Chapter 2
A my woke, stood up slowly, and walked around, flapping her arms against the chill.
She had no idea where she was, but, so far, the group had been friendly, coming in and out at regular intervals, bringing her food, tea, coffee, blankets, and seemingly whatever she needed.
What she wasn’t getting was answers or a visit from the people who were supposedly on their way to explain why she was here.
That part, above all else, really bothered her because now she was wondering whether anybody at all was coming or this was something completely different than all the scenarios going through her head.
But, hey, she was prepared to do whatever she needed to do to get the hell out of here.
When the door opened again, the same guard walked in, holding a cup of coffee.
He noted in an undertone, “Sorry it’s so cold in here. We’re having problems with the heat.”
She nodded. “It’s definitely cold, and it’s clammy,” she added, “as if we’re underground. No windows are here.”
“No, not in this room,” he replied. “Something to do with the way the bylaws were written, with only so many bedrooms allowed. Since a room can’t be called a bedroom unless it’s got a window in it, building rooms without windows became a popular way to get around the rule.”
It seemed to be a complete BS story to her, but, then again, when it came to city codes, she didn’t know much. She just nodded and accepted the cup. “How much longer?” she asked.
“Hopefully, not very long at all,” he stated cheerfully, and, with that, he turned and walked back out.
She stared at the door suspiciously, wondering if she really was a prisoner.
They hadn’t come outright and said she was, but it had been implied from the start.
She sipped her coffee as she stared at the door.
If this was a test, she was certain she’d failed, and that was good.
She didn’t want anything to do with a group that would do this to her.
Whatever was going on here was just wrong.
She figured, at some point, either they were afraid she would figure it out herself or they were waiting for her to use her energy skills.
That’s the part that really worried her.
She wasn’t exactly sure what she could do.
She hadn’t lied when she had told Terk that everything was changing, since everything had changed.
Plus, if she were underground—as she suspected she was—she was surrounded by thick concrete walls, which definitely hindered telepathy and other energy skills.
Her abilities, which had always been similar to a locator, wouldn’t help if she were the lost one.
As she considered her guard’s words, she realized he hadn’t specifically denied that they were underground. He hadn’t really told her anything. As a matter of fact, once she thought about it, she realized his answers had been more evasive than anything else.
Frowning at that, she walked over to the door and turned the knob.
The knob turned under her hand, but the door didn’t budge when she went to pull on it.
She stepped back and glared at the door.
“That answers that question.” She stared at the room around her.
“Can’t say I appreciate being a prisoner. ”
Knowing that they were probably listening in and laughing at her, she walked back over and sat down on the bed, pulling her knees up against her chest, wondering just what the hell was going on.
She thought she heard a whisper, something subtle and faint, but something was definitely there.
She closed her eyes and called out to the ethers.
She couldn’t quite grasp who or what it was.
She called out for Terk, and he came online immediately. The reception was staticky, clarity coming in and out.
We have people looking for you , he told her. Have you learned anything useful? Anything about these people?
No, just that they’re still waiting for someone, and I am still a prisoner.
You know for sure you’re a prisoner? he asked, his tone sharp.
At least that was her interpretation of the fading energy. Yes, I tried to open the door but no luck .
That’s what we expected anyway , he replied.
Yeah, maybe you did, but I didn’t , she snapped. I was still thinking that this was some test, whether MI6 or private .
I’m not sure it isn’t , he noted. It could very well be that they’re checking to see if you do have any abilities and what it’ll take for you to use them to get out of there .
Which is BS , she snapped. No way I would use my abilities in this situation .
Why not? he asked curiously.
Because, if they found out, if they got any confirmation that I am an energy worker, then, chances are,… they would never let me go.
Terk agreed. That’s a good point, and I’m glad you realize it. They probably won’t release you anyway .
She sucked back her breath. You didn’t have to say that .
Right, and yet I don’t really believe in couching the truth. You and I both know that this is a serious scenario, and we’re doing everything we can to find you, but that doesn’t mean it’ll happen soon enough .
She winced, trying to keep her expression calm in case she was being watched. She didn’t want anyone to know what she was doing in her head. If they’re expecting me to do something, but I’m not, do you think they’ll up the ante?
A long moment of silence came from Terk, and then he whispered, I’m afraid so .
When would that likely happen? she asked, striving for calm, but inside she felt the chills rattling through her soul.
I don’t know how long they’ll give you. That’ll be up to them.
Chances are, they won’t have too much patience.
Someone has told them that you can do something, and they’ll be all over finding out what that is, how you do it, and what triggers are effective , he shared in a sympathetic tone.
Unfortunately the process of getting to those answers, or the methods they are likely to utilize to get you to show them, won’t be fun .
Giving her these nuggets of wisdom, he was gone.
She sat here pondering what he’d shared, when the door opened again, and the man she’d seen earlier stepped inside and glaring at her. She looked at him blandly. “Hi. Back again so soon? Did you find whoever is waiting to see me?”
He shook his head, looked around the room, then crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.
“Problem?” she asked curiously.
“You seem to be relatively calm.”
“I wouldn’t say calm,” she clarified. “It does appear that I’m your prisoner, which isn’t something that’ll make anybody happy.”
He smirked. “You tried the door, did you?”
“You know I did,” she stated. “Obviously you’re watching me, though I’m not sure how or why, but it’s pretty gross. But, hey, apparently you guys are into that stuff.”
Immediately the smile fell off his face, but he continued to glare at her. “Don’t even start with me on that shit,” he spat. “That’s not who we are.”
“How do I know? You haven’t told me who you are, what you are, or anything else,” she declared. “So you can say anything you want, and it won’t mean shit to me. I’m working off your actions, not your words.”
He stared at her and turned around to walk away.
“You could just tell me what this is all about,” she added, striving for a conversational voice. But seeing the smirk on his face, she realized she’d failed. Even though it was the hardest thing to do, she shrugged. “Whatever.” And, with that, she leaned against the wall and relaxed on the bed.
He stopped midstep and looked at her curiously. “How come you’re not worried?”
“Not worried about what?” she asked, rolling her head toward him.
“About what you’re doing? So far you haven’t told me anything, but, if this is a kidnapping, and you’re after a ransom, you’ll be out of luck because I don’t have any money,” she explained.
“Nobody’s speaking the truth here, so I’m not sure you guys even know what you want with me.
But somebody went to great lengths to kidnap me out of my hotel, so it must be important. ”
“Are you sure that’s what happened?” he asked, his eyes opening wide. “I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure you came to us.”
“That’s definitely not the truth,” she replied. “I don’t even know why you would attempt to lie over something as simple to refute as that.”
His gaze narrowed. “You’re pretty cocky, aren’t you?”
“Absolutely not,” she countered. “I’m just starting to get a little pissed because I’m sitting here in the cold, in the dark, underground, wondering what you guys are up to. I don’t know when you’ll decide this isn’t worth your time and let me go.”
“ What isn’t worth our time?” he pounced.
“I have no idea,” she admitted, staring at him with a flat expression.
“You keep telling me that somebody wants to see me, but I’m not sure whether somebody wants to see me or you’re just sitting there, like voyeurs, always watching me.
Honestly, I find that a little disturbing.
By the way, I need to go to the bathroom again.
I’m grateful for the washroom here, but, if you’ve got cameras in there too, well, gee, you’re about to miss out on the show that’s about to come up,” she said sarcastically.
He flushed a dull red and glared at her.
She smiled and asked, “What’s the matter? You don’t like being called a predator, when you are watching me? You don’t like anything I have to say about that? Is that not what you expected?”
He stiffened, then turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him.
She smirked, got up, then used the bathroom because, well, who knew what would happen now. They might come take her out of the room after that little scenario.