Culling

Part III • Chapter XIV

"No, but..." Chet's eyes drifted back to me. "You can't just kidnap her. It's not her fault. The plan was to get to Blackbourne. I never agreed on involving a female."

I had a feeling that Chet was about to go on one of his anti-Owen rants, and I was just too tired to deal. Plus, there was the fact that I had no idea where I was or who... pretty much everyone else was at the moment.

There were about fourteen people total in the area, besides me, and it seemed like they had made some sort of base here. There was a small collection of food and items in a corner, and makeshift seating scattered throughout the room.

I wondered how they all knew each other, because I wasn't sure about the rest of Chet's group but, to my surprise, it seemed like only Derrick was here.

He frowned at me, and shook his head slightly as I met his eyes, before he turned his focus back towards another brunette man sitting besides him.

Whatever, I'd go back to staring at him when I was done taking everything in. He couldn't ignore me forever. Plus, he probably had some sort of plan. I'd bet anything that he was undercover or something.

Still, even with Derrick around, I felt woefully alone.

So, it probably wouldn't be in my best interest to draw negative attention to myself at the moment. Plus, there was also the fact that I still had no idea what was going on...

Chet seemed to shake off his reservations about seeing me and stomped away to lie on his back in a corner.

Well, so much for help from him.

In the meantime, everyone else in the room seemed to be watching the brown-haired man for instruction. I wondered who he was.

"So, Miss Gentreau-" He crossed his leg and rested his chin in his palm as he studied me, and even though I was entirely covered by the cape, I still felt exposed to his scrutiny.

"My maiden name is Sorenson," I said, trying to be polite even though this was apparently the man who had ordered my kidnapping. "But I'm married... So I should be called Mrs Blackbourne, right?"

The man appeared to be stunned that I had spoken before he grinned and he tilted his head. "My, my, my. You are interesting, aren't you? I beg your pardon Mrs Blackbourne." His gaze drifted to my lip, and his mouth upturned even more. "And I see that you've been causing trouble already?"

I didn't know who this was, but I didn't like him already. "Um... Mr-"

"Sawyer," Chet interrupted me with a resigned tone, and when I glanced at him I noticed that he now had a hand over his face. "Stop being such a creep. She doesn't even know who you are."

The man, who was apparently named Sawyer, appeared put out for a moment - perhaps he was trying to creep me out? I wouldn't doubt it, he seemed to think this entire thing was very funny.

But then he grinned at me again. "Why, our dear friend Chet is correct, isn't he? It would be remiss if I didn't properly introduce myself to such a beautiful woman."

I pulled the cape around me more tightly and attempted to curl up into myself even more. Something about this man really scared me. "I..."

"My name is Sawyer Hendricks, and I daresay that your family and mine are very close friends." He winked at me and smiled. "I think that you and I will be very close friends as well."

I wasn't so sure about that, and I was pretty sure that my thoughts must have shown on my face because he frowned slightly as some of the men in the room snickered amongst themselves.