Uprising by Shelly Crane

can’t take the risk, but I can tell he’s lying.
    Come on Sherry! There’s only eight of them and a whole heck of a lot more of us. This will be a...piece of cake. Besides, Merrick will freak and lose his focus if you just stroll out there to him and then, get himself killed.
    I must have caught him off guard, him thinking I would cave and obey easily and immediately.
    “Sherry is actually thinking of saving herself? My, my. I have to say I’m proud of you and thoroughly impressed. Not at all like the sweet selfless Sherry that was in Phillip’s mind. Though I have no use of you personally, you’d make a better ally than I ever thought possible. Crandle is going to be very pleased with your...what do you humans call it? Spunk? You and him can raise those little bastards of yours and live happily. Ever. After.”
    I flinch at the contempt and disdain dripping in his voice. I push back the memories.
    “You know him?” Cain asked but I kept silent.
    Kept focused on Merrick. I stand my ground and pray I’m doing the right thing. If someone were killed because of me, I wouldn’t be able to handle that.
    They’ll kill them all anyway.

    Then, as quick as that, the blurs of inhuman speed start. I can’t tell for sure who moved first, Keepers or Lighters. I see a few figures go down, some not for long, I can’t tell between them though.
    I hear faint yelling and curses and grunts. Then I see the rest head in, weapons raised. Cain starts to move but hesitates and looks back.
    “Sherry. Shoot anything that comes close. I’ll be watchin-”
    Before he could finish Phillip is there in a blur, hitting Cain with a rock over the head and pushing him to the ground instead of letting him fall.
    He’s squeezing a cold hand around my neck before I can think or move. He twists the gun from my grasp, making me cry out from the pain in my wrist, and pulls me closer to lick a long stroke up my cheek with his freezing tongue that is now black, from my jaw to my temple.
    I shudder in disgust and try to pull free but he tightens his grip on me, forcing a choke and grunt from me, as he speaks against my ear and he tosses the gun aside.
    “I only wish we could finished what you and old Phillip started that day, Sherry. Maybe we can remedy that now. Though Crandle probably isn’t into sloppy seconds. Or would it be thirds now?”
    He continues to nip at me and squeeze my arms and neck, degrading me with his filthy gestures. His sickening sweet breath on my face.
    The amount of enjoyment the Lighter is getting out of my fear and pain is enough to make bile come to my mouth. Maybe Phillip’s vile and vulgar nature added to the evil in the Lighter that consumed him.
    I can’t help but wonder what the point of all this is. What does he gain for breaking my spirit? Is that how Crandle needed me delivered? Broken and sobbing? Why doesn’t he just get it over with and take me to the Taker.
    “Oopsy. Look at that. Sherry’s got a boo boo,” he said, glancing at my leg and smiling widely.
    He sets me back down to the ground, but still holds my neck. All of a sudden he rears back a foot with a grunt and brings his boot bottom down square on the wound on my shin.
    Now my leg is broken, I have no doubt. I crumple and scream, my ears ringing and he yanks me back up with his one hand, brutally on my neck.
    I can’t help but shake and writhe, trying to swallow the sobs that I know will only satisfy him more. He’s holding me only inches above the ground now, letting me dangle from his grasp. I feel like I’m gonna pass out. The sky above turns gray and my eyelids start to flutter.
    I reach out in one last attempt to free myself and feel my nails scrape across his face. Light trickles out of the wounds in spurts before his skin can close.
    “Ah! You’re gonna pay for that you little-” but he stops mid sentence and glances behind him.
    Though the noise behind him starts to dissipate, I can’t see around Phillip to see what’s going on.