Chapter 16

After hours of walking the trees begin to thin as a clearing comes into view. Large hilltops and cliffs lay ahead. In the middle of each hilltop sits a grey metal door. They remind me have mushroom houses the type you would find elves living in. Only these hillside rooms gave off an eerie feeling and not a aww that’s cute one.
The men march forward until we come to the third hilltop. One man opens the door as another thrust us inside roughly. I fall to the floor with the sheer force, grazing my already sore knees on the hard, freezing concrete. The cold rushes to my bones, its frosty hands chilling my skin. The door slams loudly shut. The vibration runs through my body.
“Now, what?” I ask him as I get to my feet.
“We wait.” He struggles to his feet, pulling his phone out of his pocket. He shines the light around the cave, using it as a torch. A single rusty bed lies in the centre, along with an old, chipped wicker chair, the stone room was mostly bare, and a few candles line the walls.
Chris finds some matches and lights them all until there is a soft glow in the cave, casting shadows on the walls.
I take the phone out of his hand.
“A torch, seriously, and here I was thinking you were the smart one.” I search through his contacts until I come upon James number. I hit the call button. Triumph on my face.
The phone has no service bars. I shake it frantically, hoping that by some miracle service bars will appear. I have no luck. I raise my hand, every intension of smashing the frustrating object against the wall. The phone is snatched out of my hand.
“Just remember this is mine when you are finished.” He shoves the phone in his back pocket. I scowl at him, and then turn my back.
He places an old dusty blanket around my shoulder. The blanket smells of damp and rot. I fling it to the floor, running my hands over my body to get rid of any excess germs or God knows what.
“Jesus on a bike, that thing is horrid,” I mutter while shivering.
“First of all, I am pretty sure Jesus never rode a bike, and secondly ... you are obviously freezing and that is the only thing available.” He places the blanket around my shoulders again. I try to imagine that it is a brand-new fluffy blanket that smells of lilies, my favourite flower. It does not work, and the stench is revolting. The material is ruff, scratching my bare skin. Sighing, I wrap the blanket tighter around myself.
“How do you get your powers back?” I ask as I sit on the bed, laying my head back to rest on the metal headboard. I’m both physically and mentally exhausted.
“Without the antidote, I don’t,” he mumbles, taking a seat in the chair, which groans and squeaks its protest at the added weight.
“Oh.” I have no words, my body too drained to feel any emotions. I sink lower onto the bed, resting my head on a stained dusty pillow, which causes me to have sneezing fits.
“Do you think they know where we are?” I ask as I close my eyes.
“Just get some sleep while you can,” he answers. Yeah, because sleeping in a cave has always been on my bucket list. Let’s not mention the red eyed men may come back at any minute and he wants me to sleep of all things.
“Do you think we will get out of this place?” I want him to say yes, to tell me he has a plan and that everything will be okay.
“Kay, get some sleep.” I guess he is just as unsure as I am. I cannot deny how tired I am, and sleep does sound appealing.
“Are you planning on sleeping in the chair?” I ask, shaking violently from the cold.
“Yeah,” he whispers.
“I could really use your body heat.” I hear him sigh, then the squeak and groan of his chair as he stands. I would never under normal circumstances ask a male to lay with me. The cold is too much for me to bear. How I wish I had my comfy jeans and a sweater on right now.
He lies down, pulling me tight against him until my back rests against his chest, and his body heat is an instant relief. My body relaxes. A feeling of safety spreads over me. My body moulds perfectly to his. The feeling of his strong arms wrapped around me gives me a sense of security.
His heart beats rapidly against my back. His warm heavy breath tickles my neck. His heartbeat becomes a sweet lullaby, sending me to sleep.