Chapter 122 Torture and Chains
1619words
We waited.
And waited.
Then, finally, as hours passed, there was a click and the steel door swung open and two men dressed in white, AOUB coats stepped inside, each carrying clipboards.
Aria's eyes flicked to me and she nodded, slowly, and I knew this was my queue to do as she asked.
We waited as the mean headed toward the other side of the room and placed down their clipboards, and Aria nudged me, and mouthed, "Now."
I didn't waste any time. A screech exploded from my lips and I dropped over onto the icy floor, rolling back and forth, crying out, "Help. I can't breathe!"
"Oh my word," Aria followed suit, suddenly bolting up to my side and pretended to soothe me. She peered up at the two men, feigning her distress. And man, did she do an amazing job as horror took over her expression and she cried out to them. "Are you just going to stand there?" she snapped. "Help her!"
The men exchanged looks when one of them said to the other. "Janice will kill us if something happens to that one."
The other one mumbled a curse, bolting to my side and Aria willingly moved aside so he could check my vitals. "What's the problem?" he asked, and I didn't miss the anxiety in his expression. A gleam formed on his forehead as he began to sweat, and I couldn't help but wonder what Janice would do to them if they failed at their job.
Clearly, she had no regard or remorse for destroying life, and I didn't think it was beneath her to ruin her worker's lives if she didn't get what she wanted.
"I. Can't. Breathe." I choked out, and the man moved my hands from my throat to form pressure on my neck. I had no idea what exactly he planned to accomplish with that, but okay. Just then, as the other man also tried to assist, bending down beside the first man, I noticed Aria moving in behind them.
I had no idea what she was doing, but whatever it was, she moved quickly. Not a moment later did she move toward Belinda and sank down beside her, with a smug look on her face. She nodded, mouthing, "Done."
I released the tension in my body, dropped my hands, and sighed out a steady breath, feigning a few pants not to make it seem like an act but that they really did help me. "I…it's better," I heaved. "I can breathe…Thank you."
A snort sounded from Belinda, and when my eyes flicked toward her, she was fighting a smile. When the men peered at her, the smile was instantly gone and she pushed out a breath. "Is she going to be okay?"
"Seems like it," the first man shrugged. "Can you sit up?"
I nodded, and let him help me get up. "Bit dizzy," I feigned, and went to sit down beside Aria. "I think I'll be okay now."
When the men turned to resume their business with the clipboards, Aria offered me a smile. I grinned back at her.
Then, one of them twisted around and pointed to Aria. "You. Come stand here."
Aria nodded, and I noticed her hand moved behind my back before she drew it back and stood up. Without taking my eyes off the men, I moved my hand in behind me and came in contact with something hard and plastic.
A card. The ones they used to swipe the doors at every room. I bit down a smile and realized Belinda was peering down behind me, excitement dancing in her eyes.
She inclined her head at me, and I returned a nod, then focused my attention back on the men and Aria. They were taking her measurements, her temperature, and other standard things you'd do at a doctor's check-up.
When it was my turn to go, I slid the card to Belinda, then got up, passing Aria as she headed to sit back down beside Belinda. I didn't miss the exchange when Belinda slid the card back to Aria, but thankfully so far, the men didn't notice.
They followed the same measurements as they did with Aria, then instructed me to go sit back down, calling Belinda to come up next.
When they were done, they informed us that our meal would be coming within the next hour, and left.
Aria immediately turned to me. "Okay, I got out ticket out. Now we need to find out where Kayn is."
"Why don't we just go now?" Belinda asked. "I mean, when they brought us in here the halls this side were pretty deserted."
"True," Aria admitted. "But we don't know what time of the day it was, and whether it's packed now. We can't just run out. Besides that. They've got cameras set out in the hallways. Doubt we could get by without getting noticed."
"Then what the hell is the point of that card?" her face soured. "If we can't get anywhere?"
"That's what we need Kayn for," I supplied, remembering he was able to manipulate gadgets and whatnot. No doubt he could manipulate cameras, too.
Aria nodded. "Bingo. He can get us out without getting seen."
"Of course, why didn't I think of that?" Belinda fell back against the wall. "But we are faced with another problem. How are we going to get him?"
"That's where my other idea comes in," Aria turned to me. "Since you're bound to him, I think you stand the best chance to get close to him."
"Oookay?" I frowned. "What's the plan."
"Almost the same as we did now," Aria said. "You told Janice about your bond, right?"
I nodded. "Yeah?"
"Well, and she obviously want you alive, based of what those men just said."
"Your point?" Belinda's eyes bounced between us. "How is that going to get us close to Kayn?"
"Easy," Aria smiled. "Just like earlier, pretend you can't breathe. Then, I will explain to them in my pretending state of panic that if you're separated too long, you an die. I mean, they won't know if it's the truth or not."
Belinda's eyes lit up. "Yes! That could work."
"Then you hide the card somewhere on you and once you're with Kayn, you two can escape this place," Aria said and both Belinda and me frowned.
"What about you two?" I asked. "I can't just leave you here."
"Yes, what about us?" Belinda peered at her.
"You see, you get out and you'll know where we are located. You can get back to the others. You told me Rake helped your half-sister escape—"
"I don't know for sure if she is my half-sister, but yeah, okay?" I nodded to encourage her to go on.
"Right, whichever," she shook her head. "Then since you know where we are, you can ask him to get us out. He will, won't he?"
"I told you they were actively looking for you, and I know Rake would jump at the chance to get you out of here."
Belinda cursed, glancing at Aria with an incredulous look. "Are you seriously going to leave our fate in the hands of a freaking fairy? Are you insane? You know they can't be trusted!"
"Rake is trustworthy," Aria quipped, and there was a tug in my heart. She was just so much like Ember. "I know he'll pull through. I can easily trust him with my life."
And the confidence in that fairy took me off guard. When Aria noticed the doubtful expression on my face, she continued. "You'll understand when you get to know him better. He loves Ember more than anything, and I can guarantee you he's do anything to make her happy."
I nodded. "So when do you want me to throw my scene?"
A click sounded and the steel door flung open. A woman in a coat stepped in carrying a tray with three bowls filled with a murky brown substance that looked a lot like some kind of porridge, and three plastic spoons.
She placed the tray down onto the floor in front of us, and said, "Eat up while you can. More tests will be done by lunchtime."
Without another word, she turned for the door and walked out, closing it behind her.
"So it's morning now," Belinda spoke up.
"They must have brought us here during the evening, then," Aria acknowledged. She glanced at me. "If Janice is present, Carly, when they do the tests, you throw your act."
I nodded. "Okay. I will."
She slipped the card to me. "Let's just hope they don't ask us to undress and throw us in water again."
All three of us pulled faces. "Let's hope not," I agreed, picking up one of the bowls and poking it with a spoon. The other two also grabbed a bowl, and poked at the brown mixture.
"Do you think this is safe to eat?" Belinda asked and gasped as Aria picked up a spoonful and stuck it into her mouth.
"It's not the best," she admitted. "But, I've been here a long time and can assure you it isn't poisoned. They want us alive."
"Seriously?" Belinda gaped at her. "You eat the food."
"Hate to say it, but I'd be long dead if I didn't eat," Aria said pointedly.
I raised the spoon to my lips and took a bite, pulling a face. "The chef really needs to lay off with the salt."
We then ate in silence, until they came for us. This time, heading for the lab.
