There is a nymph with the wings of a Hell-Hordian sewn onto him, a demon (this made my heart race) having his fangs removed with pliers, a spirit that they are trying to force to drink what looks like blood, and some Shifters that they may have frozen permanently into different forms. What I notice about all of these kinds is that their muscles are definitely honed and way larger than they should be. They also seem to be abnormally fast and really, really pissed off.
One of the shifters suddenly whips his head towards me and we make direct eye contact.
Something in his gaze makes my insides crawl. It is pure evil and also knowing.
I add smart to my mental list of descriptions for these genetically altered kinds.
The lab worker jabs the shifter with another syringe and he lets out a silent scream, shifting into a Vampire with red eyes. This brings my focus back, reminding me of Shadow's red eyes and that I need to get on the move before I get caught.
On to the bay area.
Please…please be in the bay.
I drop to my hands and knees and crawl as fast as I can below the windows of the lab to the entrance to the next tunnel. I make it without incident but my breathing is ragged and my pulse is all over the place. I am nervous beyond reason now and may scream at the littlest thing.
Maybe I should tie something around my mouth just in case.
But it would take too long.
I stand next to the wall and try to get control of myself. The sconces are more brightly lit now and I worry even more about being seen as I creep along the wall, white-knuckling my knife.
It seems to take an eternity before I reach the bay and I almost turn around two or three times thinking I am lost. But just as I am about to, I hear a series of agonized screams up ahead.
My body freezes and locks up, refusing to move. I close my eyes and try to suck in air.
I tremble.
My face wrinkles up.
I almost fall apart, but I tell myself that it's not Shadow and it gives me some semblance of control.
If it is Shadow then I will obviously be no help at all. I will turn into a wailing sissy and cause more problems than I am worth. Hell, maybe they will let me join him on the whipping post.
I grind my teeth so hard my jaw pops and I move forward, one slow, determined step at a time. The boy's tortured screams grows more and more ragged and I wish he would just pass out already to save himself from the pain and agony.
Finally, I reach the big opening of the bay and hug the wall, looking around frantically to make sure no one can see me from this side.
To my relief, no one can see me at this angle but they are yelling things in a language that I can't understand behind me, so I peer around the wall at my back.
On the post is a head of stringy, sweat soaked, dark hair and a body with no tattoos. I can't see the face because his head is limp, chin to chest, blessedly passed out.
But now I know it's not Shadow and I can breathe a little easier. Although, it's not much relief because I have seen him being whipped in my visions, so I know he's been through this. Unfortunately, I don't think he was lucky enough to pass out.
It's the authorities that are doing the whipping though, not the Guards and I can tell because they are wearing red and black outfits with an assortment of weapons and night sticks. Also, I never really thought of it before, but they are bigger than normal. About the same size as those genetically altered kinds in the lab, with the rippling muscles twice the size of Shadow and Gabe.
Hmm.
So they are altered too and I am betting they are fast and smart as well.
I whip back around and hug the wall, hoping I didn't get caught peeking but not sure if I did or not. The strange language stops abruptly and they start whispering.
Oh no.
Whether or not they saw me, I am not sticking around to find out. I jog away as quietly but as quickly as I can and when I get far enough away I start running, crossing my fingers that I don't run into anyone coming towards me.
I see the bright lights from the lab up ahead and when I reach it, I drop to all four's and crawl across, below the windows, faster than I ever thought I was capable.
Reaching the entrance to the first tunnel I stand and dust the rocks and dust off of my knees. I hiss when I do, realizing that my knees are cut and are bleeding heavily.
I have no choice but to leave the pebbles and dirt in my knees because I have no time to spare. Hopefully, I can clean them out sooner rather than later though.
Trying not to allow myself to think about where I am heading now, I keep on running, stinging knees and all.
I reach the fork in the path and swallow thickly.
I know if I give it any thought I will chicken out. I don't let myself slow down as I dash down the dark tunnel.
Haunting wails and moans echo towards me. My heart beats so rapidly in my chest that I become light headed and it becomes harder to breathe.
I am shaking and trembling with a fear that owns me completely.
I feel for the wall at my back so that I can continue along it into the darkness.
I can't believe that there is no light in here whatsoever.
How deep into this tunnel do the cells lie?
What will I find when I find them?
I know I'm getting closer because the moans and groans are getting louder.
Oh gods. If he isn't here then I don't know what I will do. I can't give up but I can never be satisfied wondering what happened to him, and this is my last hope.
Squashing those horrible thoughts, I continue on shaky legs in the direction that I really do not want to go.
After I have snuck in the dark for about five ten minutes, the wall at my back suddenly turns into something cold and hard with a space next to it.
Just as I realize that it is a metal bar, something grabs my fingers and causing me to jump and squeal.
Luckily, I panic and it jerks my hand away from whatever it is.
My heart thumps wildly in my chest, knocking so loudly that I hope it doesn't give my presence away to anything or anyone else.
Ha! Like the startled squeal didn't.
The moans and groans turn into a cacophony of different languages. From what I can tell, some even sound like pleads and some sound like threats.
I hug myself tightly, trying my best to stay in the center of the path away from both sides of the cells. If I get too close to either my right or my left, hands try to grab me.
This is difficult in the dark.
I drop to the dirt floor and crawl, wincing when pain sears through my knees and I suddenly remember the gashes and cuts.
"C-can anyone understand me?" I stutter.
The voices rush at me, more forceful than before but I have no idea what they're saying.
"I'm looking for a demon named Shadow…"
And they continue.
But so do I.
The voices grow louder and louder and bombard me from every side of me.
I fear that they are drawing unwanted attention and panic grips my chest.
"Shhh! Keep it down! You'll get me caught and then I can't help any of you…."
Either my deceiving promise doesn't fool anyone or they don't understand me either.
"I for one, do not believe that you would rescue any of us," a deep, rough voice rumbles from beside me.
I freeze completely. I turn slowly, trying my best to adjust my eyes to the dark, but to no avail, it does not help. I strain to see something in the dark cell, or whatever it is, to my left and come up short.
But with just one blink of my eyes, there's nothing there one second, and red eyes open and staring directly into my eyes the next.
My blood thunders in my ears and I try to keep it together but my emotions are all over the place.
Please, don't let this twisted, creepy thing be what is left of Shadow.
"Shh--Shadow?" I ask weakly, my throat thick.
"If I said yes, would you free me?" the deep
voice returns, still finding my eyes somehow in the darkness.
"I…don't know…"
He laughs and it sounds so evil.
This breaks my heart.
I am too late.
I dare to crawl closer, then with my hands out in front of me, I touch the cold, metal bars but his eyes never leave mine as I slowly stand.
I inhale shakily as my legs tremble beneath me. I wonder if my eyes are playing tricks on me or if it's just my imagination but they seem to be drifting closer. When cold hands slip over mine I gasp at the contact, not realizing how close he really was.
Now that I am face to face with, whatever this is, I realize that it's not the same red eyes that I remember so well. These are achingly unfamiliar.
They are not as large and the shape is a lot harsher. Shadow's eyes are a beautiful red color, the color of glistening blood, and they draw me in. But the red color of these eyes is scary and harsh. There is no love or lust them, just malice and evil.
"Ah, well now you know," he rumbles.
"L-let go of me!"
He tisk tisks me.
"I wouldn't expect a pretty thing like you to understand," he says, "but I wasn't always this mean and ugly…" he rubs my hand with his cold one.
His eyes flicker down to what I imagine would be my neck….my pulse.
"You're a…vampire," I say, nervously.
"So I am."
"Please, let me go," my voice breaks, making me look weaker than I want.
"It seems we both want the same thing."
I open my mouth to tell him that I will free him if he doesn't hurt me, but then I realize that I have the upper hand.
I have to find a way to bend him to my will if I want to save Shadow.
If he kills me then he has no chance of getting out whatsoever.
With new resolve, I realize that I need to become a monster to deal with a monster.
Alright, No more misses nice girl.
"Look, …uh..." I wait on him to tell me his name.
"Bastien."
"Okay, Bastien. If you tell me where Shadow is, and how to get him out of here, then I will free you in return. It's that or nothing. And don't underestimate me, because without me, I know that you're not getting out of your little cell."
I grit my teeth.
He doesn't speak for a long moment. The only thing between us is our stare and our breaths (well, and the metal bars). It's a battle of wills and I refuse to look away first.
"I have never heard of Shadow," he emphasizes the name, mockingly.
"Well," I smile menacingly, "I guess you're out of luck then."
I turn to leave because I have wasted too much time already, but he squeezes my hands to the bars. I clench my jaw, refusing to cry out in pain.
"No you don't, angel. Look, I will tell you what I know of the half-breed so long as you let me go, first."
I whip my head back around to those red eyes in shock.
So he has heard of Shadow, the liar!
And he knows something!
"How do I know that you'll come through with your side of the deal?" I ask.
"I'm a vampire. Once I give my word I cannot go back on it. Besides, I think the little half-ling has suffered enough."
This shocks me and I falter for a second, wondering what all he has suffered. Bastien suddenly glances towards the way I came with an intent expression in his eyes.
"They're coming…" his deep voice grates.
"Who? I don't hear anything…" I whisper, nervously.
"Quick, there is a keypad on the ceiling…you can reach it. Each key has a bump on it, like brail. I need you to find the key with four bumps and press it twice, then press the one with two bumps once! Hurry!"
He releases my hands and I reach up high feeling for a keypad. I hear the voices as I fumble over the rough, dirt ceiling.
I can also see the flicker of a light around the corner in the distance of the tunnel.
"Back up some," he urges in a whisper. "Keep going…okay, to your left a little…"
My fingers are desperately searching along the ceiling looking for this keypad, and dust and dirt is falling in my eyes. My fingers are getting nicked and raw.
"I can't find it!" I panic, the light and voices are getting extremely close and the voices from the other prisoners are growing loud and angry.
"There! There, you're right next to it! Hurry," he hisses.
My fingers run across the cold metal keys with buttons and I close my eyes to feel for the different number of bumps on the keys, as if that will help.
"Wh-which one did you say first?"
"Four bumps! Hit it twice, then find the--"
"The one with two, got it!"
I am pressing the buttons frantically and then a metal clang sounds causing me to jump. I really hope that I opened the right cell and that he doesn't hurt me.
I look around for him, not seeing any red eyes as the loud voices bombard me again. I turn circles, hastily trying to find him before he sneaks up on me and drains me dry.
I smell him before I see him, though.
The undeniable smell of rotten blood seeps into my nose and the hairs on my arms stand on end. Suddenly he is right in front of my face and I swear I can feel his breath on me.
Bastien grabs my hand and pulls me down the dark tunnel before I can think about the blood smell and why he was so close to my face. He pulls me along and holds onto me tightly as I trip over roots and other things, keeping me from falling.
My legs are burning and screaming for me to stop and rest. My lungs feel like they are going to explode at this fast pace. If I was in doubt before, now I am certain that he is genetically altered. Way, way faster than imaginable.
"I-I have to…stop," I wheeze.
"Can't." That's all he says, and with no remorse.
"Just…leave me then," I gasp frantically for air and my legs give out.
He seems to consider this for a second.
"Damn vampire morale…" he mutters."I gave my word!" he grits out, madly.
He sweeps me up in his strong arms and carries me through a maze of tunnels with his unimaginable speed. I can only hope he's taking me to Shadow. Maybe he'll help me rescue him.
He moans. It sounds kind of scary.
"Wh…what?" I ask hesitantly.
"Your knees are bleeding. It's not that I mind but after all, I drink blood and not as much as I would like being held prisoner and all…"
"O-oh. Sorry…"
Gods, please don't let him suck my blood. Not when I'm this close.
"Mmmphh," is his non-committal grunt.
"Where is Shadow?"
"Almost there."
Wow, it's a really long way away from where I was, and in the dark I would probably have never found his cell. Maybe the gods are finally on my side.
We stop and he sets me down on trembling legs. I can't see anything, but I hear some noises from a keypad and then the familiar metal clang of a cell door opening.
The red eyes are back in front of me and Bastien grabs my shoulders.
I don't jump this time but my heart rate does pick up some serious speed.
He looks at me intently. "This is your half-ling's cell. Or it was the last time that I saw him. I haven't heard or seen him in a while. I can't say how long because there is no way to tell time in a dark cell."
I look at him, eyes wide. I'm scared and nervous.
"Be careful little angel. He's a dangerous one, crazed and starved, beaten and raped. They have experimented on him with things that would normally kill any other kind. He is without a doubt, not the same boy that you once knew."
My throat closes on me when I try to swallow and my tongue seems thicker than it's ever been.
"W-will you help me get him out of here?"
I only dare to hope.
He laughs a deep, mocking laugh.
"I have no wish to die and he would surely kill me for even entering his cell. Now go in and get him, there's not much
time before the authorities reach you. Good luck."
He is gone before I can even thank him, a breeze of air my only proof of his exit.
He was strange in his own way but I will always remember his helpfulness. If it wasn't for him, I might have failed my own rescue mission. That still remains to be seen anyways, but not because of him.
I swallow loudly and reach for the cell frame. I slip through instantly get chills.
The air is noticeably colder inside this cell for some reason.
Gathering all of my courage I put one foot in front of the other because I can't waste any time with the authorities not far behind me.
My heart is thundering in my ears. No doubt he is aware of my presence with his abilities, and they are probably enhanced now as well.
Shadow would never hurt me, but what Bastien said planted a seed of doubt and fear in my mind.
Chapter Three
I have no time to waste reaching Shadow, but I'm scared that he is as different as Bastien warned me and may not even want to leave the cell.
What if he is not even conscious?
How am I going to get an unconscious, two hundred and twenty pound boy out of here on my own? Not to mention I don't know any escape other than the way in which I came…back towards the authorities.
I quit my worrying and stuff it someplace for later and focus on the matter at hand.
"Shadow," I whisper.
No answer.
Hoping his emotions kicked in seeing me here, or his instinct thirsting for my blood, I scan the dark room thoroughly for a set of red eyes. If they are his normal black color then there is no way I will be able to see them.
"It's me, …Alexia," my voice wobbles. "I'm here to get you out…I'm sorry I took so long."
Silence.
"There's not a day goes by that I haven't looked for you though…"
Still nothing.
"Please, if you're in here…we have to go. The authorities know I'm here and they're not far behind…"
Nothing.
I feel frustration coming on and I resist it somehow.
What if he's not even in here?Did Bastien trick me? And how did he know the pass codes for all of these cells?
"I'm not leaving without you again, not after I have come this far. So please, say something…are you in here, baby?"
My Immortal Page 2