A Bittersweet Memory

"Where are you going in such a hurry little siren?" His voice made my skin crawl. I backed away from Joth slowly, my face having connected with his chest. Quick as lightning, he snaked his fingers around my wrist, squeezing the cuts there. I winced. William saved the day, coming from behind me and putting his hand on Joth's arm.

"We have orders to go down to the administration room. We are expected at a certain time today, but I'm sure I can explain to the Director why we were late." He said calmly. I peered at Joth over William's shoulder. His face was full of rage, starting from his neck working its way up until it was practically dripping off of him in waves. William had worked his way between us to block my body, but Joth still had a firm hold on my wrist. He squeezed me tighter until I yelped and crashed into William trying to free myself. Then he let go and stepped aside as if to prove a silent point. I knew what it was all too well. The message was not to fuck with him. William reached for me and hugged me against his hip, opposite of the vile man. He didn't let go until we were already out of the stairwell and down the hall a ways. I stole a glance at his face and found his expression hard as stone. Silence engulfed us for the rest of our walk and I let my eyes stay focused on the floor in front of my shoes. When we reached the door to the administration room, I pulled at his tank top and he stopped to look down at me.

"Thank you." I whispered. I couldn't tell him how much it had meant to me to have someone stick up for me when I couldn't do the same for myself. The words simply barricaded themselves in my throat. I couldn't be strong, no matter how much I tried. I stared at the floor, willing myself to be anywhere but there. Warm fingers covered my hand, still clutching his shirt. I doubt they were meant to be comforting, and yet in a small way, they did exactly that. I let go and he opened the door, letting me in first. The room was bustling, full of excitement as people raced around filing envelopes and handing propositions and other paperwork around to be poured over. As we entered, the bustle stopped and I could feel their beady little eyes blasting holes into my body. I had never been popular in this room, but now that Joth wasn't here to mediate, I was current enemy number one. I kept my eyes on the floor, but their whispers still found my ears.

"It's the Director's new dog..."

"Well isn't he handsome?"

"There's Joth's little bitch too."

You don't know anything.

I tried to drown them out, squeezing my eyes shut.

"Didn't you hear? She's not Joth's anymore. The Director gave her to the new dog."

You don't know anything. Their words were stabbing me in the heart, one whisper at a time.

"Fitting for a troublesome useless stray."

YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!

My blood boiled in my ears, turning them bright red.

"I don't understand how she gets all the men to surround her. Joth is too good looking and too nice to have to babysit a thing like her."

YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING! I HATE ALL OF YOU!

The voices in my head wouldn't quiet down, my rage bubbling over. They don't know anything about me! They don't know anything about that pervert! A hand on my shoulder startled me, pulling me from my thoughts. William stepped in front of me, clearing his throat with a smile and walking up to the counter. The whispers died down as he captured their attention.

"Hello ladies, I'm here for my transfer paperwork and my clothing and meal tickets." The girls giggled and blushed, fumbling around for what he needed.

"Here you go." I knew the girl giving him his paperwork. I didn't know her name, but her hair was red, sticking out like a sore thumb.

Most of the girls in the complex had blonde or brunette hair. There were some with black hair but only two families had the pretty auburn that she did. All of the girls in the compound also wore their hair in intricate braids, taking great pride in the length. I was the only one with short hair. Which made me hate it even more. The girl helping William was blushing and giggling, calling my attention back to them. He leaned over the counter and whispered in her ear, caressing her hand as he took the papers. She all but melted on the spot. I rolled my eyes. Pig. Annoyed, I turned and walked back out of the room. I waited for a few minutes before peeking back in through a little window on the door. Seeing him still occupied, I took the opportunity to steal away and walk around the corner to a small side exit. Glancing behind me to make sure I wasn't followed, I opened the door and slipped out.

Sunlight greeted me warmly, lighting up the lush green garden on the grounds. My favorite place to escape. My eyes closed and I left the scent of flowers and fruit trees carry me down the worn path. This area was mostly secluded from the rest of the compound which meant the gardeners and I were the only ones who came here. Originally built for a picky Director who was too busy to enjoy the outside world for even a moment, I had taken the liberty of using for her.

Lining the path were fruit trees. I stopped to pick an apple. Taking a bite of the crisp fragrant fruit, I continued down the path. At the end was a stone bench, like something out of a fairy-tail garden. I often hid books here and snuck or to read them while Joth was in his tactical meetings. It had been the only place where I could be alone. The only place I could be myself and indulge in the pleasures that made me feel some semblance of happiness; like reading. But all good things must come to an end, as many stories fortold.

I had stopped coming here when I was a late teen, after he had found me and released all of his rage on me, screaming until his face had gone a dark shade of purple. I had been too afraid to return after that, too afraid of his wrath.

I sat upon the old bench, my body settling into a position I had once been used to. I took another bite of the apple, pushing the memory far from my mind. I took another bite from the apple and reached under the bench. Sure enough, there was still a book taped to the bottom of the seat. I pulled it out gently, wiping all the dust from the cover. The Iliad and the Odyssey. A book of adventure and peril. Love and self-discovery. All the things I had wanted in my life. I didn't know I was crying until a tear hit my hand. I furiously wiped it away and opened the book to where I had dog-eared the page so long ago, determined to finish it.

About five pages in, the sound of a shoe scuffing dirt distracted me from my reading. I looked up to see William walking down the path.

"Nice hideout you got here." He looked around impressed before his eyes settled on me. "Ready to chat with the Director?" He asked calmly. I sighed and closed my book. Taking one last bite from my apple, I tossed it behind me and headed for the door.