A Plan - Chapter 31 - Hidden Monsters

Photo credit: Gabriela Camerotti / Foter.com / CC BY-NC


After a few days of constant care from her mother and Paloma, Jill felt surprised at how well she'd healed. She bore many scares but they grew lighter each day. 

She sat away from the others, who slept peacefully in the silence. She'd spend several days sleeping and now spent the early waking hours thinking of an escape plan. Robbie had tried numerous times to regain her affections but she wouldn't speak to him. She wasn't overtly hostile except for the time she'd slapped him on their initial reunion. He'd deserved more but their mothers had pulled them apart. She wanted to stay detached and aloof but spending their time together in such tight quarters was maddening.

Jill heard him stir and kept her eyes focused on the bars of their prison. 

"We need to talk," Robbie whispered from behind her. 

She ignored him but he pulled her from the ground and held fast to her shoulders. 

"Stop it!" he hissed. "What was I supposed to do? I'm sorry!" He pulled her closer and crushed his lips to hers. Jill's body stiffened in surprise before she relaxed as his kiss grew more tender. The defenses around her emotional wall began to crack but she wouldn't let it happen again, not this soon. She placed her hands on his chest and pushed him away. She stood back, unable to look him in the eye. 

"Don't," she said. Jill went back to her bedding and lay down close to her mother. "Don't distract me this time," she thought. 

The rattle of chains and scrape of metal signaled their morning rations. Jill sat on her bedding next to her mother and Paloma while Robbie stood by to retrieve the tray. Jill's heart jumped when she saw The Gray enter. He gave them all a nasty smile and handed the tray to Robbie. He looked hesitant but took the food. 

The Gray grabbed him and held him hard against the metal bars a foot off the ground. Robbie dropped the tray and gripped the hands crushing his throat. 

"Let me rid you of this traitor, young human. As wolves, the pack would have killed him on sight for what he did to you," The Gray said. 

"No!" Paloma screamed. She rushed forward begging and pleading for Robbie's life. 

"No," The Gray said. He looked past Paloma and pointed at Jill. "I want her to beg for his life." 

Jill almost smiled but she kept it inside. She rose and walked toward him. Robbie's lips had turned a sickly color. Jill tried to ignore him and glared at The Gray through uncaring eyes and when she spoke, her words were slow and deliberate. 

"I beg you not to kill him," she said before she turned a heated gaze to Robbie. "He betrayed me and it's my job to do it."


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