``Phoenix, fly``
- Locked due to inactivity on Nov 7, '23 3:54am
Thread Topic: ``Phoenix, fly``
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Phoenix glared at the back of Devlin's head as he walked away from her to inspect the rest of the kids. A few of the older kids glanced at Phoenix nervously, having seen this punishment before. Two of the younger kids cuddled her legs, frightened of what could come.
Phoenix, however, was indifferent. She didn't care about Devlin or Mallory, or even the things they could do to her. She was the kind of girl to live through anything and not think about it.
The children began to walk to the cafeteria for breakfast. It was harder for Phoenix, because the two little kids had refused to stop clinging to her legs, and had burst into fits of giggles as she tried to walk. -
Before she knew it, Griffin was at her side.
'Whats the fountainhead punishment?' he asked her, glancing down at one of the little kids. He noticed Phoenix's grim expression and decided not to say anything after that. -
They soon got to the cafeteria, and the children scrambled to their seats, though didn't sit. Instead, watched with longing eyes as Mallory and Devlin sat and were served large, fresh plates of food.
Mallory said, 'Begin!'
The children started to recite an old prayer the two adults had forced them to memorise;
" We thank God for the food He has given us,
And may He forgive us for our past sins.
We will not complain,
Yearn,
Or speak.
If we betray Him, may we live in pain and agony.
Amen. "
(I would just like to say that I do NOT mean to offend any religious ppls out there, this is just a story.) -
(actually, I'mma change the fountainhead punishment to the blade punishment lol)
Mallory darted her evil eyes around the room, making sure to make eye contact with every child. Her beady eyes sent shivers down most of the children's spines, and her shrill voice eventually echoed around the room, 'Sit.' -
Obediently, the children sat. A few of the older children spent the night cooking big batches of food; a plump roasted chicken, fried vegetables, a whole lot of fresh, boiled potatoes. The children watched hungrily as Mallory and Devlin tucked into their meal, oblivious to the cooks serving them their food.
A child's meal at Bootstrap Correctional Facility could hardly be called a meal - more like a bowl of a lumpy consistency which slightly resembled porridge. -
The children ate hungrily, spooning every morsel of food into their mouths. They had to - it would be their only meal for the next 24 hours.
Griffin, however, stared at his bowl of food in disgust. He put his spoon into the consistency and then pulled it out, inspecting it closely. 'How do you eat this stuff?' he asked, breaking the looming silence. Phoenix glanced at him. She hadn't touched hers.
It was only then did Griffin notice how pale and skinny she was. Her arms and legs were bony, and the only part of her skin that was mildly of colour were her hands and bare feet, which were red and cut.
'Ungrateful swine!' Devlin spat, his black eyes piercing into Griffin's. 'You will not eat for a week. We'll see how you can manage without this "stuff".'
One of the older children walked over to Griffin's table and took away his bowl of food, an apologetic look on her face.
Griffin thought better than to argue with the adults. They could do anything to him, whether he liked it or not. And nothing could stop them. -
(I've been following this story and I'm enjoying it a lot, well done @LittleNerd)
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(Blood and gore alert)
• Chapter 3 •
Everyone gathered around to watch Phoenix's punishment. It wasn't like they had a choice, but nonetheless they did. They were outside, on the dried grass behind the facility.
Bootstrap Correctional Facility was located on the outskirts of the city, where it was almost rural. This suited Mallory and Devlin quite well - they liked to see children suffer, and the uneven ground cut and bruised the children's bare feet after 12 hours of hard work each and every day.
Devlin sharpened his blade with a rock, a devious grin on his face. Phoenix was sat on the dirt, held down by Mallory. She wasn't shaking or squirming, though, much to Mallory's dismay. The woman wished to see the terrified look on the girl's face, but no matter how she tried, it never came.
Devlin eventually finished, throwing his rock at one of the children, who ducked hastily. He grabbed Phoenix's wrist and ran his knife across it, not putting enough pressure to cut her. The metal was cold against her skin, but she didn't wince. In fact, she was quite still.
***
Devlin carried the girl over his shoulder, blood dripping onto his shirt. He opened a door and threw her into the children's bedroom, slammed it shut and locked it.
Phoenix's body rang with pain. She stared at her arm. There were cuts and blood dripping down her skin. Her legs were bruised and had small cuts, more from the sticks and dirt on the ground than Devlin's blade.
Phoenix wiped the blood off her chin with the back of her hand and just sat there, bleeding.
She stared at her arm again. The cuts grew smaller, the skin slowly closing in over her arm. The blood was still stained and dripping against her skin, but she was no longer bleeding. In fact, her arm was completely healed. -
'Oh my god and goddess,' came a voice.
Griffin.
Phoenix groaned at the sight of him standing in the doorway, gritting her teeth. Griffin seemed unaffected by her disappointment; he was more interested in what he'd just witnessed.
'How did- Where did-' he stuttered, face pale. He stepped forward and sat in front of her. 'It was all cut... How did... Are you a witch?'
Phoenix snorted at that, a smaller smile appearing on her face.
'So you are!' Griffin shouted in a seemingly triumphant way. Phoenix shook her head in response, standing up. -
Griffin stood up also. His eagerness to find out more was somewhat off-putting for Phoenix; nobody had shown this much interest in her and it make her feel uneasy.
She walked towards the window, staring out of the grubby glass to watch the other children work in the garden and tend to the chooks and cows. The facility stretch out from 13-66 Carnage Street, which Phoenix found amusing.
13, one of the most unlucky numbers. And 66, one number away from being the "Number of The Beast". Phoenix wondered if it had been done on purpose, or a coincidence that was plain creepy.
'So tell me,' Griffin said, leaning against the wall next to her, 'If you're not a witch, what are you?'
To this, Phoenix shrugged. She wasn't quite sure either, but had no intention of finding out. -
'You don't know,' Griffin said in utter disbelief. 'How could you not know?' He didn't expect an answer, nor did he earn one. Phoenix glanced at him in amusement, raising her eyebrows.
Griffin mumbled something about how Phoenix was a weirdo and looked away, folding his arms.
'Shouldn't you be working?' Phoenix muttered, staring back out the window.
Griffin seemed unaffected by her voice as he was before, and looked back at her. 'Should I?' he asked, genuinely curious. 'They told me I should go check on you, though. The big kids.' Phoenix wasn't sure what to make of the older children regarding her, but decided against thinking about it for too long. -
Griffin narrowed his eyes at her then glanced towards the door. 'You're weird,' he mumbled again, starting to walk out of the room. Phoenix didn't stop him, despite the terrible work he'd be doing today. He hadn't yet had a taste of the pain, and Phoenix wanted him to have a full spoonful before she started carrying out her plan.
***
Once the work was finished for the day, the children filed into the room looking exhausted. -
Phoenix had sat herself on the floor, and was staring at the stained wall absentmindedly. None of the children spoke to her, in fear Mallory or Devlin would be able to hear.
Griffin, however, sat down next to her and followed her gaze onto the wall. He concluded once again that she was weird and muttered it under his breath, then lay down next to her. -
'Weird is out of the ordinary,' Phoenix said quietly, turning to look at him. 'It's not necessarily a bad thing.'
Griffin frowned, sitting back up. 'Perhaps I should've said crazy, then,' he responded.
Phoenix smiled, looking back to the wall. -
Griffin looked at the wall too.
'What's so fascinating about a wall?'
Phoenix didn't respond or turn to face him, the small smile still plastered on her lips. Griffin narrowed his eyes at her in indignation.
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