24. Ana
24
ANA
C haos suddenly ensued. I was drugged out of my mind, but I tried to look around as gunfire and explosions rung out through the night. My dazed mind struggled to make sense of it all. Bullets whizzed past, slicing through the air like angry wasps. Explosions shattered the darkness, illuminating the night. Through the haze, I caught glimpses of the cloaked figures that had surrounded me, disappearing into the shadows, vanishing like ghosts.
I tried to move, but this time I was strapped down to the cold stone slab. All I could do was lay there and hope I didn't get caught in the crossfire.
I began to sweat, the salty beads creating streaks in the dried pig’s blood covering my skin. My tongue felt swollen and dry in my mouth. I attempted to look around again. Some men my brain was telling me I recognized fired guns at some other men. One hooded figure remained in the shadows, waiting, watching as if they expected someone to show up.
A shadow stepped into my line of vision. I blinked, and the figure wavered.
“Hey baby,” Caden said softly. All the tension left my body in a rush at hearing his voice.
“H-Hi” I rasped. Even though I couldn't see him, I felt him. I smelled him. His warm spicy scent enveloped me, causing my muscles to relax even more. I blinked again and my vision finally cleared enough for me to see his frowning face as he assessed my current state.
He placed two fingers on my wrist, checking my pulse, and frowned even more.
“Dr-drugged,” I said.
Realization dawned, and then anger filled his expression.
“Time to go, baby.” He said.
He was about to lift me when the cloaked figure that had been waiting stepped out of the shadows.
I was about to tell Caden when my muscles jerked, my eyes rolled back, and I began to convulse.