Chapter 17

I wake to soft snores in my ears, arms wrapped tightly around me. One hand covers my own, fingers interlacing mine. Feeling uncomfortable, as slowly and quietly as I can, I wiggle myself free. Once standing I glance back. His hard lines are gone. The serious cocky look that is a constant facial feature is replaced by the innocence of sleep.
Pain stabs my bladder. I really need the toilet. I walk around the tiny cave. I graze my hand across the solid stone wall. In the far corner a dirty brown sheet dangles from the wall.
Pulling back the sheet, dust rains down on me. I sneeze as quietly as possible. A quick glance at Chris, he does not stir. I walk forward and light a lone candle that sits on a stone ledge. The candle gives little light. A portable toilet sits alone, the kind you would find in a touring caravan.
Well, I guess it will do.
I run my hands through every grove, the hope that a trap door will open, just like in the movies. Only this isn’t a movie, and I am not that lucky.
“What are you doing?” Startled, I jump. Chris lies with his hands behind his head. “Do you think they will be some toothpaste and maybe a toothbrush hiding inside a hidden compartment in the wall?” He answers with a laugh, a deep laugh that goes on forever.
Annoyed, I cross my arms and give him a look that could kill.
“We are stuck in a cave, and you are worried about cleaning your teeth,” he says, amusement clear in his voice.
“Yeah, I really don’t want to have to walk around with morning breath,” I state. Men really are not hygienic.
“Why don’t you look for a bathroom and take a shower while you’re at it,” he says through his laughter.
“I already did, there is a portable toilet, no shower,” I say looking around the tiny space. How long are they going to leave us trapped in here? Every minute feels like torture waiting for them to come and just get it over with, I wish they would hurry up with whatever they have planned for us.
I hobble back to the bed. I sit on the edge and look into his dazzling blue eyes. It’s strange how his eyes can change colours so rapidly from bright baby-blues to cold ice to a bright dazzling blue. Then again, mine change from blue to green depending on my moods.
“What do they want with us?” I want to know the answer, but I fear the answer at the same time, however the question has been bugging me since we arrived. If I know what they want, then at least I can prepare myself.
“I don’t know,” he replies as he bends down and snaps the heel of my shoe.
At least I won’t hobble now.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my body suddenly feeling drained. His warm arms wrap around me pulling me tight against him.
My body shivers uncontrollably. I did not notice how cold I was.
His hands run along my arms. A shiver runs down my spine. He places his jacket over my shoulders.
“You need it as much as I do.” I try to shrug the jacket off.
“Says the girl that is practically wearing nothing.” He pushes my arms through the sleeves and folds them up. The jacket comes to just above my knees.
“I am going to kill, Misty, I said it was too short,” I mumble. “I stole the dress. I did not mean to.” The realization that I never paid for the dress hits me.
“A thief is the worst kind of person. You can never trust someone who can steal form helpless people. Always ask for permission before you take something. Never steal from a shop store or any other businesses, remember they have worked hard for what they have got.” Clara’s lecture rings loudly in my mind.
“You didn’t steal the dress. They did when they kidnapped you.”
I turn and rest my head on his chest. I hold his t-shirt in my fist. His heart beats fast. His breathing becomes heavy. I press my body firmly against his, curling up in his lap. I feel him shiver. I try to give him as much as my body heat as I can.
“I cannot even return it if we ever get out of here.”
“The dress does not matter, Kay.” He brushes my hair with his hand.
“It matters to me,” I whisper.
Screeching echoes through the hollow walls, piercing my skull. I place my hands over my ears, blocking out the deafening noise.
A stocky, muscular man steps inside, black stubble coating his chin, along with three other men who keep to the shadows, only their red eyes visible, alerting us to their presence.
I press myself harder to his body.
All four men stand still, their faces expressionless.
They all walk forward, each of their steps, in perfect rhythm.
One second, I am sat in Chris’s lap, the next I am stood on the floor my body unsteady.
The sound of breaking wood sets my nerves on fire.
One of the men turns to ash as Chris drives a piece of wood through his heart. I scream.
A few weeks ago, the only thing I had to be worried about was whether I would pass the surprise test our teachers thrust upon us. Now, I’m pretty sure these red-eyed men are vampires.
The three remaining men pounce on Chris at once. He pulls his elbow back and rams it into one of the men’s chests. The man stumbles back.
His boot connects with the second man’s shins, sending him tumbling to the floor. He thrusts the broken piece of wood into the fallen man’s chest. Within seconds that man is ash.
The third man jumps onto Chris’s back. His eyes glow, fire burns in the place of his pupils. He sticks a sharp combat knife into Chris’s shoulder.
Chris holds onto the man’s hair while moving backwards. He slams the spiky-haired man’s head against the wall. Once the man loosens his grip, he flings him over his shoulder. The man crashes to the ground with a sickening thud.
Without wasting a second, Chris plunges his makeshift stake into the man’s chest.
One man remains. He eyes Chris with caution. At the speed of light, he moves. Chris falls to his knees as three more red-eyed men enter our holding cell. All three rush forward.
My terror turns to anger. The anger ripples through my veins, bursting out of my hand in the form of a light blue electric ball. Chris pushes one of the men into the line of fire. The man is ash instantly.
Another ball forms in my hand. With accuracy I did not know existed, I hit another red-eyed man.
The last two men stare at me, their eyes transfixed. Chris picks up another piece of wood. He launches one of the makeshift stakes through the air. The stake embeds into the back of the red-eyed man’s chest.
The commotion causes the remaining man to turn around, only to be welcomed by the same fate.
As the last man turns to ash, Chris grabs hold of my hand, dragging me forward. He pulls me out of the door and through the field, keeping to the shadows.
Once we enter the woods, he pulls me behind a large tree trunk.
“Get on my back.” He lowers himself.
“What? No, I can walk,” I state.
“They took my physical powers, but I still have my speed. We can cover more ground this way.” I do as he asks.
As soon as I am settled, we set off at a rapid speed. Trees wiz by, and the strong wind takes my breath. My stomach lurches as he jumps and turns sharply.
The trees begin to thin and become far between as we come upon another clearing.
He sets me down. Closing his eyes, he looks in deep concentration.
“What are you doing, meditating at a time like this?”
He has got to be kidding me.
“SHHH!”
Folding my arms, I plonk myself on the ground.
If he wants to meditate while the red eyed evil things are after us, what can I do. Oh yeah, I can sit like a sitting duck and wait for them to catch us.
“Let’s go.” He yanks me to my feet and waits for me to climb onto his back again.
We run for hours through the never-ending trees and fields until the sound of rushing water comes into ear shot. He runs faster towards it. My muscles ache from holding on so tightly. I fear I may fall.
As we draw nearer to the sound, we find ourselves standing on a cliff’s edge. A large drop greets us.
Barking sounds in the distance, along with long haunting howls. The sound sends chills down my spine. I am not fond of dogs, little dogs are fine, big dogs with razor sharp teeth terrify me. The deep rumble of the bark tells me it is a big dog.
He places me on the ground and stares into my eyes. Worry flashes through his iris, causing my fear to pick up.
He grabs me by the waist. I’m falling. My heart stays on the cliff ledge as we tumble to the ground. Only we don’t hit the ground, but ice-cold water. The water attacks my body like tiny pin pricks, biting and stinging my skin, as I am dragged under by the force.
The cold makes my muscles stiff. I find it difficult to kick my legs and push myself to the surface. The strong currents pull at my body, sending me spiralling downstream.
Rocks graze my arms and legs as I pass them at high speed. Sharp agonizing pain knocks the little air I have in my lungs out. The pain seizes my muscles, sending me under. My head pounds as I sink further and further down.
My chest burns for air. I frantically kick my arms and legs until my mind begins to fade away. Slowly I sink. The water seems to calm, become peaceful.
Arms wrap around my waist, pulling me up. I gasp for air. As air enters my deprived lungs I cough and sputter. He pulls me to the bank, laying me on solid ground.