I had a sense of peace when I awoke from the dream I had. It was about when me and Charlie met for the first time.
Then I realized I had no idea where I was.
Taking in my surroundings you’d think I was in one of those self-harming facilities, where the people put the psychotic person in one of those all white rooms that was surrounded in patting so they couldn’t somehow hurt themselves by using the wall.
Though the room I was in didn’t have padding, there was still the sense of self-doubting when it came to the whole self-harming thing.
Like I said, I was in an all white room, with only a bed (which I was currently on) that housed a scratchy blanket (can you guess what color it was? That’s right! White!) and a pillow that wasn’t the comfiest.
The only other thing in the room was a toilet and a sink sort of hidden behind another wall that jutted out far enough to do your business in private. But not the toilet was not completely hidden, (so you could still see the prisoner’s right side) just in case the prisoner tried something sneaky. Come to think about it… I was the prisoner.
Woooow, happy birthday to me!
The bed was located against the corner directly in front of the open wall, parallel to it. The open wall was not so open, it had bars running vertically down it like an actual prison cell, with a padlock to the far left. From the looks of it, there seems to be a fingerprint reader plus a pass code to put in.
The fingerprint would be hard to get but not impossible. The pass code on the other hand would be easy to get if I watched whoever had the passcode type it in.
I winced as I tried to get up so I had to lie down again. My whole body ached from head to toe. As if my whole body was a gigantic bruise. I lay there for a little bit, trying to regain my breath and muster enough strength to get up. Finally I was able to talk myself into at least sitting up.
My head felt like it was spinning but that feeling quickly wore off.
Movement from my left caused my head to snap that way which set off one hell of a headache. My vision swam before quickly returning to normal.
I found a pair of extremely serious black eyes staring at me. I scrambled away and slammed against the wall at my back. I winced as my body screamed at me but I didn’t care.
The person that those eyes belonged to was outside of my cell. Then I realized he was behind bars of his own, across from mine. The guy was sitting in the middle of the floor criss-cross applesauce. That made me a little more unnerved by him.
He was dressed in all white. It reminded me of a doctor who was dressed in all white scrubs. The only thing that told me he wasn’t one was the fact that he looked close to my age, maybe a year or two older.
Plus the fact that we were both locked up in what looked like a looney-bin run by a maniac also gave me the impression that we were royally screwed, doctor or not.
Under the harsh light I could make out the color of his hair, though not really. The hairs closest to the light were a bright blood red, almost replicating the moving fluid perfectly. But with the slightest movement it changed to a deep wine looking color. It was quite remarkable, the fact that hair almost looked like it was moving in a fluid motion. He had it cut short on the sides but the top was a mop of wavy hair that looked like he just rolled out of bed but it didn’t look bad.
That made me kinda jealous.
Then I realized we were in prison cells. That made the jealousy die down a bit.
Above his unmoving black eyes were thick brows, a dark shade of brown. His eyes were an almond shape. He has a straight nose that doesn't stick out too far. His lips were slightly thin and turned down at the ends. He has attractively high cheekbones though they look kind of soft even if nothing else looked soft.
His arms were visible and I could make out the beginning of a long snake wrapped around his right arm’s bicep, the head disappearing in the shirt sleeve. It made me curious about how far the snake traveled on his bed. It’s a very beautiful tattoo (even if I hate snakes) shaded to perfection. It practically looked real. The rest of his arms were riddled with nicks and scratches long ago healed but still left scars.
I think I was sort of ogling him. And I’m pretty sure he realized that because he gave me a knowing smirk. Even though the rest of his face stayed the same, it was still a pretty sight to behold.
Something about his presence felt familiar. Felt calming.
“Have we met before?” I blurted.
His whole body jumped, causing us both to snap out of whatever transfiction we were in. He looked away but didn’t answer.
“Do you know where we are?” I asked.
Silence.
“How did we get here?”
More silence.
This was starting to get frustrating.
“Hello? Are you mute or something?” That came out harsher than what I was going for.
His eyes swung back to me, locking with mine.
But he still didn’t answer.
“Ugh. This is annoying. Not only was I kidnapped, but I was put in a prison cell and the only person I have for company won’t even talk to me! And my family…” I paused, being crushed with the painful emotions of what happened. Of what I witnessed.
Of what happened to Liam.
“...they’re all dead.” I finished in a whisper.
I must have said that loud enough for Black Eyes to hear because his look went from stone to pain. Why is he in pain? I’m the one who’s whole family is gone, not him.
Unless…the same happened to him and I reminded him of it.
Guilt butt into my sorrow. I leaned my head back until it was touching the wall. My eyes closed and I covered my face with my hands. Why did any of this happen? Maybe if I was faster then I could have at least saved Liam. Or maybe if I wasn’t so tied up with my birthday then I’d be home before my Aunt died. Then I could have stopped all of this. Why did they take me alive and no one else? My whole family deserved to be the ones who lived. Even if I died in their place it would be worth it.
“Not everyone is dead.” Someone murmured.
My self-loathing parade halted and the sound of someone talking. My head snapped forward again, this time I ignored the pain. No one was there except Black Eyes. Did he…did he just talk?
“Wha-”
“That’s enough chit chatting for now.” An intruding voice interrupted.
I looked to the left and saw that we had an audience. An older man stood next to the keypad looking into my cell. He had small eyes and it looked like his face was forever formed into a scowling expression. He wore a white lab coat like a scientist. He was balding on his head.
“And who the hell are you?” I asked, angered by his mere presence.
Was he the maniac that ran this joint?
“Someone who will be working with you both for the next few years until you are all set to send off on your own.” He answered.
Years…?
Wait. Until I was ready…?
“What are you talking about? What do you mean ‘years’?” I asked.
The scientist stepped forward a step causing me to scoot back as far as I could against a wall.
There was a growl in response.
The scientist went pale and slowly turned around like prey being caught by a predator. I followed his gaze until my eyes clashed with black eyes.
The growl came again and I realized it was the prisoner across from me who was making that awful sound.
Why was he doing that?
It’s as if he has laid claim on something and is trying to protect it. But what is it that he was protecting?
“I mean that we are officially recruiting you two to our cause.” He said, still staring at Black Eyes who was staring at me.
I somehow look away, my gaze landing on the scientist once again.
“Well you have an interesting way of recruiting people for a job. Yes, a very interesting way of killing all of my relatives just to kidnap me, which might I add is very overdramatic. You could have taken me from my school.” I say, somehow sounding indifferent when in reality was the complete opposite.
I felt eyes boring into me from across the hall.
“But then your aunt would have to the elders and then we’d have a war on our hands.” He said, finally looking away from Black Eyes but he wouldn’t look at me directly. Maybe he was scared of what Black Eyes would have done if the man actually looked at me which I still found weird.
Why would a stranger feel that strongly about someone he hasn’t even talked to yet?
Nevermind. We have bigger issues than someone with severe attachment issues.
“‘Elders’? Now I really know you're truly delusional.” I scoffed at him.
He just sighed before saying: “In due time you will understand what is going on and that you’re a big part of it.”
“You're talking crazy again. Though you have been talking crazy this whole time.” I reminded him.
“You’re a very talkative one.” He smirked, giving me the ick. “But alas that is not what we need you to be. A bummer, really.”
He didn’t sound disappointed.
“And what is so important that you had to kill the rest of my family and kidnap me?” I asked.
“Ah, ignorance is bliss. So I’ll let you believe whatever you will for today. But you will be informed about what you are tomorrow, which by the way isn’t human.” He said, practically buzzing with excitement.
“Not human…?” I was so confused.
The scientist checked the watch on his wrist before turning on his heel walking away. “Well I am needed elsewhere, so tata. Until next time!” He said on his way out.
Well if I didn’t know before, I know full well now that I am royally screwed. Not only me but apparently my prison mate had the same fate as me.
We were both royally screwed.
My eyes involuntarily landed on Black Eyes again. No surprise to find him staring at me. And what was that whole growling thing he was doing earlier? Is he a maniac too?
Since he hasn’t talked to me other than that one comment, I’ll give him the silent treatment. Seems like something he excels at. Maybe I was wrong? Maybe I just made up that comment he supposedly made. Who knows, I might actually be having a mental break.
Wouldn’t that be ironic? That made me smile.
Black Eyes cocked an eyebrow. Maybe he was questioning my mentality too. I mean who would just start smiling like a maniac after actually talking to one?
An uncontrollable giggle came out of me. Now he definitely looks like he’s concerned about me. It made me laugh even harder.
So hard that I was bent over, clutching my stomach to try to control it. But it wouldn’t stop. For some reason I found all of this hilarious. Mostly because, of course this would happen to me. Especially when it was my birthday.
Because for some reason Fate thought it would be freaking hysterical to not only make me watch my parents be eaten alive, but hey! Why not kill everyone else she cares about? Yeah, I bet the gods are having a blast watching this from their safe perch on top of the world.
And that’s not all! Then after she loses everything, why would we let her grieve her dead family? No, that would be too easy. Let’s get her kidnapped!
Before I knew it, I was balling my eyes out.
“Shh, it’s okay. Don’t cry.” A soft voice said. I looked up and saw that Black Eyes was watching.
He has an earnest look but behind that, there was brimming anger threatening to bubble over. Similar to mine, I realized.
He and I are similar.
“I promise, this place will burn and everyone along with it.” He whispered that deadly promise, but for some reason I didn’t think he was dangerous to me.
Then I realized I wasn’t alone.
Not anymore. Because I have him. This stranger with hair made of blood.
“What’s your name?” I asked, sniffling to try to stop the oncoming tears.
He hesitated then said: “Ace. How about you?”
“Scarlett.”
I feel kinda better now.
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