18- Cut The Knife

Tears instantly fled my eyes as she held up the needle. "Breaking the rules, being disrespectful, and most importantly, learning a lesson." Ms. Selma showed the audience, everyone was clapping their hands, ready to see me in pain. "Girls, it's time. Sew this child's mouth shut, and make it as painful as possible." The two girls came out, they had long, light blue gowns on. "Don't disappointed me." They both nodded their heads, taking the needle and thread from her hand.

"I'll start," the first little girl snickered, piercing the needle. My eyes watered, but I managed to stay calm. With each puncture, I closed my eyes tightly; the thread making my lip raw. Holding back the pain and the screams I wanted to come out, all I was thinking of was Nate. He was so strong. As the last piece of thread ran through my lip, I felt instant relief. I laid my head on my shoulder, Ms. Selma nudged my arm. "You think we're done, little girl? The fun has just begun."

Pouring alcohol on my head, it seeped into my wounds. My muffled screams made all the kids laugh, Nate turned away. He couldn't stand me in pain, and I didn't blame him.

Holding on, the pain was becoming unbearable. As I opened my eyes, I lost consciousness, the chair fell to its side.

"Oh, Nicole, couldn't handle the pain?" One of the little girls giggled, her voice echoing in my head. As I start to regain consciousness, Ms. Selma pushed the chair back up. Olivia was staring at me, she had a smug grin across her face. "You're up, Olivia." Now I knew why, she was the next one to punish. She nodded her head, "it's a honor, I won't disappoint you." Handing Olivia a long machete, she grasps it tightly.

Gently lining the knife across my neck, she comes closer to me. "It'll all be over soon," she whispers in my ear. I started to feel like I was her bait, like her and Ms. Selma teamed up to kill me. I tried to break free from the rope tied around me, but it was no use. It was too tight, and I was extremely weak. "Please, don't kill me," my muffled voice screamed. The expression on her face showed me she didn't care, and struggling to escape wasn't doing any good. As Olivia raises the knife above her head, I bow mine.

If I was going to die, I didn't want to know when she'd stab me. Waiting on the blow to my body, I realized it wasn't going to happen. As I looked up, something heavy hits the floor. Ms. Selma laid there, holding her chest. She starts to crawl toward Olivia, yelling about how she thought she could trust her "I should've drowned you while I had the chance," she yelled, laying in a pool of blood. Taking her last breath, I took a deep breath, knowing I could finally escape. "I told you, it would be over soon." She says, cutting the ropes off me. Picking up the bloody knife from the floor, I cut a string from the stitches.

Pulling the thread, my mouth bled with every tug I suffered through. Nate runs up to me, hugging me tightly. "Buddy, let's get out of here." Nate nods in agreement, holding my hand. As I turn, the children were all staring, their faces expressionless. "You're not going anywhere, we won't let you." Holding the machete tightly, I shield Nate and Olivia. "Stay away, I will use this." I yelled, backing away from the kids. "May she be with us, may these sacrifices work." I nod my head, hoping this was all a nightmare. "Be our guests, we just want to kill you."

"Nicole!" I heard Mary, she was being dragged away by the other children. Leaping into the crowd, I kick one of the kids in the face, "follow Olivia." I yell, following behind her. As we escaped the building, we all pushed the metal benches against the door. Yelling, screaming, scratching at the door, I knew it wasn't going to hold for long. "Hurry, down here!" Olivia guides us through the secret passage underneath the jungle gym. We all huddle together, watching the lock. "What's the plan?" I ask, Olivia shrugs her shoulders.

"Staying alive is our only plan, our only way to finally escape." Looking at Olivia's zip line, I start explaining the plan in my mind. Everyone agrees immediately, we didn't have another choice. All of us snuck out, climbing on the roof. "Little ones, you're up first." Tying a rope around Nates body, I kiss his cheek. "Go, get help. I'll be there soon." He nods, pushing himself into the air. Landing into the bushes, he stands up and waves, letting us know it worked. Getting Mary to safety, Olivia looked worried. "What about you?"

I shrug my shoulders, "don't worry about me, I'll wait for help." She nods her head, launching to safety. After everyone left for help, the children broke free. I smile, watching the demonic children run around, knowing they couldn't catch them. At least they were safe, and the children didn't know where I was. I lay down and look at the sky, purple and blue clouds pass as the sun starts to go down, it was peaceful. Closing my eyes, I listened to the footsteps beneath me, it was like music to my ears. The pitter patter of their feet made me happy.

I started to think about Nate, and if he was safe. I hoped he'd find help soon, I was missing him. "She saved them," I heard a small voice say by the window, "where is she?" A raspy voice responded, I was no longer smiling. "She must've escaped with the others, we can't find her." I nod my head, hoping they'd believe the girl. "Attention!" The raspy voice yelled. "I believe the sacrifice is still on the grounds, the contraption they used couldn't carry them all." I face palmed, knowing he knew something. "Find who it is, we need a sacrifice."

Crawling as far away from the window as possible, I lay on my side and watch the kids make another round. It was never ending, several groups came in and out of the house; and I was scared I was going to be found.