Chapter 7

Jack sat on the cold hard linoleum floor. He had his arm wrapped around Ellie with her head resting on his shoulder. His whole body ached. He was so used to being hungry his stomach no longer bothered growling. He looked around the room. All the Mallrats were huddled on the floor of a gray room the size of a classroom. The room had a metal gate down the middle keeping them trapped to one. No one spoke. Everyone was dirty and exhausted from the night before but no one could sleep not even Baby Bray and Brady. Despair washed over Jack and his eyes started to sting. He blinked a few times and then closed his eyes.

The strangers had come so silently that the Mallrats had not had a chance to fight back. They had taken out Ram and Slade first and then continued to bind and blindfold them all and took the babies away from their mothers. They were led in a single file line. No one spoke except for the occasional instructions from their captors; the trip was still noisy even though there was little talking. Brady and Bray screamed the entire time and noise came from the night creatures. Owls hooted and crickets chirped. Soon they were no longer walking in the sand but on hard ground covered with crackling leaves and twigs and rolling stones.

Jack Snapped back to the present. Where are we? He thought.

They had been walking for hours not saying a word. Their path unceremoniously became paved. Soon murmurs between their captors increased. There seemed to be more of them. They were led inside. The cool night wind noticeably disappeared.

"Stop!" a male voice bellowed. Jack's hands were unbound and he was pushed through a gate. Stunned he fell to the floor. For a second he sat there. He slowly removed his blindfold. He saw Trudy and Amber being pushed through the gate as it shut behind them. Locking all the mallrats together.

Jay paced the length of the cell.

He was a former techno and had knowledge that might help them understand what their captors wanted. It was an impressive operation that they ran. They were organized and gave away very little information about themselves. Their captors hadn't shown themselves since they had locked him and the other mallrats up.

Two females and a guy came in carrying baskets. They were assumed to be guards. They were barely indistinguishable as they all wore the same dark green color and matching tribal markings on their faces. One of the women, who was on the short side, opened a small hatch door in the gate and the two others put the baskets into the cell with the Mallrats. The Mallrats all sat quietly just watching the three strangers. Their guards started to walk away. Ebony jumped up and ran to the gate.

"What do you guys want with us?" She shouted at them. The large boy was the only one to turn around. He faced Ebony and looked her up and down obviously eyeing her body.

"Enjoy breakfast" he stated and left. Sammy and Gel went over to the baskets and started to unpack them.

"You guys, there's fresh bread and milk!" Said Sammy forcing a chunk of bread in his mouth.

"And cheese, and apples, and meat." Said Gel continuing to pull things out of the baskets. Lex walked over to Sammy and grabbed the container of milk from him. He started to guzzle it down when Slade grabbed it from him.

"It has to feed us all" Slade said. Salene got up and was followed by May. The two of them started pass food out to everyone.

"Eat slowly" said Salene handing a piece of bread and cheese to Darryl.

"We don't know when we'll get more" said Salene watching Sammy who continued to stuff his face in a hurry. Jay brought over bread to Amber, Trudy and their children and sat down next to Amber.

"What do we do Jay?" Asked Trudy as she handed a piece of meat to Brady.

"There's nothing we can do. We know nothing about them. We don't even know how many of them there are." Said Jay with a touch of despair in his voice.

"We just have to wait and see" Said Amber clutching her baby closer to her. May came up to them.

"She's not doing so well." Said May glancing over at Ruby. She was curled up on the floor in obvious pain. Salene tried to comfort her but she had nothing to offer her. The few belongings they had, had been taken away.

Lex was starting to get stir crazy cooped up in this cell. He was like a caged animal ready to pounce. Lottie began to whimper.

"What's wrong with you brat?" Bellowed Lex at the small girl.

"I need to use the bathroom." Said Lottie with tears starting to form in her eyes. Lex walked over to the gate that kept them all there. He put his fingers through the links and stood still for a while. Suddenly Lex lost control. He shook the gate and began to shout.

"Let us out of her you scumbags! You Cowards!" he shouted. Two people who were dressed just like the people before ran into the room. The taller of the two, a boy, came close to the cage.

"Settle down" he said looking Lex in the eye.

"Make me you coward!" shouted Lex. Amber jumped up. She saw that Lex had an opportunity to make things harder for the rest of them.

"I'm sorry." She said. "It's just some of the younger ones need to use the bathroom."

"Why didn't you say so before "he said gruffly. "Which one of you needs to go?" Lottie jumped up. "Come on then" said the boy. Lottie moved towards the gate.

"Alone?" said May suspiciously.

"Well you too then. Come on hurry up."

The other guard, a black teenage girl spoke for the first time.

"You back against the wall." She said pointing at Lex.

He obliged and moved. "Show them to the lavatories." She ordered to male guard and he ushered May and Lottie out of the room. "As for you" she said pointing to at Lex. "I suggest you start to calm down. We're stronger than you and you'll only cause harm to yourself."

"Ha! I took out Zoot and next to him darling you're a kitty cat" scoffed Lex. The guard didn't respond. Lottie, May and the other guard returned. Lottie and May were put back into the cell and the guards left without saying another word.

The Guards left the room that held their captives and entered a hallway that was filled with others dressed similarly to them. The female guard turned to her companion.

"Tell Norma that there is a possible problem with the captives and I require further instructions on handling them." The male guard nodded then turned and left.