Chapter 8

James came to pick Naomi and Jocelyn up the day of their discharge. Jocelyn hugged James' arm and feigned concern as she asked, "James and I are getting married tomorrow, Nae. Even though you were unruly when you set the house on fire, I don't want to keep holding everything against you. "Let's let bygones be bygones between us, okay?" Naomi remained silent, her head bowed. Her eyes were empty, devoid of any life. James frowned. Displeasure laced his voice as he said, "She's talking to you, you know." Naomi remained silent, as if she had lost all the strength needed to respond. James was seething, and the air in the car was thick with tension. They were halfway home when a hotel staff member, Silo Green, called James and said cautiously, "Mr. Payne, we're having a bit of an issue with the wedding venue decorations. Could you come take a look?" James worried Naomi might sabotage the wedding and repeat history by pushing Jocelyn into the sea, so he moved the venue to a hotel. When he heard Silo's report, he frowned and turned the car around to head to the hotel. When they arrived, James exited the car and asked, "What is it?" Silo replied respectfully, "Please follow me, Mr. Payne. I'll show you." James nodded, then turned to Jocelyn and Naomi. He said, "You two can rest in the room for now. I'll return once things are settled." Jocelyn smiled and nodded. Then, she pulled Naomi into the hotel room. In the room, Jocelyn sat on the couch and jeered, "I must applaud you, Naomi. James and I are getting married tomorrow, yet you're still not leaving." "I'll leave," Naomi replied. Jocelyn scoffed, her tone filled with disdain as she taunted, "You'd leave? Do you honestly think I would believe you? It's been a long time. "If you wanted to leave, you'd have already left. You're still here because you’re holding onto the hope that James might like you back, aren't you? Let me tell you right now, it's impossible! "James is my fiancé now. He loves me! You're just excess baggage to him, nothing more. "Since you refused to respond to my kindness, don't you dare blame me for taking matters into my own hands!" Jocelyn clapped her hands twice, and a horde of beggars burst through the door. At they entered, she ripped a large tear in her blouse, ruffled up her hair, opened the door wider, and screamed, tears rolling down her face, "Help me, James! Help!" James had just wrapped up his business with the hotel. When he heard her scream, he rushed in. Jocelyn flew into his arms, sobbing and shivering as if she had just escaped something terrible, and whimpered, "James, Naomi got a bunch of beggars to rape me! She hates me and wants to ruin me!" James stared at Naomi in utter disbelief. Rage burned within him like a wild fire, threatening to burn down the entire room. "You're beyond help, Naomi!" Naomi opened her mouth. She wanted to explain herself, but James refused to listen. He coldly said, "Since you adore the feeling of being degraded and abused, enjoy your stay here tonight, then." He then scooped Jocelyn up and turned to leave, sparing nothing, not even a glance, for Naomi. Naomi's pupils immediately constricted, and she felt like her blood had frozen in her veins. Nightmarish memories from the academy instantly flooded her mind—the black room, the cold whips, the ghoulish, and the malicious smiles on the men's faces. Her body trembled uncontrollably as tears poured from her eyes. "Save me, Uncle James! Please, I beg of you, don't leave me here!" Naomi lunged forward, reaching for the hem of James' shirt. But as soon as her fingers brushed his clothes, he flung her hand away with disdain. She dropped to her knees and repeatedly smashed her head onto the floor maniacally as she begged. The dull thud of her forehead hitting the floor echoed in the room. "I was wrong. I acknowledge my mistakes. I beg you, please don't leave me here! "Save me, Uncle James… I can't be left alone here with these men. It'll drive me crazy. I'll lose my mind!" Her agonizing pleas were filled with despair and hopelessness. Her tears, together with the blood from her forehead, colored the floor red. It was the first time James had seen Naomi break down like this since he brought her home from the academy. He halted for a moment, but he still didn't turn around.