand why I feel this urgent need to protect her. It was there from the moment I saw her. Perhaps it’s because I see myself in her in the sense we are both broken, lost, and alone. But we don’t allow that to define us because we fight.

We fight because there must be more to life than…this.

Valentina…such a strange name for an extraordinary girl.

She said we’re getting out of here. But how?

Regardless, I believe her.

The latch door opens, and without thought, I turn my back toward Valentina, standing between her and whoever creeps into her room in the early hours of the morning before the sun has even risen. She’s been out cold for hours, but the moment the hinges on the door whine, the sound startles her awake.

I look over my shoulder and see her spring up and scamper across the mattress and into the corner of the room with her back pressed to the wall. Her eyes are wide. Her mouth agape as she gasps for air. She hides behind her long brown hair.

What the fuck happened to her?

When Father Merry appears at the top of the ladder, Valentina’s whimpers hint that he is what happened to her.

I’m going to rip off his arms and beat him to death with them.

I give him a fright as he clearly was expecting her to be alone, but I stand my ground, arms folded, daring him to do his best because he won’t hurt Valentina ever again. He composes himself as he lifts himself into the room.

“It is forbidden for you to be in here,” he scolds, his beady little eyes narrowing.

“Same goes for you, asshole. The church is thataway.” I hook my thumb over my shoulder. “Did you get lost?”

“I don’t suppose you know anything about Hugo being attacked?”

“Nope,” I reply, my gaze never wavering. “When you find out who did it, let me know so I can give them a high five.”

“You are nothing but a sinner!” he bellows, charging forward.

I don’t move, however, and when he comes to a stop inches away, I hear Valentina whimper.

He peers over my shoulder at her, which pisses me off.

“Hey, don’t look at her,” I warn, standing tall because I’m bigger than him. “Look at me.”

“You’re both sinners,” he sneers, eyes still locked on her. “I should punish you both.”

“For what?” I challenge. When he continues eyeballing her, I shift, shielding her with my form.

“I can guess what you were doing up here. You’re nothing but a temptress, young lady,” he says, and I suddenly know why Valentina is so scared of him.

And that’s the reason I don’t even think twice before I headbutt Father Merry in the face.

His nose squelches as he drops to the floor, howling in pain.

I grip him by the shirt and get into his face. “Listen here, you disgusting fuck, you will never talk, you will never look at her ever again. Got it?”

Father Merry simply snickers. “Who do you think you are? I will have you both thrown into solitary so you can repent for your sins.”

It seems Father Merry isn’t listening. So I headbutt him once again. The force snaps his neck backward since I’m still holding his shirt.

His head lolls to the side as I drag him inches away from my face. “I said, got…it?”

Bloody foam bubbles gather at the creases of his mouth as he tries to speak. But I grip his chin and force his head up and down.

“Good dog,” I taunt, shoving him backward.

He falls onto his back, eyeing me something wicked. However, he knows better than to get up. He stays down, but I know this is the beginning of the end. If we don’t get out of here like Valentina said, then we’re about to suffer in ways unimaginable.

The gentle patter of feet across the cold floor calms me somewhat. Valentina is the only person who has that effect on me. She stands by me, peering down at Father Merry. I wonder what she sees.

She slowly turns to look at me and does something that surprised yet excited me when we were in the bathroom. Reaching up, she runs her thumb from the top of my eyebrow, over my eye, which I close, and down my cheek.

She pulls her thumb away, colored red from Father Merry’s blood.

“I like this face best,” she says in a dreamy voice.

“I do too. This face will always be yours,” I reveal, wanting her to know that I’ll always protect her no matter what happens.

She smiles, but that soon becomes a scowl when she gazes at Father Merry.

“One day, I’ll come back for you. I don’t know when. But I promise you will pay for everything you’ve done.”

Father Merry backs away on his elbows as she casually walks toward him. He doesn’t have a chance to flee before she kicks him in the ribs, winding him. She kicks him again and again, not holding back.

I see something change in her.

The shy, meek mouse is no more.

Valentina has found the killer within. Perhaps, that’s the reason we have bonded this way—because we are one and the same.

We both feel alive in the bloodshed.

The final kick to Father Merry’s face renders him unconscious.

She peers down at him, her pouty lip upturned. “Amen.”

She spits on him before turning to me, her eyes alight. She knows that we cannot kill him up here. Too many questions will be asked.

I doubt Father Merry will tell anyone what happened because Valentina has someone on her side for once—she has me. And Father Merry knows that I will ensure everyone knows what a sick bastard he really is.

So he will lick his wounds in private.

Valentina takes one final look at the place she called home before descending the stairs. I follow, and when we’re in the hallway, I take her hand and lead her to my room.

It’s so quiet. Everyone is still asleep. It’s my favorite time. I don’t do people, so it’s in the silence in which I feel most at ease. Valentina’s hand is still in mine, and when I enter my dormitory, I head straight for my single bed.

The boys are sleeping soundly. Must be nice. I don’t know what it’s like to sleep without waking in a cold sweat, thanks to the soundtrack stuck on repeat of the screams of your parent burning alive waking you every goddamn night.

But I shake the memory from my mind because I have other pressing matters to deal with. The only source of light I have is the morning sun rising from behind the clouds, but it’s enough. I reach into the pillowcase and am relieved that he’s still here.

“Valentina, meet Cat. Cat, meet Valentina.” I offer the white kitten to Valentina, but she suddenly looks afraid. “What’s the matter?”

“I-I don’t know how to hold him. What if I hurt him?”

“You won’t.”

Before she can question herself further, I gently place the kitten into her hands and coax her to hold him. A gasp leaves her as she peers up at me with those piercing blue eyes.

“He’s so soft.”

From her reaction, I guess she’s never pet a cat before. I’m glad I was able to change that.

She strokes his fur, holding him close to her chest in a tight embrace. “I’m glad I saw you,” she confesses guiltily.

“I am too.”

She intrigued me from the moment I saw her because I wondered who the girl was, locked away in the attic like a princess in a tower. But Valentina is far from a damsel in distress.

She’s slayed her own dragons like the warrior princess she is.

“Can we keep him?”

“Of course we can. You can change his name if you like?”

She mulls over my comment before shaking her head. “I like Cat.”

I do too.

There’s nothing I want to take with me, so I bid farewell to a place that was never a home and only hope that wherever we’re going will be better than here.

We wait in the dining room, but for what, I don’t know. But I trust Valentina, and if she said we’re getting out of here, then we’re getting out of here. She sits still, patting Cat softly. But I know there is so much going on behind those curious eyes.

We both hear the squeaking of someone’s shoes on the linoleum.

Valentina sits upright, watching the doorway intently. But who she sees has her frowning.

One of the sisters is following a tall man. He wears a suit and is groomed immaculately. When he sees Valentina and me, he nods.

“Let’s go.”

That’s it.

He doesn’t explain where we’re going. Or who he is. Just that we’re to follow and no isn’t an option.

“Where’s Aldo?” Valentina asks, and I assume that’s the person who is supposed to save us from this shithole.

The man doesn’t reply.

The sister clutches the silver crucifix around her neck. She doesn’t have a say in any of this, and I guess she’s worried about what Father Merry will say because she didn’t seek his permission. He’s probably still down for the count.

I don’t know who this man is, but going with him is a far better option than staying here, so I stand. He doesn’t seem the type who appreciates small talk, so I simply wait for further instruction.

“Come now. She waits,” the man says. “My name is Franklin.”

“Who is she ?” Valentina stubbornly argues. “Aldo said he would come.”

Franklin peers down his nose at Valentina, clearly annoyed by her rebellion. “I will not ask again.”

Before she can protest, I gently cup her elbow and coax her to stand. She allows me to guide her, but I can see her apprehension. We follow Franklin while the sister crosses herself.

I wonder why.

It’s like a death march as the sisters who are awake at this ungodly hour stand on the sidelines, watching us as we walk toward the front door. A look of fear mars their faces. I wonder just what awaits us outside these prison walls.

They appear anxious, and I know that’s because Father Merry isn’t here. Will they be punished for this? I hope so. I hope they never forget Valentina because she deserves to be remembered forever.

The door buzzes open, and I follow Franklin through it but stop when I don’t hear Valentina follow.

Turning over my shoulder, I see she’s stopped dead in her tracks, clutching Cat to her chest. She appears afraid.

“What if it’s worse out there than it is in here?”

I take a moment to ponder her question because we’re literally walking into the unknown.

Valentina doesn’t seem to know this man, so we’re putting our faith in a stranger. He’s not made his intentions clear. But I know for certain that there is no place worse than here.

“Then we fight together,” I finally reply, offering her my hand.

She licks her trembling lips.

I don’t pity her because I know she would hate such a thing, but I hate that she thinks being locked away in here is a better alternative than living.

She meets my eyes, and all I see is trust in hers as she slowly slips her hand into mine.

I lead her from this hell on earth, and the moment the cool morning breeze slaps our cheeks, I tip my face to the heavens and smile.

We’re finally free.