Midnight Whispers (The Midnight Duology #1)

Chapter 21

21

My eyes flicker open, and I look around, but I’m surrounded by darkness. I’m on some random uncomfortable bed, at least I think it’s a bed. There’s a blanket that is thrown along the top of it that is made of some itchy material that’s irritating my skin. I sit up and my head immediately spins. I can hear scuffling from the opposite side of the door, followed by light shining into the room I’m in from beneath it. Two voices start bickering back and forth, I can’t make out what they’re saying but I can tell it’s getting heated.

“Hello?” I called out.

There’s some more movement from them. I get down on the floor and try my hardest to peer out into the room from the sliver of space below the door. I can make out two pairs of feet, one of which is coming toward me. Quickly I jump to my feet and hurry to the side of the bed furthest away from the door. My heart is beating so rapidly, I can’t focus on anything other than the sound in my ear.

The hinges squeak loudly as the door swings open, slamming into the wall behind it. The person who entered is large, easily three times my size. They have a hood on, and it makes it hard to see their face in the already dark room, but I think it’s the same guys that came into my house earlier. Was that today? How long have I been here?

“You say something?” The voice is deep and has an accent I can’t put my finger on.

“I just… wasn't sure I was alone or not.”

“Well, you ain’t. Me and my brother are out here, but you need to stay quiet, or you’ll cause trouble. You don’t want no trouble, do ya?” I shake my head.

He walks over to me; light reflects off something in his hand. When he’s standing in front of me, I recognize a needle in his hand.

“I promise I’ll stay quiet,” I sob. “You don’t have to give me whatever is in that needle.” I try to push myself back on the bed, as far away from him as possible. He reaches across the bed, grabbing me by the hair, and pulls me to the edge.

“Bosses orders.” He lifts the needle up, jabbing me in the neck and pushing down on the plunger. The man tosses me, and I hit my head on the wall, leaving a small hole where I landed. My head throbs as whatever was in the needle burns as it courses through my veins, my neck radiates in pain at the site of injection. I don’t know if it’s what was in the needle or the injury, I’m sure I have now, but my vision begins to get muddy. I’m unable to focus on anything as I drift into a sleep.

I try to open my eyes, but there’s something over them so all that remains is darkness. My first instinct is to scream, but there’s tape or something covering my lips. I know I’m not staying still because the floor beneath me is in fluid movement. My arms and shoulders scream in pain when I try to adjust myself, the rope binding my wrists digging in deeper than it already was.

My lungs tighten as my breathing gets more rapid. I try counting to remain calm, but it’s failing. The onset of a panic attack always gives me more stress than the attack itself. Sweat begins to bead along my brow, and I want nothing more but to wipe it off.

The back of my head throbs in pain. I try to concentrate and replay the moments I remember from when I was home: putting the sheets in the washing machine because they had blood on them. Finn. There’s no way he doesn’t know I was taken, right? Concentrate, Lillia. I thought Flora was coming home but it wasn't Flora, who was it?

I slam into the side of what I now realize is a trunk, as the car comes to a halt. I have no idea where we are or how long I’ve been here. There’s a mumbling of voices just outside and I try to focus on what they’re saying, but all I can make out is two words, Finn and mad. A laugh rings out and it sounds familiar, like I’ve heard it before, but I can’t remember where.

The car's engine turns over and the swaying resumes, on to the destination I’m assuming. My head is pounding, and I can tell I’m probably going to pass out any moment. My mind is moving too quickly for me to grasp onto a single thought.

Flora. Did she come home and find the house empty? Is she safe?

Finn. Is he going to come save me? We didn’t have enough time together. I need more time.

Dad. I just hope I lived a good enough life for him to be proud of me. Maybe I’d be seeing him sooner than I thought.

The man injected me with something. How long ago was that? Have I been here for hours? Days ?

My mind is going a mile a minute and I can’t concentrate on anything.

The car jolts to a stop and I slam into the back, or side, of the trunk again. I don’t know how far from Emolyn Cove I am or how long I was asleep this time. The sound of a car door slamming echoes throughout the body of the car, vibrating the walls of the trunk. There are faint sounds of footsteps that get louder before they stop. Someone’s going to finally open the trunk. My ankles and wrists are bound, so I know there’s no reason for me to attempt escape. From what happened the first time, I know better than to try to escape.

A gust of air flows through the trunk when it opens, stealing my breath. I try to breathe in deeply, but with my mouth restricted I’m unable to fill my lungs completely. My arms begin to tremble, and I know the fear that is filling my body is becoming evident.

“Who’s this?” Someone I don’t recognize.

“Finn’s mortal bitch.”

“And why do you have her in your trunk, Cedar.”

“Revenge.”

“Jesus. You can’t be serious.”

“Markus, he killed my mate.”

“She was not your mate, and you know it, my friend.” Someone unties my feet and removes the blindfold.

“Hello. I’m Markus. I’m going to remove your tape, please don’t scream.” I nod and a friendly smile appears on his face, exposing elongated teeth. Shit. “You will not be hurt while I’m here, you have my word.” Cedar scoffs as Markus helps me sit on the edge of the trunk before unbinding my ankles. I recognize the area I’m in as a garage, it’s massive, but a garage, nonetheless.

“Get her inside.” Cedar hisses .

“I don’t take orders from you.” Markus spits back. “Are you hungry, dear?”

“I am.” Cedar grins.

I shake my head, there’s something in my gut warning me not to eat or drink anything while I’m here. Markus walks me through the threshold and through the main living space. There’s nowhere that I could even begin to try to run to, but even if I did attempt to run, I knew they would catch me. The house remains void of any light and is decorated very minimally with only a plant here or there. He begins to lead me down a long hallway lined with closed doors, stopping at one of the ones in the middle.

“You can stay here until Cedar takes you to your next location.” Markus opens the door and guides me into the room. The room is plain, minimally decorated and so monotone. It makes me miss the eclectic decorations of my cottage.

“Do you know when that will be? Or where?” My voice is panicked, but the tightness in my chest makes it difficult to speak.

“I don’t. I’m so sorry.” His brows crease and in a split second he's out the door and I hear it lock behind him.

I stifle the sob that builds in my throat, my dad’s voice repeating don’t give up. There’s a small bedside lamp that is on, the light coming from it is dull but enough for me to see around the room. There’s no window, just a bed and table to its left.

Every muscle throughout my body is sore. Bruises are scattered across my skin, along with the caked-on blood and dirt. I’ve never felt so gross in my life, and I know if I lay down on that bed, I will be able to feel every inch of grime. But it’s calling my name. It looks so comfortable and I’m so tired.

I’m. So. Tired.

As much as I want to fight against the urge to rest, I drag my feet over to the bed. The comforter is soft and cool against the palm of my hand as I lightly run my hand over it. I don’t both pull it back as my body falls on top of it. Needing some sort of comfort. I pull my legs to my chest and wrap myself in an embrace. The sob that’s been building releases, I force myself to be quiet and to not allow any noises to escape from my mouth.

I can’t let them know about the hollowness in my chest.

I can’t let them know how broken I feel.