Without further adieu, I present to you the second chapter of The Invincibles. Enjoy!
Chapter 2: Good Guys- Yeah Right
Waking was painful. My head throbbed, and my leg groaned, complaining about... something. What had even happened?
It crashed down on me in one overload, drowning my weak mind. I remembered the van, the thugs, the pain-
My dad was dead.
Dead.
Dead.
That pain made everything else seem like nothing. Knowing I would never hear his voice again, see his smile, have a decent conversation with him... and it made me furious.
I blinked back burning tears, and realized that my eyes had already been open- and I couldn't see anything. Rather than panicking and thinking I was blind, my mind immediately registered that I was simply in a black room.
And everything hurt.
My head throbbed right behind my eyes- migraine doesn't cut it. Every muscle in my body moaned when I rolled over and realized that my leg was strapped to something; my fingers told me it some sort of brace. Whoever had taken me had cut off my jeans below the knee. I remembered the gun and groaned. Thankfully I wasn't completely tied; my fingers wandered over my bruised form, finding all the minor cuts and wounds I carries. My arms, palms, and face all had been scraped by my insane jump out of the van, but were already scabbing. My arms also bore bruises- places where the men han help me- and dried blood ran over my knuckles. Maybe I packed a little to much in a punch- I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I hadn't fractured my hand.
I could take the physical pain without crying; it didn't compare to the time I had broken my arm and leg in a bike accident. But the emotional scars burned around the edges, and I had a sinking feeling that my keepers had picked last night- or whenever it had been- for a reason. They attacked when I was weakest.
Creepers, definitely. I could probably sue them with charges for kidnapping, stalking, and molest. I decided I would, as soon as I busted out, which would be soon. Very, very soon. The first thing I needed to do was find the walls, and the door.
You'd think that'd be easy.
It wasn't.
I found the walls lickedy split, but the door was the problem. It just wasn't there- I groped blindly, looking for anything, something, and found absolutely nothing. It was all uniform, as rough and hard as concrete, like I was a fish swimming in a glass bowl. But I couldn't look up to see the hole at the top of tank- it was all too dark.
And it sucked.
My mood rapidly deteriorated as the second, then minutes, ticked past me, uncountable. It was only made worse when my stomach rumbled, and then the bandages around my leg started leaking, the liquid- I thought it was blood- oozing down my leg and dripping into a puddle on the floor.
My worst day had become the worst days of my life.
I didn't expect the pain when the door eased open on silent hinges, someone stepping into the room, a remote in one hand, a tray in the other. The light from the hallway blinded me- white and brilliant and driving nails of pain through my scull. My guest tapped her remote and lights turned on in my cage, and I used my arms to cover my face, hissing in pain.
“Cut it out, would you?” I croaked- my tone didn't come out like I had wanted it too.
“I'm sorry, Hailey.” She apologized, her voice gentle. No one with a voice like a mother could be anything other than a snake with my situation- I wondered if she was married to the man with the gun, the one with the careful, chiding voice of a father. “But you caught us unprepared- we didn't think you'd wake up for another hour. That's why we didn't bring your food sooner- it wasn't ready.
“But here you go. A couple days ago when you were at a restaurant you ordered fried eggs and hash browns, so that's what you're getting today. Hope you like orange juice.”
The juice came first- I didn't want to sound like some pathetic, wheezing innocent.
“Where the heck am I?” I growled as she leaned against the far wall, remote still in hand.
“You're in a scientific laboratory. You fit the description of our needs, so you're the newest participant in one of our greatest tests.” She gushed- why did all of these creepers act like kindergarteners on Christmas?
Science wasn't my best subject, but that sounded really, really bad.
“Was kidnapping really necessary?” I spat, glancing at my leg. Yep, that was definitely blood puddling around my boot.
“I'm sorry for that too.” She apologized- I wasn't sure whether or not to believe her. “The men were told to not hurt you, but the camera explained it. You're quite the fighter.” Why was she so freaking happy? “It wasn't the preferable method of getting you here, but some excused it as being the final test- your reaction to threats. That's not my opinion, of course. You already fit the criteria- no need to test you further. It was simply that your foster parents probably wouldn't have let you come, though we're sure you would have. The benefits...!” That maniac grin spread across her face again. “You're going to become the best of the best.”
I had the feeling their definition of 'best' wasn't mine.
“I'm going to change your bandage now.” She continued, watching me, that happiness still in her eyes. Her expression, though, was careful and controlled. “If you hurt me or try to escape, we'll put you out again.”
“Whatever.” I grumbled. She took that as a yes, and crept forward. A click on her remote opened a drawer in the wall, and she pulled out several medical things I didn't recognize.
“What's your name?” I asked.
“Doctor Gerus.” She smiled, her hands busy with my leg. My fingers tingled, wanting to grab her plastic face and turn that smile upside down, because I couldn't take much more of it. “I'm the head of human resources here.”
Human resources- meaning me. But she said resources- plural- and the men in the van had mentioned others...? My muddled mind tried pulling up the memory, but the room started spinning.
“Tell me how you're feeling.” Doctor Gerus began, still working on my leg.
“I feel like I deserve an explanation.” And much more.
“I feel like I deserve an explanation.” And much more.
She rolled her eyes, but that maniac grin never left her face. “You're a silly girl. Physically, Hailey.”
Silly girl? Oh yeah? I wanted to shout. Look at yourself, see that grin plastered on your face, and tell if laughing gas isn't funny. I attacked the hash browns rather than her face- I was fairly sure she appreciated that.
“Well?”
“Why should I answer?” I snapped, my face full of potatoes.
A gentle, motherly smile came across her face- again. I shuddered; something was very wrong with this situation. “Because we want to help you, Hailey. Everything will go so much smoother if you simply participate- you're about to reach your best life! You should be so honored- so thrilled! Please, Hailey; just help us help you.”
“Fine.” I snapped. “I feel like someone clubbed me over the head with a brick and proceeded to beat the living tar out of me.”
“Interesting choice of words.” Doctor Gerus chuckled- I glared even fiercer.
“And I feel like killing every person in this lab, because this is wrong.”
Her smile faltered; the light in her cheerful expression dimmed. And then it returned, softer, more careful. “You don't know what we're going, Hailey. Don't assume we're evil- in the end, when this is all over, you'll realize we were the good guys. You'll realize that you wouldn't be alive if it weren't for us.”
That sounded, in a word, bad. The more Doctor Gerus talked, the more creepy the entire situation became.
That's when I decided it was high time I should leave.
I restrained myself until she finished with my leg and stood, smiling apologetically down at me. It was only a minute more- more than enough time for me to create a plan.
“Better?”
“Whatever.” I muttered.
“Just believe me, Hailey.” The Doc began. “It'll make things easier all around.”
“You know what?” I asked, staring her down; “Easy has never been a part of my life- why start now?”
I swung my legs around, whacking her stiletto heels. She toppled, medical supplies flying everywhere, and I lept to my feet, adrenaline fueling my attack.
I suppose I attacked her- she probably could've filed charges. To be more precise, I tackled her, wrestling her little remote from her perfectly manicured hands, and scrambling across the room to where the invisible door was.
“Hailey, you don't want to do this.” She coughed, propping herself up. “You don't know what will happen- you don't know what's in store for you-”
“I don't want to know.” I snapped, pointing the remote at her like it was a gun. I half-wished it was a gun.
“Hailey, the Director hand-picked you to be a part of this-”
“I don't care. Pick someone else, but do one thing- don't kidnap them. Ask them like civilized people.”
“Hailey, don't-”
But she was too late.
I pressed the button on the remote- the one that said 'door'- and it swung open. I was through before anyone could have told me to stop, not like I would have. Charging down the disturbingly white hallway, I struggled with the remote, trying to find something like a map app. Wonder of wonders, she had one of those too.
The place was huge- massive. I zoomed into the little red dot labeled 'You are here!' and decided on my course, straight to the little sign labeled 'Exit'.
These scientists were really stupid.
Where was the thunder of hurrying feet? The cries that I had escaped? The announcement over the sound system- there had to be one- that everyone was to be on the alert?
How stupid did they think I was?
Pretty darn stupid, obviously.
I made more noise than I wanted too, since I only had one shoe, and a rubber puddle boot at that. I tossed it off the first chance I had, though it burned to hop on my bad leg. More blood was seeping through the fresh bandages- I blamed it on the adrenaline. And I slipped on through the lab in my socks, sliding along the suspiciously clean floor.
And I was off again, blurring past windows showing scientists bent over their work, whatever that was. There were doors, too, labeled with random numbers in no particular order.
But the quiet told me that something was wrong.
You'd expect there to be sound in a scientific lab- people discussing various obscure ideas, chemical explosions, you know. But there was nothing. Sometimes I could hear the murmur of voices, but they faded as quickly as they came. Once I heard someone wearing heavy boots, but since we were headed opposite directions, it wasn't a problem.
They at least had the sense to lock the door labeled 'Exit'. I morbidly thought about how it gave me some respect, that they would at least try to keep me in the building.
I gave it a solid round-house kick, right to the doorknob.
All it did was send bolts up and down my leg- I hissed in pain. But that wouldn't stop me.
So I tried again.
And again.
And again.
After three minutes of doing very little damage besides getting more panicked and anxious (and flustered and angry and sending more blood trickling down my leg), I pulled out the remote and flipped through the apps. I'll admit- I was starting to freak out. But not a lot. Just enough to send more adrenaline through my system.
And lo and behold, what did I find?
Yep. I found an app to open that door too. I decided they were even stupider.
Since I didn't know how long I had been missing, I didn't really expect it to be night outside, but it was pitch black, darker than I'd ever seen before. I flashed the remote before me, using it like a flashlight. Where the heck was I? I took a few careful steps forward, blindly trying to go somewhere. Gravel crunched beneath my feet, and I felt a pleasant breeze toss my hair across my face.
And that's when things started going downhill.
The dark was blinding- so was light. A spotlight suddenly fell upon me, silent and paralyzing; I growled, throwing a hand over my eyes, and darted forward, trying to get away from it.
“Don't bother, Hailey.” Came a laughing voice. “I'm sorry that you want to leave, but you simply can't. I chose you to come here, to be one of the best. I'm the Director-by the way- and I must admit, I'm impressed. You're quite the escape artist, but you fell for the oldest trick in the book. You'll have to learn to do better.” He laughed as I glared up, not at the light, but somewhere by it. His voice echoed around me- where was I?
“Did you really think we'd give you the tool to get out of here? Please, Hailey, give us some credit. We knew you'd try to get out; we knew you wouldn't settle as a hostage. So we gave you the tools, so we could see how you'd do. And I'm sorry, Hailey, but you're not even outside. Turn on the lights, boys. Show her where she is.”
I stood in the middle of a square room, with black walls and a gravel floor. If I had gone fifty feet further, I would've run into the wall. Silent fans built into the room caused the win, and to be honest, I was impressed too.
And then I was angry.
I could hardly speak, my rage was so controlling. “You--!” I managed to stutter. “I swear, I'm going to kill you!”
“No you won't, Hailey. In the end, you'll love me, because I'm opening so many doors to you- I'm the best Benefactor anyone could ever dream of it. Think of everything you want- anything!- and I can give it to you. Just wait, Hailey. You'll understand soon enough.”
I pounded the remote, telling the door to open.
“Sorry.” The Director sighed. “I turned off your remote. It's time for you to go back now.”
“In your dreams.” I snarled.
“Right back at you.” He chuckled. “Give her the gas, boys. She won't go without a fight.”
I clamped my hand over my mouth and nose after taking a deep breath- I wasn't getting knocked out again. No way.
But I had no choice, and just like before, I slipped into blackness.
Well...? Do you like it? Why? What's your favorite (or least) part?
I'm really excited to hear what happens!
ReplyDeleteI'm nt sure which I like better, this or The Act. Both are very intense. :)