Others

      It would be wrong to say, that the wine had no effect on Kiva. It didn't have the desired effect, but the concentration of her mind was a little fuzzy. The girl made it home safely, went into her shed and fell onto the dirty mattress. It even felt good to relax herself. That slight feeling of pleasant absent-mindedness was gone, when she tensed up a little and focused her mind on a particular thought. "It's not what I wanted anyway," Kiva thought as she was laying on the mattress. The food and alcohol were invigorating, so she didn't want to sleep. The conversation with Kenny echoed in her mind with a slight wonderment, his demeanor, his scrutinizing gaze suggested some kind of interest, but not the same kind of interest in her body. It was a difference she could tell. On the one hand, it was flattering, but on the other, it was frightening. It meant she'd be seeing Ripper more often, than she wanted to. "Though perhaps that's even better. It's safer to know where such a person is, than not to know," was a strange thought. Where did it come from? She didn't want to think much and deeply in this state, though.       Sleep was still not coming. Kiva sat up and reached for a book. There was nothing else to do; she wouldn't risk going out for a second walk today. She read slowly, forcing herself to read the sentences, the jagged lines. She remembered, how surprised Kenny had been, when he found out she could read. A small moment of pride, now reading itself gave her even more pleasure. She was immersed in a past, that seemed fantastical and distant, perhaps made more vivid by alcohol. The inventor was able to meet with Picker. It was now clear, that he was the commander of the Survey Corps, and that the invention was the VME. Now she remembered, what the sketches reminded her of. She'd seen similar ones on some members of the police a couple times, though the modern version was a bit different from the original. "Quite odd, since that man designed the VME to fight titans, not humans." She couldn't read for long: her head throbbed, her eyes tired faster than usual. So she fell asleep, pondering the surface, the Scouts Corps, the strangeness of internal politics.       When she woke up, she was tormented by hunger. The remaining apples had been destroyed in no time. Kiva ventured to examine her wounds. Her wrist was fine, she even found it best to remove the makeshift bandage to let the wound breathe. The bind marks were starting to become invisible, though they were already hidden by the sleeves of her shirt and didn't really bother the girl. The wound on her shoulder required a little more intervention, so Kiva removed the sweat-soaked, blood-soaked rag and rewrapped the shoulder with a new one. She didn't even think about her side, the few days of rest had done her good. She didn't want to read anymore; she wanted to stretch herself, not physically, but in action. To break up the day and keep herself busy.       "It's decided, I'm going to the market to get my sustenance, I can't let my skills idle," she thought cheerfully, and the thought of a familiar occupation brought ease. It was always nice to do something, that felt easy to do. "Maybe I'll meet some of my guys there?", and today that thought warmed her. Kiva stepped out of the house, grabbed her satchel, set the splinter in its proper place, and walked lightly toward her goal. She was coming into her norm, she liked that. Life continued its measured flow, and she managed to get back into it. The market was crowded, too crowded for such a city, but that was a plus rather than a minus. Kiva had a good time, stealing whatever seemed interesting, some things she would resell later and some she might keep. She was just starting to steal food, when she saw Will.       The boy pretend not to recognize her, not wanting to disrupt her occupation with his careless interference. He nodded imperceptibly, inviting her to follow him. The crowd of people allowed to dissolve in it from unwanted eyes, so unobstructed and unnoticed the girl reached one of the side streets, that led to the market. Will was already there, waiting for her to spout a torrent of words: "Kiva, hi! How are you? We're fine, everyone's already in place. Al sent to look for you, he said there's some interesting news."       "And how only he gibbers like that," the girl thought without any attempt to answer anything, until the boy shut up on his own. Kiva smiled, for some reason she wanted to grin. When Will fell silent, she answered: "Well, if that's the case, let's go."       The two of them walked toward the outskirts of the city. The boy was saying something about, how he and Matt had fooled the cops the other day, and he was cheerful. Inside it felt calm, easy, because everything was going on as it should. Everyone was already assembled. Kiva was pleased to see, that everyone looked better after a short rest.       Al looked great, Jim looked almost normal, Josh's jaw was holding together without a bandage, though he still preferred not to move it, and the younger ones were enthusiastic again. Everything was back to normal, except for Josh's talkativeness. It was akin to coming home after a long absence. Still, they were family to her, and that warmed her soul. Al sat on the wreckage of the barrel she'd sat on during the last meeting. Arms crossed on his chest, his gaze thoughtful, there was no guessing yet as to what had happened, what else could have happened. "If this is some new thing in the cities above us, I think everyone will give it up amicably," ran through girl's mind. Al interrupted the silence: "We've been given an offer, but more like even an ultimatum."       Everyone was wary, waiting carefully for an explanation. "We were offered to join Reeves' gang. The offer seemed friendly, but it was hinted to me and the others, that it would be better to accept it"       It was a serious and, in a way, important offer. Reeves's group was quite large, the first in the Underground City, for that matter. The profile was much broader, than theft and other minor law enforcement.       On the one hand, it opened up a range of possibilities for them, and on the other hand, it drew them into more serious circles. As is well known, the higher you rise, the louder you fall. The risks and the stakes were higher. Kiva said thoughtfully, rubbing her cheek, it was a complete surprise to her as well as to everyone else: "It's better to be friends with these guys, than enemies. Reeves...who would have thought it."       Al nodded in agreement, which was in line with his opinion: "Anyway, I think it's beneficial. We'll gain patronage, we won't have to find clients on our own or get the information, we need. Reeves is growing, that's normal. He's influential and has power in some of the cities beyond the Sina wall. No one is obliging us to obey them, just as they don't think they will honor all their guarantees to us."       There was no special question of accepting or refusing, the former was advantageous. This time, however, all were too cautious.       And they all agreed on the need to gather more information? before going into this headfirst. No one wanted a repeat of the consequences of past ignorance, the bruises and wounds not yet fully gone. While Will and Mett were discussing something with Jim, Kiva was watching them peacefully. Then she caught a hard look on her face. She turned around, and Al was watching her with concerned, attentive eyes. The girl didn't catch the reason at first, but the lad raised his hand and ran his fingers along his neck. She realized, what he meant, and just shrugged, saying: it was no big deal. The thought of rape didn't evoke much emotion, as if nothing had happened. Al left, saying, that he had a meeting soon and that he would come back and set more specific tasks for them.       While they waited, Kiva showed a few tricks with the slingshot and let the little ones try to throw rocks with it. The rope with a stone in it often struck the boys' hands and twisted around their wrists, to the laughter of one of the brothers and the slight smile of the other. Al came back and clarified each person's assignment. Following, eavesdropping on a few people wasn't a big deal. Al was in discussion with the representative, direct and open contact, Kiv was the quiet spy, and Mette and Will were to help her, report on the movements of certain individuals. Only brothers were given rest, until their injuries had finally passed. The days took on a calm and even flow. The book was put aside again, the girl snooped around the city, listening and watching. It was a week or so before, the main movement began to take place. This was helped by the complete lack of unpleasant incidents.       Reeves was concerned about the strengthening of the Military Police, which is why he decided to absorb some of the smaller gangs. This was confirmed by overheard conversations and seen encounters. No trickery on their part. As a result, a meeting was scheduled at a house near the center. Reeves' representatives and a few of the smaller gangs, like hers, were going to be there to discuss and solidify the arrangements. In fact, it was a great accomplishment in their survival-focused world. Such cooperation removed many obstacles, provided more profit, and gave them a chance, albeit a ghostly one, to escape their lives in the darkness of the Underground City. In essence, this was what they all wanted. And did it matter, that they would have to put on Reeves' "cape" to get it? It was foreshadowed to be a big day for them, so nothing was going to go wrong. But, of course, something went wrong. Everything went wrong, to put it bluntly, and then also twisted.       Kiva couldn't know that, so she prepared for the meeting at her house as if it was nothing. They had to be there, all of them, because it was an important moment for them. After thoroughly preparing and checking her weapons, Kiva left the house and headed to the meeting place. She didn't want to be late, so she turned and took shortcuts, wherever she could. She walked through the alleys, not knowing, that Kenny was waiting for her as she approached the meeting place. Why he had chosen this particular alleyway, he probably didn't know himself. Most likely, it was his instinct, which had saved him more than once. This time Kiva noticed his tall figure, relaxed against the wall, at a distance. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should turn away from him into the nearest passage.       She decided, it might provoke him to do something more than he'd already planned. Or maybe he was just standing there, though she didn't believe it for a moment. Sighing she walked straight ahead, not hoping to pass him quietly. Kenny seemed relaxed, but he kept his eyes on her. There was already a bad feeling smoldering inside her. "What's your hurry, girl? To the big party with the important people?" She remained silent as she passed, but he wouldn't let her leave. He grabbed her arm and slid it behind her back, pulling her against him. There were no eyes on the back of Kiva's head, but she could swear, the man was smiling that same nasty smile, that sent shivers down her spine. That whisper near her ear, his breath scorched part of her neck. "How about you throw your own private party with me, hm-m?" "Let me go, I have to leave."       She still remained calm, though fear was tearing from her subconscious.       He slid his tongue along her neck, moved his free hand down her belly, her breasts, squeezed his hand around her throat, forcing her to tilt her head back, a note of displeasure in his voice. "Now. I decide, where you go."       The fingers on her neck clenched tighter. One hand was still free, but she couldn't reach the knife without being seen. And worst of all, something in that tone made her wary: "Looks like, this is going to be different from last time". The unknown, the misunderstanding inevitably gave strength to the fear, letting it out, and that in turn shattered consciousness and control into tiny shards. She began to break free. "Let go." "Come on, we'll have our own fun."       He sounded peaceful, but that only made it worse. His voice was icy. She wanted to kick him, but Kenny clearly wasn't planning to play today, so he just crunched her arm even harder, even more painfully.       A suppressed half shriek or half growl escaped her throat. Kiva jerked to the side, hoping to turn around and wrench the caught arm away, and with her elbow free, trying to hit the man's face. He didn't try to hold her in place, but followed her direction. Her elbow slid across his neck without doing any damage, but Kenny still held her other arm tightly. He let go of her neck, though, but only to take the girl by the back of the head and move their bodies toward the wall. He squeezed her with his body, pressing into her fully, but not yet too hard. He yanked her arm sharply; if he'd applied a little more force, he would have broken her shoulder. Kiva cried out, but tried again to break free. The sharp pain in her shoulder seemed to tear her skin from such pressure.       Kenny lightly squeezed the hair on the back of her head, even gently, forcing her cheek against the wall. By the edge of her vision, she saw his silhouette looming over her. He hissed: - Do you like pain that much? There'll be more, if you want it. I won't limit myself to one your arm, you know that. She didn't answer anything, but stopped lashing out, relaxing her hand. The man hummed, apparently satisfied with this silent answer. He slid his free hand under her shirt. Rough, calloused hands found her breasts and began to knead them. The movement wasn't hungry like the first time, it was more of a waiting motion. When he was sure ,she wasn't really pulling away, making no attempt to push him away or interfere in any way, he released her hand and pressed himself against her, forcing her to lean her elbows on the wall, so the masonry wouldn't dig into her face.       It was scary, but it was also the knowledge, that Kenny wouldn't let go of his prey. Her freed shoulder whimpered unpleasantly. She could sense, that the man's mood was different today, more focused, and that was what had stopped all attempts to get out. That attitude was more frightening, than what was happening, he wasn't kidding, and he wasn't playing games today. All she had to do, was wait and flinch in a small, pathetic way. Kenny, meanwhile, slid down to her pants and began unbuttoning them. He did it slowly, as if testing her reaction. She acted calm, which was good for him right now. He wanted to spend more time with her this evening, that was the way he wanted it. He ran his hand down the inside of her thighs, stroking them carelessly. Then he slid his hand upward to her flesh, massaging it roughly, giving her no special pleasure.       He glanced at her: lips pinched, eyes blank. Well, he didn't care, how she felt right now. Kenny pulled down the girl's pants, squeezed her rounded ass cheeks hard. Once again he pressed himself against her, and the girl felt his erect cock. It brought back painful memories, she drew in air convulsively and squirmed internally. Kenny didn't mind at all, he was fine with it. He nuzzled her neck, tearing and biting the thin skin. The marks, that had come off not too long ago would scarlet over her again, confirming whose toy this was. He let his hand go to her collarbones, at the same time forcing her to arch her lower back. More out of caution, he put one hand on the girl's shoulder, ready for resistance, the other on her waist, her hips, down to the folds of her flesh.       She was dry, but when did that stop Kenny. He released his cock in impatience, glanced at her face again for some reason. There was an added look of fear on it, her jaw twitching. With his fingers he reached inside, massaging lightly, but not for long. Spit on his hand, rubbed the saliva over her labia, then smeared the rest of the saliva over his aroused cock. He grabbed her waist with his hand, squeezing her tightly and again not giving her the slightest chance to move away, and entered sharply, but didn't move immediately. Slowly, savoring it to the end, that's the way he wanted it now. This time the sex was more painful. Probably from the absence of the shock and loss she had felt the first time. Everything felt several times clearer, because the girl had a better idea of what awaited her. Even though in her head the boundary had been passed, fear, dislike, and now for some reason shame had found their way into her consciousness. It was unbearable, that at first the man moved even gently, sometimes stroking her body, kissing her neck tenderly, bumping into her hair and not causing much pain. She didn't want to become a full participant in this.        He pulled her head away from the wall, leaned toward her, kissed her lips in a commanding, tormenting passion. Kenny's movements were not interrupted, he began to lose control and began thrusting in rougher, going full length out and full length back in. Kiva couldn't hold back a shriek, the man reacted instantly. Covered her mouth with his palm and whispered: "Hush, we don't want any unnecessary attention."       Suddenly the thought of that very attention brought tears to her eyes. The people, who were family to her were somewhere close by, but couldn't help her, or maybe they could see what Kenny was doing to her. The thought of the brightest thing in her life made her weaker now, shattered her fragile frame of control. The pain of her body intensified, merged with the torment of her soul. Those tears she couldn't hold back.        She twisted to look at the man's face, to find echoes of what she'd seen that night at the tavern. But the face reflected almost nothing now, nothing human. Pleasure at what was happening, a strange focus. Without taking his palm from her mouth, he used his thumb to carelessly wipe away a trail of tears. "Well, well, well, you shouldn't cry, you're not a little girl."       But the tears didn't stop: everything was mixed up, the repetition of events, the greater realization, the thought of her friends, even the thought, that this man actually understands her. It was hurting. Her whole being contorted with the clarity of sensation. She felt Kenny inside her, his every move saying he was stronger, that he was entitled. It was poisoning, the recent acceptance of what had happened flew to hell. She felt weak and broken. Unbearable.       She didn't instantly realize, that Kenny had moved out of her and turned her around to face him. Kiva stared at him with unseeing eyes, her legs wouldn't hold for some reason, and she slid down, scratching her back against the uneven wall. The man looked at her, then a smirk lit up his face. He took her by the hair, bringing her to her knees, keeping her face at the level of his groin. The girl understood, what he wanted her to do. She'd seen, how it was done in back alleys and whorehouses. But she couldn't open her mouth, her teeth were clanking, she was shaking with hysteria. Kenny seeing, that she couldn't pull herself together, while he was losing moments of blissful pleasure, he hadn't gotten his release yet. Irritably he bellowed, tugging her hair painfully: "Open your mouth, or do I need to help you with the knife?"       She opened her mouth, and Kenny's cock was immediately pushed into her mouth.       The movement of the foreign object in her mouth made her gag and increased her tears. He came all the way in, pushing his cock fully down her throat, saliva mixed with lubricant running down her chin. The end was nearing, and this time he didn't delay it. At that moment she found the strength to look at him again, and Kenny cummed without taking it out of her mouth, forcing the girl to swallow his cum. Blissfully threw back his head. The incomparable pleasure of another's submission. He looked at his work with a satisfied glance, smirked: "See, it's better, when it's consensual."       Her lost gaze, those emotions he hadn't been able to get out of her the first time. The girl was still faintly conscious and pulled up her pants with trembling hands. She didn't get up, she stayed on the ground, trying to regain consciousness. "Would you like to do it again? Personally, I wouldn't mind."       He ran his fingers along her chin. Suddenly something clicked in her head: her friends were waiting for her, she needed to be somewhere else, not with him, not here. Anger and aggression rose up.       She intercepted his arm and used it as a foothold and jumped up, simultaneously pulling out a knife with her left hand and aiming for Kenny's neck. He managed to pull back, he'd been through worse. Kiva looked a little mad, she didn't attack him, but rushed away, driven by a single instinct that seemed to be waiting to rise from the depths of consciousness. She longed for her friends, for warmth. The man didn't follow her, adjusted his pants, shook off his clothes, and said regretfully: "Well, I gave you a chance, little girl."       He knew where she was going, just as he knew that the cops had planned a massacre. They were just waiting for as many people as possible to gather, so they could just kill them all like foxes in their holes. Why was he trying to hold Kiva? Perhaps, he didn't want the girl to die like that after all. A death of being driven, in a crowd, like a rat.       He was too proud to simply tell her of the coming carnage, and felt no need to interfere any more, than he already had. Kenny had chosen the language of force, the language of violence, which was natural to him, and had also combined the pleasant for himself. Beasts either die or survive. That was the law. The law of nature, if it went there, it had to go there. And there was no desire to do anything else, he was not a babysitter to take care of someone, like little dumb kids. And the fact, that the girl had long ago been able to think with her own head, there was no doubt for him. There was a slight regret. If Kenny had been alive all this time, it was because he wasn't a gambler. And he had no intention of playing catch-up with fate today. "I'm not suicidal going in there, too many cops," he turned and strode off into the night, hiding in the shadows, away from whatever Kiva was rushing toward.