looked at all of the women.
“So, let’s assume death or a life of captivity. None of us will ever see any of our friends, family, or anyone ever again. None of this really matters. Who’s first, who’s last, who has the guts or who doesn’t. But, if one person dies, and the others live, we should consider this, as a group,” Meghan took a deep breath.
“Whoever agrees to die? Whoever that person is, the rest of us must agree to take care of that person’s daughter or family or whatever. Whoever doesn’t die, whoever lives through this - they must be able, willing, and have the resources to take care of the deceased persons daughter. So, in my opinion, the least capable should consider going first. You know, in hopes of the rest of us, or at least one of us living. And that living person or persons will care for the deceased person’s family,” Meghan stopped speaking and rotated her head to the three women, waiting for a comment.
“Sounds reasonable, I’m very capable,” Dana said in a muffled tone from behind the washcloth that covered her mouth.
“Bitch, I am tired of that mouth. You’re dying of breast cancer, you should be first,” Elena barked as she shifted her weight on the bench.
Meghan slowly turned and faced Dana. Dana pressed the washcloth tightly to her mouth and nodded her head. The small amount of sorrow Meghan felt for Dana was soon overcome with an intense feeling of relief that Dana was dying of cancer. Her imminent death, if left in the room for any period, would certainly make Dana a prime candidate for the first or potentially second victim. Meghan released a slow inaudible sigh of relief.
“I’m sorry, Dana. I truly am,” Meghan lied as she closed her eyes and attempted to appear to be stricken by grief. She raised her right hand to her face and covered her mouth.
Softly, Dana began to cry. She cried for reasons other than her cancerous breast. She stood knowing that once she begun to speak of God, she felt she had gained the strength to forfeit her life. She didn’t like thinking of it, and naturally she fought the thought of dying altogether. She stood before the other women knowing that when the time came, she would be willing to give up her life to potentially save the lives of the rest of the group.
As Dana held the washcloth tight to her now swollen lip, she looked down at the floor, closed her eyes, and said a prayer for the group of women. She prayed again for the well-being of her family; and lastly, she prayed for Elena. She opened her eyes, raised her head slowly, looked at the group, and softly spoke three words.
“I’ll die first,” Dana said without a tone of emotion in her voice.
CHAPTER SEVEN
STOP. FUCKING. CRYING.
SEVEN. Ryan picked up his bag and walked toward the stairs at the corner of the weight room. The daily exercise was something that he started as a late teen. The constant reassurance by his father that he would always be overweight, worthless, and unintelligent had driven him to alter his daily routine to include exercise and proper diet in his life.
The result was a six foot frame of one hundred and ninety pounds, all of which, by any account, was muscle. Ryan carried the bag down the steps and recalled his many trips up and down the stairs of the basement at his mother’s home. The thought of his father made his jaw tighten as he hurried down the steps toward the exit of the gym. As he reached for the handle of the door, he drew a slow breath and thought of the day.
“You’re a fat little fuck, look at yourself,” his father had told him.
Eleven years old and naked, Ryan stood in front of the mirror that was fixed on the wall in the basement. As he looked into the mirror, he saw an overweight boy looking back at him. His mind filled with fear of what may be next regarding punishment, his legs
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