19

My eyes drifted open but it was pitch black. It took time for my eyes to adjust to the dark room. And I saw the kids strapped in metal chains to one another. Some of them were beaten up and unconscious lying down next to each other. A little girl in one corner sniffled softly, her head bowed down to the ground.

It was the girl from yesterday. I knew it. I looked down at my hands and they were also bonded tightly together with my legs. I looked around the room. There weren't any windows, just the main door at the entrance.

I didn't know what to do. If it was me some months ago I would be cowering in fear and thinking it was the end. Instead, now I sat calmly on the ground accessing the situation.

I looked back at the girl sniffling to herself. "Are you okay little one?" I mimicked the calm tone Lucian always used to talk to me.

She stopped sobbing looking up at me. Some of the others glanced my way. A dead and defeated look in their eyes. Their bruised body and pale skin angered me.

"What do you expect, we were captured and starved" one of them retorted angrily from the corner. He seemed to have more bruises than everyone there.

I looked at him, " can you tell me how you got here?" I asked, hoping to get a clue of where we were.

I noticed as he folded his fist together before saying "none of us remembers how we got here. It's like one minute we were talking to them and the next we found ourselves in this dark room."

Another sniffle from a smaller kid turned into a wail. And the young boy cried loudly. "Will you cut it out already? I'm tired of hearing you shout in my ear." The grumpy kid threw a glare at him.

"What's your name," I asked him

"Nathaniel," he said.

"Do you have parents?" he bit his lower lip before saying," no" an orphan, I looked at the rest of them.

"Are the rest of you orphans?" I asked and they nodded slowly. Except for the little boy wailing from the beginning.

"I want my mummy," he said continuously in repeated wails. Nathaniel bumps his fist on the little guy's head. "Quite it already"

"Hey stop no fighting" I cautioned

He snapped his face at me, "Who do you think you are to tell us what to do? You're in the same pathetic situation as us." This kid has a sharp tongue.

I sighed, "I don't want you drawing their attention here." Slightly annoyed by how he talks.

"Did you alert anyone to come to help us?" another girl from the corner of the room said to me.

"I didn't but I am sure someone will notice I am gone and come look for us," I said in a reassuring tone.

"We have been here for two weeks and they haven't found us. How do you expect them to find us now? Face it they don't care about us orphans. We are going to die anyway."

"You must be a really weak kid to think like that" I stated flatly.

I could see him gritting his teeth, "you don't know anything about me, I have done everything to survive on the streets." He said in anger.

"And why stop now"

"I tried escaping but there's no way out. That buffy guy has the place guarded so we can't get past him. Also, these guys slow me down a lot"

"If you had carried everyone along instead of thinking for yourself, maybe we could have gotten through together." The girl from earlier retorted.

"You both should stop arguing" I warned and looked at the girl "What's your name," I asked

"Darcy" she answered

"Now let's think, when do they come back?"

"About some minutes from now" and true to his words I heard footsteps approaching. I told them to shush it and act calm.

The door to the room opened revealing our captor.

"Time to eat, you rascals," he said with a grunt.

Earlier back at the pack house.

Lucien had gotten up feeling restless over the night. It was almost dawn and he was dressed to go patrol over the borders. On his way, he passed Esme's room. He wanted to knock and say hello.

'This is 5 in the morning, ' he thought to himself. She must still be sleeping.

He left her front door only to notice a small crack open in the door. 'Is She awake?'

Finally deciding to enter he knocked.

"Esme, it's Lucien, are you awake?" He said pushing the door open a bit. He didn't get an answer. He pushed the door wide open seeing her bed sheets empty.

After searching the whole room, he couldn't find her anywhere.

He came out of her room in rushed steps. Everything in his guts said something was wrong. He barged into Trevor's room startling him from his sleep.

"What the hell," he cursed at him.

"Esme is missing," he said in a panicked tone.

"Have you checked everywhere?" he asked, rubbing his face in a sleepy daze.

"I don't know where she could be," he said.

"And you came to my room " he gave him a pointed look. Then sighed "Have you checked the kitchen? I notice she always goes there." He said slowly with a yawn. Hoping to get rid of Lucien.

Lucien didn't wait for his response rushing out the door.

"A thank you before leaving would have been appreciated" he yelled after him.

Lucien, on his way towards the kitchen. She had not been well since yesterday his gut told him something was definitely wrong.

Getting down the stairs, he noticed the dried stain of blood at the foot of the step. Her scent lingered in the air but it was faint. And another familiar scent which he hated. They were here.

He knocked down Trevor's door startling him again from his sleep.

"What the f… " he shouted, throwing his covers away.

"Get the enforcer someone has infiltrated the pack house"

"The what now," Trevor said, confused.