Chapter 55: Abducted

Kira

I packed the laptop and book in my bag. I needed to find Lanie and apologize. I wasn't trying to push her away. I was just afraid to make a decision. Of all the people I had talked to, she seemed to be the one to always tell it to me straight. She seemed like the best person to trust. She really had no vested interest to help me, yet she stuck around. Either I didn't see what she wanted from me, or she was being genuine.

I hit the sidewalk trying to decide where to go. If she were me, which she sort of was, I would go to the library to research more. But... she had been researching so much, and if it were me, I would go to a park and find some nature. So, I headed west to the park where I had summoned her. It was either that one, or the small one with the playground, but there were too many people there for me to feel comfortable. I would try that one next if I couldn't find her. The park I was headed was big, and full of trees, but I hoped if I stuck around long enough, I would run into her. I had to let her know I was on her side, that we could do this together. I just hoped I could be of some use to her.

Halfway there, I felt eyes on me. I should be used to that by now. It was usually Remi. He was probably keeping tabs on me for Mother or maybe it was the darkness. I just didn't know any more. And I really should start calling her Isabell. Old habits die hard, isn't that what they say? I ducked my head down and went about my business. If he wanted to watch me, let him. It wasn't like I had anything to talk to him about anyway.

A man in a leather biker jacket blocked my path. I assumed he did it because some people were just rude, or talking on their cell phones and not paying attention. I went to dodge around him, but apparently I had made a vital mistake, one of many in my lifetime. He gripped me around the arm, spun me, then locked me in a sleeper hold. I choked and sputtered, but couldn't get enough air. My eyesight went dark and my body went limp as I fell unconscious.

I came to. People were talking around me. My neck ached as my head hung. I wanted to move it, but I didn't want them to know I was awake.

"You can't just leave her here. What if Isabell doesn't come?" A man's voice asked.

"Then I will siphon power out of her myself." That voice I recognized. That was the voice of my biological father. He stepped towards me. He laid a finger under my chin and lifted my head. "I knew you were awake. I could feel your energy change."

"Matei?"

"Where is she?" He asked.

"Who?" There was so many "she's" he could be asking about right now. I literally didn't know which one.

"Isabell. I knew it the moment she sacrificed Mila. Where is she?"

"I don't know."

"Don't give me that. I know Isabell is pulling the strings here. Tell me where she is."

"I told you, I don't know. She only comes to me in my dreams."

He narrowed his eyes at me while he studied my face. "You did it. Her energy is all over you. You killed her."

I looked away, but he pulled my chin back to him. "You're working with Isabell." He walked away angrily. He balled and unballed his fists as he stomped around in a circle. He stopped and turned to me. His blue eyes burned. "I should have killed your mother when I had the chance. I should have taken you and your sister out before you were born. Now, you've taken my sweet Mila."

"I didn't mean to. I was tricked. I loved her like she was my sister."

"She was your sister."

Tears started to well in my eyes. "I know. I promise. I didn't know what I was doing. Isabell said it would expel the darkness from her."

"There was no darkness in Mila."

"But she was possessed! You saw it, she wasn't right." My voice was starting to creak.

He paused. "Even if she was, how could you be so stupid? What did you even do with her soul? What do you need with that much power?"

I froze. I couldn't tell him about Lanie. I didn't know enough about this to come up with a plausible lie. "I don't know." I whispered. "I don't know what that spell was. Mother made me do it." My voice rose to a high pitched whine.

That was not what Matei wanted to hear. He slapped me. My face jolted to the side. Immediately, intense heat flooded where his hand made contact. Tears sprung to my eyes. I'd never been in a fight before, but I imagined this adrenaline surge was a taste of what it felt like to get into one.

My head hung. I didn't dare look up, that would just make the tears flow. "I'm sorry," I whispered.

"Save it. I don't want to hear your excuses. You're useless," Matei stormed. He turned to one of his henchmen. "Lock her up in the back room until I decide what to do with her."

One of the huge men stepped forward. He untied me and lifted me by my arm to my feet. Everything inside of me wanted to fight him, but I knew it was a lost cause. I let him propel me to the back room and lock me inside. It wasn't like I had much of choice in the matter.

Once inside, I sank down to the door until my butt hit the cold concrete floor. My arms already ached from being tied behind my back. The tears rolled freely down my cheeks, but I wasn't sobbing.

"Remi," I whispered.

Nothing happened.

I cleared my mind and pictured him. "Remi."

I waited. I repeated it, but still nothing happened. I let my head fall back against the door with a sigh. I cleared my mind again. "Angie?"

Nothing happened.

"Come on, Angie. I know you can't interfere, but I could really use some help."

Still, nothing happened. I wiped the tears from my face with my shoulder. I needed to do something. I couldn't just sit here and rot away. I stood using the door to balance. The room was full of kegs, boxes of beer, and other sorts of bar type items. I found a box cutter on the edge of a shelf. I'm guessing they didn't usually lock people up in here or else they wouldn't have left something so handy.

I used it to cut the bindings on my wrists. I shook out my hands. I'd always seen it in movies, but I didn't realize how uncomfortable it would make my wrists and shoulders. I rattled the door, but it was solid and locked tight. The room contained no windows, only a couple of fluorescents for light. I was surprised the electrical box wasn't in this room either. They must have had multiple storage rooms.

I needed to find Lanie. I wracked my brain. How could I get out of here? The floor was concrete, the walls were cinderblock, and the ceiling was solid. Neither of my guardians were listening, either. I wanted to just sit down and mope. What could I do?

I lifted my head. I had it. This would be the perfect time to experiment, what could go wrong? I took the box cutter and stabbed the end of my finger. The blood swelled up from the skin. I smeared my hand across the floor and started to draw.