Running from Shadows (In progress)

Chapter 2: The Interrogation

After what feels like forever, the heat begins to seep out of my body, leaving me exhausted. I hear a rustle of what sounds like soft footsteps, but too spent of energy I whisper warily into the room.

"Hello? Who's there?" I ask tentatively, voice hoarse.

There's no response, but the steps continue until they are right behind me. A face leans over, coming into view. With the light behind him, I can't see his features, but I know who he is. Angrily I try to lunge towards him.

He laughs a harsh, taunting laugh before speaking. "How does it feel to be helpless, Caia?"

"Where's Ash!" I yell, violently thrashing against my bindings.

The man clucks at me in mock disapproval. "As always, you worry about everyone else before yourself. Don't worry, we're treating her with the utmost hospitality."

Silently I call to my friend through the link. Ash? You alright girl?

She doesn't respond and I realize that our bond has broken. I worry for a second until a slap calls my attention back to myself. Scowling, i growl at him, face stinging.

"I don't appreciate it when you ignore me, Caia," he says, voice low and threatening. When I just stare stupidly at him, he returns my scowl. "I said..."

"When did I give you permission to interrogate the changling?" A new voice snaps at Darius and I try to see the new intruder, straining at my braces.

I am surprised as Darius smiles tightly and nods his head at her, walking gracefully back out of my sight and presumably out the door. In all my years of knowing him, Darius had never backed down willingly. I used to admire that about him, the way he stood up to Isaiah, the kid who bullied me in third grade. The way he told off Mr. Alteze when he got on Shaleen for failing the test he made her take, even though she had been sick for two weeks previously. I used to admire his icy blue eyes and his lopsided smile as well.

Now though, I hate everything about him. He hadn't been drafted into "The Shadow," or whatever they call it now. No, he had sought them out, believing he could rid the world of all of the evils in it through them. And when he had found out what my father and I were, he didn't hesitate. He didn't falter. No, he aimed and pulled the trigger, firing the silver venom into my father. The venom that took him over and ultimately killed him. No, I don't admire Darius anymore. I despise him.

Yet, when he so easily took commands from this woman, I have to admit that I was taken aback. Even here, I never expected him to take orders against his will so easily. This place really can change people. Just like Ashley.

The lady walks over to me, standing next to the table so I can see her better. With a round face with big brown eyes, hair cut and styled into a messy pixie, and a thin yet toned body, I would have thought she was kinda cute. That is if she didn't have me strapped to a silver table with silver bindings.

"What?" I snap at her after a few seconds of her looking me over.

"I hope he wasn't too unpleasant," she says in a sweet voice, far different than her commanding tone.

"Oh, really?" I spit arrogantly. "So, your the good cop?"

She laughs, not the cold hard laugh that Darius gave me, but a sweet, pixie-like laugh. "Your just like they said you would be. I like you. I think we could be friends."

I snort. "That makes one of us. Where's Ashley?"

She cocks her head, raising an eybrow. "I thought that she would be communicating with you."

"Well, she's not."

She starts sweeping her eyes across my body again. "Don't bite me."

"What?" I ask sharply. "Like I even could if..." I shut up as she deftly loosens the strap across my forehead.

The look of surprise I probably have written on my face vanishes as my skull bursts into a million fractures. At least that's what it feels like as Ashley's screams and torment pours into my mind.

Caia! Caia, help me! She manages to screech over our bond. Agony racks my body like a million fire ants crawling across my skin. I faintly register that I am screaming, but it doesn't matter. I am sucked into Ashley's thoughts as she turns her eyes around the room. She is in a corner of the room, wedged against the ceiling, laying fetal against the wall. Flames lick the air around her, darting out to taste her skin.

Suddenly the flames dissipate as ghosts fill the room, sliding their frozen fingers across her body, vacant eyes staring and mouths stretching wide in silent screams. Ashley's body shakes violently. Then the walls and ceiling begin sliding together, closing her into a tight box, pressing in on all sides until she feels like she's about to burst. The walls release and a figure enters the room, small, child-like, and an almost identical copy of Ashley.

Aislin's face twists into a look of pure rage. "TELL ME!" She shouts, hurling icy blasts of air at her sister. "Why don't you just tell me?" Her voice drops to a soft, gentle tone.

Ashley shakes her head, terrified.

"I thought you loved me," Aislin begins whimpering.

Ash begins to cry, loud, visible sobs. "I do! I do!" She gives out. "I love you so much, please. Stop this!"

"Then tell me," little Aislin says, her features darkening into a threatening look.

Ash squeezes her eyes shut. "I can't," she sobs repeatedly. "I can't, I can't, I can't..."

"Fine!" Aislin shouts as snow whips around my best friend's body, cutting her skin.

I feel the strap tighten across my forehead as I whip back into my own body. The girl peers down at me as my eyes draw back into focus. Concern lights her eyes. "Are you okay?"

Suddenly, I register what happened. I pull fiercely at my bindings, rage forcing me to shift. The fire lights my body again and I let out an inhuman howl. "Let me go!"

The pain doesn't deter me anymore and I strain at the bindings. A look of fear flashes in her eyes followed by indecision.

My chest binding snaps, the silver buckle flying across the room. The girl backs into the wall, a small whimper escapes her lips. I feel more of the bindings snap as I shift, the fire burning through me just making me want to break out more.

As soon as I can, I leap off the table, whirling to face the girl. Snarling, I slowly close the space between us.

"Stop it. Caia, stop it!" She whimpers, sounding far too much like Ashley. I hesitate for a moment, then turn away from her.

She reaches her hand out towards me, poised to yank away if I decided I still want to rip her to shreds. "Caia," she speaks softly. "I can lead you there if you let me."

I look warily at her hand, then speak, vocal cords still half wolf, so my voice comes out as a rough, scary growl. "Then do it. And don't mess with me, or I will hurt you. I hesitated once, but I won't do it again."