A/N: Hey everyone! Just wanted to say, iv had a few reviews asking me to post new chapters later on that day. Im in England, so what might be day time there (if your in america) is me going to bed here! I don't want anyone to think im ignoring them, i read every review and appreciate everyone encouraging me :) Already writing the next chapter! Stay tuned!
Chapter 23
Luce panicked, she struggled at much as she could, clawing at the arm pulling her back into the woods, as well as trying to peel away the hand covering her mouth. At this point she needed as much oxygen as she could get, the hand over her face was restricting it making her feel light headed. She heard Cam's desperate voice shout her name, and the rustle of branches as he ran to catch up with her, making her struggle more to answer and return back to him.
A gruff voice sounded, it was the man who was carrying her "Stop resisting!".
'Resisting?! Who spoke like that!' Luce thought, but continued to struggle with all her might. Just as she was running out of energy, she felt another hand pull the hoodie sleeve up from her arm and felt a small prick. Quickly she felt her energy drain from her, her body stopped moving and she went slack in the man's arms, instantly realising she would be unconscious within seconds she panicked.
Trying to resist the blackness which was clouding her vision she shook her head, before realising it was useless. Taking one last look at the forest around, she saw one outcast lean down to the floor and open a trap door. But before she could see what it went, slowly she felt her consciousness slip away, and her last thought was hoping Cam and the others would find her soon.
When Luce woke up, she was in a dark room. The smell of damp filled her nostrils and made her feel sick and gag slightly. Forcing her eyes to open, they were blurry and wouldn't focus. She could only see the dark and grey of the room wall which were lit so dimly, and looking further around she managed to see the movement of shadows. She felt cold damp rock beneath her, and realised she was sitting on the ground leaning her back against a wall.
"So your awake" She heard a voice say in the corner say.
She had a pounding headache and tried to lift her hands to her head. But only managed to lift them half way before being restricted. Her vision slowly started clearing, and she realised she had chains around her wrists, connecting deep into the wall. There were also chains tying her feet together, and also going into the wall, she began to look around to determine where she was now her vision was clearer.
There were 6 men standing in the corner opposite her, all were poker faced showing no emotion apart from determination. Then as Luce focused into them she noticed, they had no pupils, just white eyes.
"Outcasts" Luce whispered nervously as she shuffled closer to the wall.
She tried to stand up but her muscles still had whatever they injected her with, running through them. Collapsing back to the floor she looked up at the men. They were all watching her carefully.
"Why are you doing this?" Luce asked, her voice cracking and hoarse.
"You are the price. Out ticket to get off earth and regain important ranks one again" One of the outcasts replied.
"But you could just ask the throne" Luce was trying to reason with the outcasts, she'd give anything to escape right now. "They could give you your positions back".
One outcast stood forward "You don't think we've tried that? They won't, we're outcasts, it's in the name, the throne wants us to stay that way". The outcast spoke in a monotone voice. "But that'll soon change now we have you".
"The throne will regret not giving us our positions back" Another outcast stood forward closer to Luce. She felt intimidated, and wanted to shrink back behind the wall for protection.
She felt helpless and exposed against the outcasts. She tugged at the chains but they were too strong and attached tightly round her wrists. They were cold and she could feel it beginning to burn against her wrists. She tried to wriggle out of them, but only managed to rub her wrists till they were red and sore.
She looked back up to the group of outcasts, all were staring at her. Those white eyes made her feel uneasy. "What are you going to do?" Luce asked quietly, desperate not to burst into tears in front of them.
"First we shall tell Lucifer we have you. Then give him the offer to give us a position within his rule and he'll get you safe and unharmed" One of the outcasts responded.
Luce was confused, she thought Molly said Lucifer had ordered the outcasts for her return. But now the outcasts seemed to be working on their own scheme. 'Why would Lucifer want me safe?' Luce thought. After all he had done to her in the past few days, torturing her and almost killing her. Luce's thoughts were cut off when another outcast stepping in front of Luce's vision to talk.
"But first we need you to tell us what your angel friends have planned with the orb they have retrieved".
The orb which could choose the fate of angels. That's all Luce knew about it, they hadn't told her anything else. "I...I don't know, I never asked" Luce responded hastily, she was worried the outcasts would do something else to her, she could tell they wouldn't be concerned to inflict pain.
"I predicted you wouldn't answer" the outcast replied smirking slightly.
"So we'll make you give an answer" another outcast walked forward. He was wearing black gloves, and was covered in scars and bruises. Luce began to struggle again, pulling the chain around her wrists, but to no success apart from rubbing her skin again.
"I promise, I don't know anything!" Luce squirmed as the outcast came closer.
Before Luce could protest anymore, he had punched Luce across the face. Her vision was blacked out for a bit, and she struggle to regain it. Looking up slowly at the outcast who had hit her, she saw the fist come back down towards her, hitting her in the stomach hard making her fall to the ground, completely knocking the wind out of her. She fell flat on her front on the floor, gasping for oxygen.
"Will you tell us now?" One of them asked
Luce couldn't respond with the air knocked out of her, instead she just shook her head until she managed to gulp down some breaths of air, but soon she managed to compose herself and replied " I have nothing to tell you! I don't know anything!" Luce was desperate to be left alone, she wanted to crawl in a hole somewhere and hide.
"Wrong answer" An outcast replied. He walked up to Luce pulling out a dirty looking woollen bag from his long coat. Dipping his hand into the bag slowly he pulled out a long sharp dagger. The handle looked like it was carved from wood, and it was bent in an odd shape near the tip. Luce managed a glimpse of herself in the daggers reflection.
She looked tired, exhausted, and terrified, with dried dirt and blood smeared across her arms and face. Luce's eyes went wide with fear and she began to pull from her chains again with the remaining strength she had.
The outcast came closer and kneeled in front of Luce, holding the dagger up high above his head, he plunged it at Luce, going straight into her shoulder. She screamed in pain and felt warm liquid trickle down her arm, dripping off her fingers.
A sudden noise at the top of the steps distracted the outcasts from causing more harm to Luce. Everything turned into a blur for Luce at that moment. All of the angels had managed to locate Luce and break through the doors, quickly flying into the room Luce was held captive in.
Arriane rushed towards Luce while the others killed the outcasts. Luce was moaning in pain and hung her head limply facing the floor. Arriane put a hand on Luce's good shoulder and pulled out a needle, which Luce could only hope was to take the pain away.
"This'll help kiddo" Arriane said, before lifting the hoodie sleeve and putting it in her arm.
Luce felt the family wave of darkness clouding her vision, but refused to fall under until she was sure the others were safe. She felt a hand on her shoulder and a quiet voice. "Rest. Everything's ok now".
Luce recognised that voice as Cam, and she went limp under his hand and soon fell to the floor as blackness completely covered her vision.