The room was dark. Well the bag was still on my head so everything was dark. I've been awake for what felt like hours. My arms are bound behind my back and no amount of twisting my wrists back and forth have loosened the rope. All I've done is successfully rub my skin raw.
Right after we were shoved in the car, Ashley and I got separated. She'd been riding in the back, presumably between two of our assailants, and I was shoved into the trunk. It's been hours and I haven't heard her since. The creak of a door opened before the sound of boots started towards me. Without a word, a sharp pain shot through my neck causing me to flinch and yelp.
"What in the actual fuck did you just inject into my neck?" I gritted my teeth through the pain.
"Nothing you're going to need to worry about." A gruff voice filled the room. Immediately, I pictured the man from the garage.
"I dunno," I scoffed, "felt like something I need to worry about. Instead of that, where's Ashley?" Ignoring my question, he grabbed my arm and hoisted me off the ground like I weighted nothing and started dragging me to who knows where. My heart started to pound. I needed to figure something out soon or this is it. After basically dragging me across several rooms, I was tossed to the ground. With my arms still bound, I struggled to get up but before I was able to do anything I was held still on my knees.
The bag was ripped off my head and an old man in a deep purple robe stood before me. He's holding onto a long staff with, and I kid you not, an eye popping out of it. Tentacles slowly wiggled about around the staff and some were even gripping his hand back.
"So," his crackle voice broke my eyes away from his staff, "our lost lamb has come to prepare for sacrifice." He said aloud like a preacher. In that moment, I noticed other robed figures surrounding me. They were all holding a different item. Some items I couldn't make out but the one that stood out to me the most was the skull of another human. Fear must've filled my eyes because the purple robed man stepped forward.
"Fear not, my child, for you are receiving God's gift." A man in black robes brought the purple robed guy a goblet, causing my panic to rise.
"Yeah, that's why I'm so freaked out." I mumbled my thoughts aloud, which caused the man to laugh. Then shot the man in the beret a look, signaling him to step on the rope tying my arms together, pulling my shoulders back. When I let out a gasp of pain, the contents of the goblet was poured in my mouth. Immediately, I start coughing as the black liquid hit the back of my throat. Damn, water board me why don't you! My thoughts were cut off when the guy in the beret grabbed my face forcing me to open my mouth, while the other guy kept pouring the rest of the black liquid out. I couldn't see him but I could hear someone started chanting. I'm dead, I'm so fucking dead.
My anxiety and panic kicked into high gear and my ears started ringing. My vision started to get blurry. Whether it was the spike of adrenaline or strange liquid they fed me I couldn't be sure. I didn't even realize I was let got and had been doubled over in a fetal position on the floor. My whole body was shaking but I couldn't move, like I was paralyzed.
"What have you done to me." I said through shaky breaths. Demanding an answer more than asking for one. Being ignored again, the purple robed man grabbed my shoulder and held me upright, bringing his staff uncomfortably close to my face. I could feel tentacles from the staff starting to touch my face but I was caught in a trace by the eye.
The eye was staring into her, like it as speaking to her soul. Something in my chest started to burn and I let out a scream of pain but nobody moved. Sweat started to pour from my skin and my whole body felt like it was on fire. Looking down, I could see my veins starting to darken and the skin around it almost seemed to look bruised.
"What's going on?" I shouted while trying to get out of the big guys hold. The guy in the purple robe seemed shocked but his expression quickly changed to excitement.
"It looks as if God as bestowed us a gift!" He bellowed throwing his arms into the air. Fuck, whatever that means it's definitely not good for me.
"Take her back to her cell." Was all he said as he turned and left out of my sight. Being guy proceed to throw me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and tossed me back in my cell.
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Saddler could hardly believe it. This fool girl who ended up being in the wrong place at the wrong time, has bonded almost instantly to the plaga. Something is different about her but what. Bursting into the office room, Saddler started to write a letter informing Salazar of their new possession and what tests they should preform. God sent him this gift, he will not waste it.
"Why are we wasting time with that girl?" Krauser spat as he walked through the door.
"Her blood bonded almost instantly to the plaga." Saddler said without looking away from his task, "We need to take her to Salazar to see why." Folding the paper, he hands the letter to Krauser.
"Take this too him so he may prepare, I'll have the others move the girls to the village." Krauser growled under his breath, something about not being a delivery man but grabbed the letter anyway.
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Amelia was still laying in the cell calming her nerves. Well, more like trying. The adrenaline was starting to leave her system but her eye sight was still blurry and it was freaking her out. Calm down, Amel. Taking a deep breath, she tried to focus on the blurry spots to gain her bearings. Getting into a sitting position, she kicked out trying to find the nearest wall. After finding it, she shuffled over to it and laid on her back with her butt and legs flat against the wall. Dropping her shoulders, she pulled her tied wrists under her butt then proceeded to crunch up, lifting her arms more to giving her legs the clearance to wiggle through the little hole her arms made. Thank you mom, for all the escape lessons I thought were useless a dumb.
Getting a look at the knot, it looked to have loosened up from all that trauma she just experienced. Shuddering at the thought, she got to work chewing on the knot to loosen it even more. The burning of her wrists were the only thing keeping her from numbing out of this situation. Ever since they fed her that absolutely disgusting black water, if she could even call it water, she's felt numb. Finally, the knot came loose enough for her to pull her hands free. First thing she needed to do was take her contacts out, they had to be the reason why she couldn't see.
"Ugh I hate doing this blind." She spoke softly. Following her muscle memory, she plucked both contacts out. Blinking a few times, she opened her eyes and could see clearly. She slumped in a sigh of relief. Looking closely at her blue colored contacts, the black water blurred the clear part of the contacts. Great, how am I supposed to cover this up. She sighed.
I'll worry about it when we get there. Right now, I just need to find Ashley and get out of here. Standing up, Amelia looked around the room or closet. Janitors closet to be precise. A shelf full of toiletries, cleaning supplies and a tool box lined one side with mops and brooms in the corner. Looking at the door handle, it was locked from the outside. Unlucky for them, they installed it with the hinges inside. Smiling to herself, Amelia drug out the tool box hoping that these people put their tools away. Opening the lid, a flat head screw driver laid on top. Grabbing it, she put it in her pocket and noticed a box cutter was well. I guess I needed some kind of luck after all this. Pocketing the box cutter, Amelia walked back to the door and got to work with the hinges.
Getting the hinges off was a little work but eventually they gave way. After putting the door down as quietly as possible, she poked her head outside to get a look. It opened into a medium sized room with a table and scatter chairs. On the other side of the room was another table with Ashley and I bags. Nobody was around, she tiptoed across the room and immediately reached her bag. She unzipped the biggest pocket and found her phone and watch. Are these guys idiots or what? She snorted to herself. Turning on her watch, she tripped the GPS signal. She'll definitely have to thank her parents for the survival lessons as they proven useful time and time again. If she ever gets home, that is. Shoving the watch under her bra, she turns on her phone.
"Please have some kind of signal." Amelia mumbles out. Down the hall, boots could be heard headed her way. Shit. Rushing to a door opposite of the footfalls, Amelia quickly opened it and ran down the short hall. If she was going to do anything, she needed to send word home. Opening her phone she quickly typed out a message.
"SOS Ashley Graham" It wasn't long but it didn't need to be. Pressing send she hoped it reached her dad. He'd have to have been informed of my disappearance by now. The hall T'd at the end. Hating decisions like this, Amelia slowed to peer around the corners. On the left, the hallway ended with a door and the other stretched on with several doors. Opting for the left, she crossed her fingers and slowly opened the door. The room opened up to a small empty office with one computer. Score! Rushing inside, she closed the door and locked it. Her phone buzzed in her hand.
"Message unable to send" gripping her phone in frustration she let out a sigh. It can never be too easy. Sitting in the chair at the desk, she turned the computer on. After tapping on a few keys, Amelia was able to send a message via Morris code. She's not the biggest tech wiz but, again, something her parents taught her. Squinting her eyes in suspicion and slow inhaling through her noes, Amelia realized she's going to have to ask her parents a few questions. After we're home. She thought while typing her message into the computer.
"SOS Ashley Grah-"
The door knob started to giggle causing Amelia to send the message preemptively. Grabbing her phone she started typing 911 when someone started picking at the door. She quickly pressed call then tossed the phone out of sight before the door blew open revealing Krauser.
"Oh great, my worst nightmare." Amelia half joked but brought the box cutter up for defense. His form took up the entire frame, blocking the only exit. The sight of little ol' me holding up a box cutter did nothing to faze the guy because he quickly advanced going for my wrist. I pulled my armed hand back and my unarmed one shot to deflect his extending hand, slightly giving me an opening. Amelia quickly took the chance and swiped faster than she's ever done before. Shock spread across her face at her sudden movements. A decent gash opened up the side of his chest but he ignored the pain and still grabber her by the neck.
"What the hell are you made of?" She wheezed out, while grabbing at his hand.
"Saddler was right, something is different about you." He spoke aloud. Krauser was staring directly into her eyes. Fuck, my eyes. Amelia has many secrets and having purple eyes is one of them. Fading in and out, she eventually passed out.
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In the briefing room, everyone sat waiting patently for the president to arrive. One side of the table sat Amelia's parents, who's eyes were distant, and in the other sat Leon. The man who will be sent on a one man mission to save the Presidents daughter and the Weathers girl. The President walked through the door causing everyone to stand before he waved everyone to sit.
"We received a message via Morris code from a small town in Spain not but 30 minutes ago." He spoke then clicked a button turning on a screen to show everyone the message.
"Soon after, Spain officials contacted us after they spotted two females of description headed to a remote village at the far edge of the country." The President pressed a button turning it to the next slide, showing a map of the suggested area.
"Leon will go in and gather intel. If he discovers the targets, he will do everything to get them home." Everyone cast a glance at Leon and he just nodded.
"Please let me go with him, sir." Amelia's father pleaded with the president. He's been begging to go as soon as he heard his daughter was missing.
"I'm sorry, James, I can't allow a civilian on a dangerous mission like this. I'm already sorry your daughter got mixed into this, I promise we'll bring her home." The President walked over and put a hand on James' shoulder before walking out of the room.
"Don't worry Mr. Weathers, I'll bring your daughter home." Leon said walking up. He had a determined look in his eyes that told James he meant it.
"Anyway we could send a small pack with you for Amelia?" The mother stood. "She's a smart girl, it wouldn't surprise me if she was the one to send that message. Knowing her, she's not going to want to be a burden." She held out a small bag patiently waiting for Leon's response. Her eyes were distant and hollow, she held herself together right now but the red around her eyes shows she's broken down several times before now. Leon just nodded and grabbed the bag. Giving both of them a determined look before leaving to prepare for departure.