Fearless

by Nicole Coverdale

  And she was consumed by the darkness.

  Chapter One

  Where was she?

  She groaned, lifting a hand to her head, trying to subside the pulsing pain inside her head.

  A cold breeze whipped through the room, and she shuddered. Rubbing her hands up and down her arms trying to warm herself.

  Something skittered across the floor, brushing against her hand.

  She jumped. Jerking her eyes open. Blinking into the darkness. Watching as a tiny mouse skittered across the room. Disappearing into a hole on the other side of the room. Its small eyes staring at her.

  “What the hell?” she whispered.

  Whimpers filled her ears.

  She lifted her head.

  Startling, when she saw her sisters sitting all around her. Their faces streaked with tears. Their tiny arms wrapped around their thin bodies, shivering from the cold.

  “Oh God.”

  She pushed herself to her feet.

  Her head spun.

  Her knees buckled.

  Her stomach dived.

  And she suddenly felt like she was going to throw up.

  She slowly slid back to the floor, and leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths.

  Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. Where were they? She thought to herself as she looked around the dark room. Staring at the concrete walls. At the boarded up windows. Shuddering at the sight. Where were they?

  “Elena?”

  She turned her head, watching as Irena scooted towards her. Holding out a hand and touching her arm. “Elena, you’re awake.”

  Elena smiled, reaching a hand forward and brushing a lock of Irena’s dark, auburn hair out of her face. “Yeah. I’m awake.” She whispered.

  “Where are we?” Esmeralda scooted closer to her, sitting on the floor, her legs crossed. Lifting her head. Her dark, hazel eyes full of fear.

  “I don’t know.” Elena whispered, honestly.

  “We’re so cold!” Bianca told her, rubbing her hands up and down her arms from where she sat against the wall on the other side of the room.

  “And hungry!” Arianna added. “We’re hungry, Elena!”

  “It’s so dark.” Isabella whispered.

  “No one knows we’re here.” Torianna murmured.

  “We don’t even know where we are.” Gabriella sobbed, tears streaking down her cheeks.

  “What’s going to happen to us?” Tarianna cried.

  “We’re all alone.” Carmella added.

  “We’re going to die here.” Lilyana whispered, her voice so certain.

  The words of her youngest sister echoed in her ears.

  Elena felt a lump form in her throat. Tears filled her eyes. She stared around the room at her sisters. So scared, with no ounce of hope left in them, and she just wanted to curl up in a ball and cry her eyes out.

  Where were they?

  Why were they here?

  Who had put them here?

  How long had they been here?

  The questions whirled through her head.

  She lifted a hand, rubbing the back of her neck. Wincing at the tenderness, where it still throbbed, still feeling a little on the weak side. Someone had drugged her, she realized, remembering the feeling of something jabbing into the back of her neck back at the house. Remembering the light headed, floating feeling she had felt. But who would drug her? Why would someone drug her? And why would someone lock her up in a small, cold, dark room with all of her sisters?

  That was the most important question of all.

  “Your sisters need you now, more than ever.”

  Her mother’s words echoed in her head.

  Tears filled her eyes, and she blinked them away. Staring at her sisters. Wishing she had the answers they seeked, but she was just as clueless as they were. But she knew one thing for sure. She would never let anything happen to her sisters. They were her flesh and blood. They were her family, and she would surely die before she let anything happen to any of them.

  “I would die for them.”

  She startled. Again, her mother’s words echoing in her head.

  She lifted her head, staring at her sisters.

  “I’m not going to let that happen.” She whispered. “We are not going to die.”

  “Elena, you can’t promise that!” Isabella screamed. “We don’t even know if we’ll see mom and dad ever again!”

  Mom.

  The image of her mother walking out the front door flashed through her mind.

  Dad.

  She remembered her father, laying on the floor, blood surrounding him.

  She gasped, suddenly not being able to breathe.

  They didn’t know?

  Oh God, she thought. Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.

  How could they not know? She thought to herself. How could they not know that their mother was gone? Taken away in the middle of the night by some man in a mask? How could they not know that their father had been shot? Was he alive? Was their mother alive? Was she being tortured? What did that man want? What had he meant by all those things he’d said? Was her father really a monster? And just why did she have to be the one stuck with the image of their mother being taken out of their lives forever? It wasn’t fair! It wasn’t freaking fair!

  A million thoughts spun through her mind.

  “Be brave.”

  Again, her mother’s words echoed in her head.

  “About mom.” She finally whispered.

  Footsteps sounded just outside the door.

  Her head jerked up.

  “Someone’s coming!” Irena whispered, grabbing Elena’s hand.

  “I can hear that!” Elena snapped, wincing as Irena’s nails dug into her skin.

  She turned her head, listening to the lock jingle on the door. A moment later it swung open, and she winced. Bright sunlight seeping into the small room and several men dressed in black flooded in.

  Thump!

  Elena jumped, slowly rising to her feet, lifting her head and staring at the tray that now lay in the middle of the room

  “Eat!” one of the men shouted from the center of the room. “Or starve. The choice is yours.” He chuckled. “Who knows if you’ll get another meal anytime soon.”

  A snicker sounded somewhere in the middle of the room.

  Elena frowned at the sound, scanning the room.

  She felt Irena’s hand drop from hers.

  And she watched as her sisters raced towards the center of the room. Dropping down in front of the tray and gobbling the food up as fast as they could.

  “Well, aren’t you going to eat?”

  She started, turning her head to look at the man who stood next to her leaning against the wall.

  “I’ll let them eat first.” She whispered.

  The man shook his head. “Always the responsible one, aren’t you, Elena?”

  Elena gasped, jerking her head around. “How—“

  “Go eat!” he shouted, before turning and walking away.

  Elena stared after him, then slowly turned. Walking across the room. Her bare feet lightly tapping on the cold concrete.

  She stopped in front of the tray, reaching down, and grasping the item. It crumbled in her fingers.

  Bread, she thought to herself, as she brought it to her mouth. Wincing at the taste. Stale bread. She turned to the pitcher. Water, she realized, as she brought it to her lips. Warm water. She realized a second later, coughing at the taste of it.

  “Really?” she whispered, turning her head to stare at the man who stood next to the tray. “Really, you’re feeding us bread and water?”

  “You’re lucky you’re getting anything at all.”

  Elena laughed. “Oh, so I guess I should thank you then, shouldn’t I? You brave men, dressed in black who have kept us locked up in this dark room for I don’t know how long. Thank you so much for thinking of our well-being and bringing us this meal. I feel so much safer knowing that my life is in your capable hands.” She stared down at the tray, and reached
down, grabbing it and throwing it across the room. The tray crashing against the wall. Water and bread spraying across the room.

  “Stop it!” the guard shouted, grabbing her by the arms and slamming her against the wall. “Stop it, and shut your mouth, little girl. You know nothing. You are nothing. You will never be anything. Your life is changing, and you will be grateful for what you are about to learn from us.”

  “Just what am I going to learn from you?”

  “It’s not time.”

  “It’s not time?” Elena laughed. “What are you? On a time schedule? Waiting for the real man in charge to give you the go ahead? You’re not a man, Soldier. You’re a weak, pathetic piece of garbage!” she spat in his face.

  The guard jerked back, raising a hand, and slapping her across the face.

  “I told you to shut your mouth.” He whispered. “Or you will know pain like none you’ve never known before.”

  “I’m not afraid of you.” Elena whispered, not even allowing herself to wince, staring right into the man’s eyes.

  “No. But I know one thing you are afraid of.” He whispered, grabbing her by the arm. His grip tight around her wrist.

  Across the room, a scream sounded.

  Elena jerked her head around, her eyes landing on Irena, as two men grabbed her by the arms and slammed her against the wall.

  “Irena!” She screamed, struggling against the man’s hold.

  “You see, anyone who disobeys us, will pay with the ultimate price.” The man whispered in her ear. “Or in this case, one of your sisters will.”

  Oh God. Elena froze.

  “No.” she whispered, shaking her head. “No! You can’t do this!”

  The man laughed. “Oh but we can. Just you watch.” His hand reached forward, cupping her jaw, turning her head making her look straight ahead.

  Elena swallowed. Lifting her head, wincing as his fingers dug into her jaw.

  And she watched as a man walked up to Irena. Lifting his hand, and slapped her hard across the face.

  “You’re going to enjoy this, little girl.” The man whispered.

  “No! Irena!” Elena screamed, struggling against the man who held her. Tears rolling down her cheeks. “No! Don’t do this!” she cried. “Let me go, you bastard! Let me go! That’s my sister! Don’t hurt her! She’s just a little girl!” her words ended on a sob.

  “Then you should have kept your mouth shut.” The man whispered. “If you had, none of this would be happening. This is your fault, Elena. All your fault.”

  Tears rolled down Elena’s cheeks.

  She shook her head.

  “No.” she whispered. “No. This isn’t my fault! It isn’t my fault!”

  “But it is.” The man whispered, snickering in her ear. “It’s all your fault.” He lifted his head. “Do it!” he shouted into the room.

  “Do it! Do it! Do it!”

  All around her, she heard the chants from the other guards.

  She saw her sisters crying. Being held by the other men.

  And she watched, as the man standing in front of Irena withdrew a knife from behind him, and slit it down the middle of Irena’s shirt.

  “No!” she screamed.

  “Such an innocent girl.” The man whispered, his hand running down Irena’s chest, just before he dropped his mouth to nibble on her.

  “No!” Tears rolled down Elena’s cheeks.

  And she watched in horror, as the man pulled off Irena’s pants, and as the other two men held Irena against the wall, he undressed himself, spread Irena’s legs, and dove inside of her.

  Elena fell to her knees. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Sobs racked her body, as Irena’s screams filled her ears.

  No. She thought to herself. No! No! No! This couldn’t be happening! That was her sister. She had promised her mother that she would take care of her. That she would take care of all of them, but she had failed. Her mother had been wrong. She wasn’t strong. She was weak. And now, because of her, Irena was paying the ultimate price.

  “Irena!” she screamed.

  She closed her eyes, trying to block out the image.

  But Irena’s screams filled her ears.

  A creak sounded.

  Footsteps sounded.

  She opened her eyes, turning her head, watching as a man stepped out from the shadows. He lifted his hands, slowly clapping.

  “Very good.” The man whispered. “Very good! Nice way of showing them who’s in charge, Erik! Now get her dressed and get them out of here. It’s time!”

  The man turned and walked out of the room.

  “Just know anytime you get out of line we can do anything to your sisters.” The man who held her whispered. “Anything.” He dropped his arm from around her. “Let’s go!” he shouted.

  “Irena!” Elena bolted across the room, pulling Irena in her arms.

  “He hurt me!” Irena cried, tears running down her cheeks. “He hurt me, Elena!”

  “I know, sweetie.” Elena whispered. “I know he did.”

  “I don’t like this place, Elena. I want to go home.”

  “Me too, Irena. Me too.”

  “Everyone, get up!” another one of the men in black shouted. He walked in front of them, tossing a set of clothes to them. “And get changed. These are your new clothes. You will be rewarded a new set of clothes for every accomplishment you complete here. You are a soldier now, so get used to taking orders.”

  Elena stared down at the black pants and shirt that she held in her hands.

  She blew out a breath.

  Okay, she thought to herself, just do it. You can’t let anything else happen to your sisters. Just do it.

  They quickly changed, and the men lead them out of the room.

  Elena grasped Irena’s hand, pulling her to her feet.

  “We’ll go together.” She told her sister, as they walked through the door.

  “Walk in single file!” The man behind them shouted.

  A whipping sound sounded just behind them.

  Elena jumped, looking over her shoulder. Staring behind her at the man who stood behind them, a large whip lying in his hand.

  What were these men? She wondered to herself. Monsters? She grabbed Irena by the arm, pushing her forward.

  “Stay in front of me.” She whispered. “I’m not going to let anything else happen to you.”

  They trudged in single file down a narrow, blacktopped road the bright sun beaming down on them.

  A cold breeze whipped through the air, sending chills through her body.

  She lifted her head, staring around her at the large fence that lay all around them. It had to be about thirteen feet tall, she thought to herself, staring at it.

  She heard a grunt somewhere.

  She jerked her head around, watching as two women fought in a ring to her left. Blood spurting from both their noses. And they were breathing hard.

  To her right, she saw another woman, shooting off a rifle. Watching as the bullet hit the target right in the center.

  And further down yet, she saw a man throwing shooting stars.

  Another man was jogging down the side of a fence.

  Another was sitting next to the fence reading a book.

  What was this place? She wondered to herself, as they walked through the gates and stopped. The gates slamming shut behind them.

  “Welcome, ladies.” A man greeted them, as he stood with his back turned to them. He slowly turned around. “Welcome to your new home.”

  Elena gasped, staring at the man who stood in front of them. Not being able to take her eyes off of him.

  She would never forget him.

  Standing there, at just under six feet tall. That short, brown hair she remembered all too well. Those bright blue eyes she had stared into every day as a little girl, and the scar that lay in the center of his jaw.

  “Daddy.”

  The name escaped her mouth before she could stop it.

  “Silence!”

  The guard behin
d her shouted, stopping behind her and hitting her across the back of the neck with his hand.

  Elena gasped, almost doubling over in pain from the hit.

  “Daddy!” She reached a hand out.

  “Elena!” A smile crossed Abel’s face. He held a hand up, stopping the guard, as he started to raise his hand again and took a step towards her. Lifting a hand to trace her cheek. “My sweet, Darling.”

  “Where are we, Daddy?” Elena whispered, staring into his bright blue eyes. “Why are we here? What is this place? When can we go home?”

  “This is your home, Elena.”

  She froze, his words echoing in her head.

  She turned her head, staring at the place around her. Staring at the guards who stood behind them, their faces unyielding. Remembering the people she had seen in the place. The fence.

  This was her home?

  A shudder rippled through her body.

  “This is your home.”

  His words echoed in her head.

  There was something familiar about that voice.

  She stopped.

  A gasp escaped her mouth, and she jerked her head around. Staring at her father. Into those bright blue eyes. Her mind going back to that dark room they’d been in just moments ago. Remembering the man who had been in the doorway.

  “You!” She screamed, stumbling back a step. Breaking free of his gasp. “That was you in that doorway!” she cried, tears rolling down her cheeks. “You stood there, watching, while that man raped Irena! Didn’t you hear her screams? Her cries? Why did you just stand there? Why didn’t you stop it?”

  “Because you girls had to learn a very important lesson.” Abel whispered, grabbing her wrist in a tight grip. “That your lives as you once knew them are over.”

  “Daddy!”

  “Stop that!” Abel lifted a hand, and slapped her across the face.

  Elena’s head snapped back.

  She lifted a hand to her cheek, staring at the man who stood in front of her. Barely being able to recognize him. He had once been such a nice man. He had been so loving to all of them. He had loved them more than anything in the world. Now, she didn’t even know who he was.

  “Who are you?” she whispered.

  Abel laughed.

  “Oh Elena. You don’t even know what you’re about to be a part of.” He whispered, staring at her. Than at the rest of his daughters. “You see, years ago, my father had a vision. A vision for a better world, and he built this place. Well not this place, but a place just like it. Like me, he was tired of the people in this world, and he was determined to do something about it. So he trained men and women in the arts of combat. Taking out the evil in world. The people who did him wrong, and it was his mission to take his rightful place in the world. To be more powerful than anyone else, only he was stopped before he could fully execute his plan.”