Chapter 88
Chapter 88
As our captor laughs, the sound reverberates through the air, causing my face to twist in confusion and a shiver to run down my back, I can practically feel their eyes on me, their intense gaze making my skin crawl as they bore into me.
My head shakes in bewilderment as I struggle to comprehend the captor’s perplexing words.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I say, my voice trembling slightly. “I was just a baby when Thornholde found me at its borders. I’m an orphan. My parents abandoned me-
But the captor just continues to laugh, the sound piercing through my eardrums like a thousand screeching chalkboards. They nonchalantly pull open a metal door set into the floor of the ground, and a chilly breeze wafts up from the dark void beneath.
“Of course you don’t remember,” With sarcasm and bitterness, the captor spoke, their voice oozing with disdain. “You were just a tiny baby, remember? But Thornholde knows who you are, who you truly are. Thornholde knows everything, the fucking pack they are.”
“I have no idea what you’re saying-”
To my surprise, our captor didn’t respond to that sentence as I had anticipated. Instead of dismissing my words or laughing them off, their brows furrowed and their lips curled into a grimace, their anger and frustration palpable.
“Shut up!” The captor’s frustrated shouts echoed through the air as they aggressively cocked their gun once more, aiming it at us. Without hesitation, Nadia and I instinctively raise our hands higher in surrender, anxiety coursing through our veins, fearing the worst. “You don’t know anything! Your parents didn’t abandon you, it was that bastard who was your father! He left you there to rot!”
The captor’s words leave me frozen, my mind racing as I struggle to comprehend their meaning.
My father?
“… I think you might have mistaken me for someone else.”
The captor lets out a low chuckle, their eyes filled with determination as they shake their head. Pacing back and forth, they mutter softly to themselves, lost in their own thoughts. Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
“No, no, no. We got right. It’s you. We know it’s you. You’re family.”
With a frightened expression, Nadia clutches my arm tightly, her eyes wide with fear.
“Maya, we need to go,” she whispers urgently. “While the captor’s distracted, we should run.”
I stood frozen in place, unable to move as shock and disbelief surged through my body.
“But-”
Suddenly, the captor’s eyes lock onto us, filled with an intense, piercing glare. Their sudden change in demeanor sends shivers down my spine, and a wave of fear washes over me as they once again point the gun at us. As we stand frozen in place, Nadia’s hand clenches mine tightly, her trembling fingers betraying her fear. Our eyes remain fixated on the ominous figure that stands before us.
“Don’t move,” the captor growls, their voice low and threatening. “Or else I’ll really shoot.”
My heart pounds in my chest, a deafening sound that matches the frantic nodding as I struggle to control the panic welling up inside me. As
we wait for the captor’s next move, Nadia’s grip on my hand tightens, her eyes filled with fear.
Instead of firing the gun, the captor’s fingers tightened around Nadia’s arm, the icy touch of the metal weapon chilling her skin as they forcefully propelled her forward, Helpless, my heart lurches in my chest, overwhelmed by fear and a sense of powerlessness, as I realize that we are completely at the mercy of our captor.
“Go,” the captor orders, their voice harsh and commanding. “To the hole in the ground. Now.”
I
With a look of desperation in her eyes, Nadia hesitates, silently pleading for my help, but the presence of the captor’s gun leaves her with no other option. I can feel the boiling anger and frustration welling up inside me, but I remind myself to remain composed for now. In order to make our escape successfully, we must be patient and choose the perfect moment to act.
“Go” I whisper urgently, my voice barely above a whisper as I nod towards the hole in the ground. “Just do what he says, Nadia.”
Reluctantly, Nadia begins to move, her steps slow and hesitant as she approaches the hole in the ground. I follow closely behind, my heart pounding in my chest as I try to steel myself for whatever lies ahead.
“Yeah, yes. That’s right. Listen to her,” Addressing Nadia, the captor’s voice remained surprisingly calm as they looked fondly at me. “It’s in your blood to run smart. You should do boast that more often.”
With the captor close behind, Nadia made her way down the ladder, feeling the rungs beneath her palms as she went. With a deep sense of frustration, I begrudgingly follow them down. The darkness of the hole engulfs us as we descend, and I can’t help but feel the icy fingers of fear creeping up my spine.
The captor’s words linger in my thoughts, their perplexing contemplations amplifying the palpable unease that permeates the atmosphere Despite my confusion, I force myself to concentrate on the task at hand, desperately holding onto the belief that there is a way to escape from this terrifying ordeal.
While climbing down, the captor’s voice resounds in the air again, their words sending a shudder through my body.
“Our pack is bigger and stronger than Thomholde,” Their voice, low and filled with menace, continues to haunt the room as the captor speaks. I try to make sense of it all, but it feels like chasing after smoke, the truth slipping away from me like sand through my fingers. “We are the true rulers of this land.”
Nadia and Lexchange a bewildered glance, our eyes wide with fear, as we both struggle to comprehend the captor’s words echoing in our ears. It’s as if I’ve entered a nightmare, a distorted world that defies comprehension.
“And that drug–You know what I’m talking about. Of course, you do. The drug, you know? Why you can’t shift?” the captor adds, their tone filled with a sickening pride. “It was our pack that created it. We are smart! Smart enough to outwit even Thornholdel”
As we climb down into the underground bunker, their claims of superiority and dominance seem even more empty and meaningless. With a voice filled with anger and fear, I made my demand, my whole body shaking,
“If your pack is so big and so smart and stronger than Thornholde, why are you hiding down here?”
The captor’s response to my question is an eerie silence, their masked face hidden in the darkness, leaving me unable to decipher their emotions. Then, unexpectedly, their laughter begins–a chilling, mocking sound that sends a shiver down my spine.
“You misunderstand,” they say, their voice low and menacing. “We’re not hiding. We’re protecting our treasures.”
Confusion fills me as I blink at their words, grappling with the enigmatic nature of their response. Down here in this dark, damp chamber, what precious treasures could they be protecting?
“Our Luna is a smart lady,” the captor continues, their voice laced with admiration. “She knows that the other packs would be jealous of all our advancements. If they found out what we got, they’d come for us, and all hell would break loose.”
As I listen to the captor’s explanation, a sense of unease washes over me, and I begin to see how the pieces of the puzzle fit. That’s the explanation behind their hidden underground existence, their pack shrouded in mystery, and their extraordinary abilities kept under wraps. Fear grips them when they think about the other packs and the potential consequences if their location were to be revealed.
The captor’s words echo in my mind as I try to make sense of it all, my thoughts swirling with confusion and uncertainty, However, a lingering voice in my subconscious cautions me against placing trust in anything they utter. Their words, as expected, are likely just another manipulation tactic to ensure they maintain control over us, their captives.
“You’re a smart one,” The captor’s voice drips with fondness as they compliment me, leaving me once again confused. “Asking all these
questions, showing an interest in your heritage. It’s admirable. The rest should be like you.”
An intense wave of anger wells up inside me in response to the captor’s fond tone, I just don’t understand it – but I push it down, understanding that now is not the right time to engage. Biding our time is crucial; we must wait for the perfect moment to execute our escape plan.
As we finally reach the bottom of the ladder, a wave of disappointment washes over me as I take in the sight–a claustrophobic metal room, with its sole exit being a solitary door. Stepping into this nightmarish place sends shivers down my spine, as if there’s no way out of its suffocating confinement.
In the dim light of the room, I can’t help but nervously glance at Nadia, her pale complexion catching my attention. Our chances of escape from this underground prison are minimal, especially when the captor is monitoring our every action.
The captor’s eyes lock onto us, shining with a disturbing combination of malice and amusement.
“Wait here,” With a sigh, they glanced upwards, the sound of their voice bouncing off the cold, metal walls. “You didn’t close the door.”
As they begin to climb back up the ladder, the deafening silence engulfs us, leaving us alone in our thoughts. The moment the captor fades into the distance, Nadia and 1 exchange a knowing look, silently communicating our shared desire to break free.
In a hushed tone, I urgently whisper, my voice barely breaking the silence.
“I have no idea what they’re saying. But we’re going to get out-
Nadia scoffed, her eyes widening with a mixture of disbelief and fear.
“How, Maya?” she asks, her voice trembling. “We’re literally underground. How will Zeke and that stupid Alpha ever find us?”
As I bite my lip, the panic overwhelms me, making it difficult to think clearly and devise a plan.
“We’ll figure something out,” I say, trying to sound confident even as doubt gnaws at my insides. “We can’t give up hope.”
The sound of the metal door closing echoes in the air, plunging us into darkness and causing a shiver to race down my spine. The stifling air of the underground chamber amplifies Nadia’s trembling beside me, her fear almost palpable. In a tight huddle, our hearts pounding with apprehension, we draw comfort from each other’s presence.
All that fills the air is the sound of our heavy breathing, bouncing off the cold, metallic walls. In the cramped space, the darkness is suffocating, bearing down on us with an overwhelming heaviness.
But then, in a sudden shift, the darkness dissipates, giving way to an unsettling green luminescence that floods the chamber with an
otherworldly radiance. With a surprised blink, I tried to adjust my eyes to the unfamiliar lighting, quickly surveying the room.
Confusion clouded Nadia’s face as she let out a soft gasp, her eyes widening in surprise.
“What… what is this
I shake my head, feeling a whirlwind of confusion.
“I don’t know…..”
Whistling a tune, our captor begins their descent into the chamber. As I watch them approach, a wave of unease washes over me, my stomach twisting in knots.
Upon reaching the bottom, the captor’s gaze locked onto me, their eyes shining with an unsettling intensity. Their voice, smooth and emotionless, asks the question.
“You ready to go home?”
The question makes me bristle, my mind overwhelmed with confusion.
“What…7”
A cruel smile formed on the captor’s lips as their eyes flickered with a menacing gleam.
“Home,” they repeat, their voice dripping with contempt. “You know. To where you belong.”