These Vicious Games (Seattle Undeground)

Chapter 2

“New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings” - Lao Tzu.

When I awoke this time, it was in an all-white room. Bedding, carpet, curtains. The only thing with any color were the black walls and my purse laying on the desk, and I hope my little diary of inspirational quotes made it through. There is something so old about the place I’ve been held captive in. As if time stood still in a simpler, more… royal time. Like a hidden gem in the modern world of technology. When I ventured out of bed, the door was unlocked but I wasn't brave enough to go out, so I walked around the room. My eyes land on the vintage white side table. On top rests my journal and I breathe out a heavy sigh of relief to see it. I've had it with me for years, always writing down quotes that stand out to me. I lightly trail my fingers over the worn journal before finding the bathroom. It’s filled with personal care items, like a tooth brush and hair combs. Fancy Shampoos and conditioners that smell like roses and white tea, as well as bath oils. The closet is filled with gowns of white and zero shoes besides a pair of fluffy slippers. But there are silk nightgowns, and you guessed it, they're also white.

And I think about all those white garments as the lady stands behind me, pulling tight on the strings of a corset. As if playing dress up with a doll. She has said nothing so far, just came in a little after I woke up.

I have a million and three questions but have yet voiced them. I found no phone in my purse, just the hard candy, my diary and license, but nothing to send out a cry for help.

The key to survival is to watch, keep your head low, be invisible and then escape.

Because the first chance I get, I’m escaping… wherever this is. When I took a peek out the window all I saw was a vast coverage of trees that kissed a huge span of water. I’m not sure if I’m on an island, or this is just one view. A nice one, sure, but no number of views can keep me here. Not with a mad man who wants me drugged and dressed up like a Disney princess.

Joseph isn’t a better option at this point, either He literally gambled me away like an object instead of a person. His fiancée to be exact. He probably has lost zero sleep over the whole ordeal.

Not that I have lost sleep over it. I haven’t been given a choice but to sleep so far.

“Follow.” The one-word command by the lady gives me pause, but as much as I’m completely terrified, I’m also a little curious.

I follow the gray-haired woman. She’s older, with a stern beady face, and narrowing eyes. I don’t particularly like the way she looks at me. I follow her down the winding staircase. Black iron, and intricate molding surround the area, a deep shade of gray, almost black paint lay on the walls. Like a castle that was casted in a curse to forever be doomed to gloom. Iron chandeliers hang from the ceiling, casting low lights. The windows are framed and filled with swirling iron, only allowing hints of views in distorted images.

We step down onto a black and white checkered floor that stretches as far as I can see. Stepping into a room to the left, a dining room? The chairs are black velvet and winged backed. And on the strong black oak table lies an assortment of food. My stomach growls in approval. Unfortunately, we won’t be eating or drinking anything provided. It’s not safe. I may have no clue what the hell is going on here, but I know I’m not safe. Fancy castle be damned.

An older gentleman in a suit pulls a chair out for me, his head tilted down slightly.

“That won’t be necessary,” I say, my eyes looking longingly at the food.

“Miss?” The gentleman waves his hand out to the table of food. “You must be starved. Please, eat.”

I shake my head, my hands gripping my white skirts. “I’m good.” I swallow.

His gray eyebrows furrow, mouth tilting down in a line. “Miss, you’ll want to eat. Need to, really.”

I take a step towards him. “Why?”

He opens his mouth, eyes pleading before he looks over my shoulder, snapping to attention.

“If she doesn’t want to eat, we won’t force her.” My spine goes ramrod straight at his voice.

I spin, almost toppling over as I come face to chest with my captor. I tilt my head up, until my eyes clash with his. Villains are supposed to be ugly, but mine’s not. Not even a little. I open my mouth to ask questions, to scream, anything, but I become paralyzed as his thumb catches my bottom lip. “Shh.” His eyes drop down to his finger on my lip, fixated. “Red is going to be very pretty on you.”

I swallow as he takes a step back, hands drifting to his pants pockets. He nods, and strong arms capture me from behind. “Let the games begin,” my captor smiles at me.

I’m dumped in what I swear to God used to be a dungeon. The blocks of gray rocks are crawling with vines. I spin, my hands resting on the metal bars to take in the cage. That’s when I notice I’m not alone.

There are five people besides me. Unlike me, they’re not clean. Nor do they look like they’ve eaten in a few days. They all stare at me with deep circles under their eyes. Like they’re on the edge of breaking.

A man stands, his blond hair greasy and long. “What does someone like you have to have done to be trapped by The Beast?”

“I’m sorry?” What is this man rambling about?

He tilts his head, advancing. “You know, what bad little deed did you do to earn a spot amongst us?”

I take a step away, body colliding into the bars. “I do not understand. I’ve done nothing like… whatever it is you all have done.”

The man boxes me in, blue murky eyes looking between mine. “The woman to my right?” I look over his shoulders, seeing the woman sitting on the ground, head hiding in her knees. “She raped and murdered thirty young boys.”

I swallow, jerking my eyes away from the woman and back to the man in front of me. “And the three men? Human trafficking.”

“And you?”

He grins, exposing yellow teeth. “I like to rape, kill and then fuck my dead victim’s bodies.”

My heart sinks, stomach acid travels up my throat and as he leans forward something behind him opens, bringing with it fresh air and sunlight. I’m about to look over his shoulder when his eyes widen, hands falling to the side as an arrow splits through the center of his forehead. “Run.” He gasps, falling to the ground.

A silent scream gets trapped in my throat as I look to the open wall that was once closed. I see the men scrambling to the forest and the woman trips over herself as she tries to make it out as well.

My heart stops and I look around, trying to gather what’s going on. My mind screams for me to run, that this might be my only chance to escape. So, I do. I run as fast as I can. I don’t have the luxury of shoes like the rest. My bare feet slap against soft, wet soil as I run deeper into the forest.

I hear a male grunt a few feet beside me, the sound of a body hitting the ground and I yelp. My eyes blurring with unshed tears as I trip over tree roots. My hands smashing in the ground as I try to catch my balance.

My dress tears as I get up, jumping when an arrow lands beside my head in the tree. I want to scream, what the fuck do you want from me? And why are you doing this? But my survival skills keep my mouth shut.

I need to hide.

I duck to the left, finding a bush by a tree to hide in. I jump in, steadying my breath as I peek through a tiny clearing through the leaves. One of the men stops in front, looking around but barely makes it another step before he’s hit with an arrow, and then another, and another until he’s falling to his knees, blood spilling from his mouth as he chokes on it.

I think my body goes into shock because I zone out. Listening as a woman screams, begging for her life before her pleas turn into gagging noises. Zoned out until I’m yanked up by my hair, my body dragged against the last standing man.

He positions me in front of him like a target. He may look brave but he’s shaking like a leaf. “I’ll snap her neck if you don’t let me go.”

I look to my waist to see the man wears four gold rings as he grips my waist painfully. He doesn’t get to say much else before my ears begin ringing, blood seeping down my shoulder as red paints my dress.

I fall to my knees, covering my ears and squeezing my eyes shut. What the fuck is going on?

Strong hands lift me, cradling me to their chest. I don’t open my eyes; I know who it is.

My hunter.