The Chiaroscuro: Chapter 15

Lorelei's P.O.V

I woke up on a bed. The sheets, along with most of the room (which was pretty much the bed, door and wall beside me that I could see through the thick shadows), were black and the walls were a dark sinister shade of crimson as if someone had poured fresh blood on the walls. A few pictures of skulls were plastered onto the door and a creepy rug lay on the marble floor. On a side table, a small stereo played a rock song that nobody but me could recognize. "Invisible Man" by Theory of A Dead Man. D'uh? I looked down what I was wearing and someone had changed me clothes. I was in a black t-shirt, black jeans and leather combat boots. Me hair was untied and soft as if someone had washed it. Pedos, I thought.

There was a shift in the corner. I shot from the bed and someone stood up from a stool and I screamed, sending an arc of electricity at their chest. I reached for my sword, but in its place was a Stygian Iron dagger with a skull topper at the top of the hilt. I unsheathed it and held it in front of me.

The figure shakily stood. "Jesus Lora......" I knew that voice. An obsidian coloured wing moved from the shadows, then another. Then I finally saw Garrett's face. He had a strange tattoo on his neck: a white skull with two black wings behind it like half-crossbones. There was a fresh burn mark on his scarlet-coloured shirt from the shot.

I was lost for words. All I could manage was: "I am so sorry!" I lunged for him. He wrapped me in his arms and held me close. I pulled away, realizing Alex wasn't here. ''Alex? Why the hell am I thinking of Alex, ''now?

"Where's Alex?" He shifted uncomfortably.

"He's being held in another room. But we should talk."

"No." I knew he wasn't getting the same spa treatment I was. I walked to the door but Garrett moved in front of me. I tried to side-step him, but he grabbed my wrist. "Garrett, are ye daft? Let me go!"

"I can't. Not again." He was starting to scare me.

''Stay cool Lora! I have an idea'', Josh said in my head.

''Oh right. I forgot there was a troll in my head'', I said back.

''Shut up. Do you want to see your boyfriend?'', Josh snipped at me.

I decided not to answer that one. Suddenly, a flash of light exploded in Garrett's face and he fell back. I shot out the door and ran down a grand hall. Looking back at the door, it actually was pink.

I ran to a big steel door and looked inside a crack in the doorway. It was like an observation room. A large platform catwalk stood around the perimeter of the room. Below, I saw Caleb and Damion in the pit, laughing at someone who was strapped to a metal table. I looked a bit closer and my heart almost jumped out of me mouth. Alex was strapped to the table, his shirt torn off his chest. He tried helplessly to pick the locks, but Caleb would swat his wrist with a whip.

Alex let out a cry of pain and I almost broke into tears. My sadness morphed into anger. A small thunder cloud formed in the ceiling. Alex looked up and almost smiled. The other two looked befuddled. I walked through, rain beating down on all of them. Caleb and Damion both jumped to the metal stairs but lightning shot at them both, knocking them both out cold. I jumped over their miserable bodies and ran to Alex.

Not Done