Chapter 31

We stand at the entrance to the cement prison, and I risk a glance at Malik to find him attentive to his surroundings yet utterly confident in his stance, almost like he hasn’t a care in the world. A quick look at the other four talnarins confirms similar demeanors. If only I could exude that level of confidence, perhaps then I might be able to bluff my way through a confrontation with Malik and Him. As it is, I’m far too transparent in my actions and thoughts.

As Malik reaches for the door, my heart nearly bursts out of my chest. No matter how hard I tried to convince myself that I was prepared to face this place during my journey here, I am nowhere near ready. Just the thought of entering this prison causes me to shake with residual terror from my past experiences.

Malik is the first to enter the cement prison but all too soon, I’m shuffled inside by the three talnarins surrounding me. Immediately upon entering, the darkness of my mind sweeps me under. A firm hand pinches the collar of my torn and beaten shirt. I feel my body slide almost effortlessly along the cool cement floors. Screams fill the air, and shudders rack my body. I don’t know who’s dragging me back to my cell, but I hate them. From this angle, I can’t even tell if they’re male or female. Whoever it is, they are only prolonging my suffering.

I don’t want to go back. I hate it. It frightens me, the dark and stale room without a window. The sun eludes me, and my sense of time is thrown. I don’t know how long I’ve been trapped in this prison.

My body shifts painfully as we turn a corner. The various aches and bruises coating my skin throb in agony. It’s almost laughable how I hardly notice the pain anymore. It’s more like a dull ache has settled into my bones. The only piercing pain I feel is when I move.

We turn one last corner, having memorized the path from the many times I’ve been forced to travel it. I know where I’ll end up next. I’ll be thrown into my small metal box once more where I’ll lay and wait.

As I predicted, my worn body is roughly thrown into the room where it slams against the far wall. Jarring pain echoes through me and I fight a scream. Instead, I bite my lips and beg for strength. The last bit of light fades as the metal door shuts with a final thud. I stay where I landed, refusing to adjust for fear of more throbbing pain.

This time when I surface from the depths of my past, no gasp escapes my lips. My body shudders violently and I count my breaths in my head. Over and over I count until I finally risk a glance up. As I suspected, Malik and his gang stare at me with unreadable expressions on their faces. Thankfully, their stares don’t linger as they resume their survey of the building.

Without thinking, I move forward, trying to push past Malik. Before I can take that second step, I’m roughly shoved back into the wall. My body smacks into the metal with a loud bang and my head clanks painfully against the wall. Malik pushes his arm against my throat and my hands instinctively move to pull it off. A fierce glare lines his face, and my breath catches. Before he can utter a word I blurt, “I just need to see it.”

Confusion clouds his eyes. “See what, girl?”

“The room. The box. I need to see them both.” I state with so much confidence, like Malik should know what I’m talking about.

“What room and box? What’s in them, and why do you need to see them?” His emphasis on the word ‘need’ warns me that it’d better be for a good reason.

“The room with equipment like in the manor. The box is a prison cell. I don’t know what’s in them anymore.” I gloss over his last question and pray he doesn’t notice.

But of course he does, because Malik doesn’t miss a thing, does he? “Don’t make me ask again.” His voice is deadly and dangerous.

I gulp and take a small breath. “I need to see it because I need to know what became of everything.” Hopefully that’s enough to qualify as an answer because I’m not saying anything more. Malik gives me a hard look before slowly releasing me. Once I’m free, I raise a hand to soothe my tender neck.

Somehow, I’m standing in front of Malik with my back to his chest with his hand gripping the back of my nape. He moved so fast the world blurred. “Lead me to this room and this box. No games, girl.” I nod. With his hand on my neck, he shoves me forward.

Further in the building we go. We take a sharp left and head down the hall. We pass door after door until eventually we take a sharp right. I drag my feet in hopes of slowing Malik down. A marginal tightening of his hand around my neck has me tensing even more. With a quick jerk, I point to the nondescript metal door on our left. Malik tugs me around until we both face the door. I shiver, and Malik leans in closer as he reaches for the handle.

I brace myself for the onslaught of memories, but it does little good. Once the small, windowless metal room is fully in view, memories flash in the forefront of my mind. A small whimper escapes my lips and memories clash with more memories.

The chaos in my head is overwhelming and painful. Distantly, I notice a slight loosening around my neck but pay it no mind. The thoughts fighting for control in my head are more concerning.

I’m not sure how much time passes before I’m able to stabilize my mind. With great work, I’m able to shove the memories to the depths of myself, one by one. At first, they stubbornly rise again and again, but somehow my will is stronger.

Once my awareness filters back in, I notice the door to the small metal box is once again closed. The immense heat coming from my back warms my insides and pushes the remaining wisps of my memories down. I inhale sharply and deeply, the intoxicating scent of wood and fire are soothing.

Suddenly, I realize it’s Malik’s scent I’m breathing in, but still I don’t stop. A deep voice rumbles out from behind me. “Are you calm now, girl?” After a slow nod from me he continues, “Very well. Was this your box or your room?”

“Box.” Without another word, Malik guides me forward, much gentler this time around. We take one more sharp right before we march down another hallway lined with metal doors. Only this time, there are doors on both sides of the hallway.

Once again, I grind my feet into the floor and point to a door on the right. My heart thuds painfully in my chest and sweat beads down my back and on my forehead. My hands feel clammy and my head woozy.

This is it.

Once again, I watch as Malik reaches for the handle. Once again, I brace myself for the memories. Once again, it’s not enough.

The same metal walls remain and the same metal table sits in the center. Now though, the machines are fried and burnt. All the cords and screens are melted and clumped together in a pile of mush on the ground. Floating all over the floor is what others would claim as dust, but I know better. They’re ashes.

The worst of the memories are because of this room. The worst of my past is due to the nightmares that took place here. Distantly, I’m aware of the wetness on my cheeks and the hand leaving my neck as I slide to the floor. My knees hit the floor hard, but the pain doesn’t come. My mind blanks and my heart stops. Everything happened here. This was the room that destroyed everything I was and everyone I loved.

My rampant thoughts and memories are shattered by the hauntingly familiar voice from behind me.

“Well, if it isn’t my, Little Bhria.” The blood rushes from my face and I stare wide eyed at the floor in shock. “I was hoping you would come home soon. After all, it’s been so long since we last saw each other. I’ve missed you, my perfect, Little Bhria. We used to have such fun times together, wouldn’t you say?” He laughs manically, His laugh echoing off the empty walls. “Well I guess you wouldn’t agree but it’s no matter. You need to come with me now, Little Bhria. You’ve had your freedom for long enough.”

My eyes snap open as I grasp the meaning of what He had said. He makes it sound like He let me escape all that time ago when the flames consumed my prison. He says it as if He gave me a choice in it all, but it can’t be, can it? No! I refuse to accept that, not after everything I went through to get away from this place. Somehow, I find the strength to push to my feet and unsteadily turn to face Him. It’s almost as if I am compelled to look at Him, even though the very idea terrifies me beyond belief. I catch a glimpse of Malik and the others standing close, faces hard and cold. The silence is deafening, the tension suffocating.

And before I know it, my eyes find His golden ones. Amusement dances across His face and my jaw goes slack. How is He amused after what I did to this place and to His people? He should be furious, and yet he’s clearly not. It throws me off balance and I hate it.

His mouth stretches into a sick, twisted smile. “It’s time to leave these… friends of yours.” I watch as He almost lazily turns to look at Malik and the rest. Once His eyes connect with Malik’s, He freezes. Recognition dawns on His face and with it comes… fear? Apprehension? Whatever He sees disturbs Him and He flounders. “You! This can’t be. Little Bhria, how did you find this man? You’ve done something you shouldn’t have done.”

His eyes refuse to leave Malik’s and it makes me nervous. Who is Malik that it has Him so nervous? And who is He to Malik? Even Malik looks taken aback, confused. What is going on? “This wasn’t part of the plan, Little Bhria. I can’t let this ruin everything you and I have worked for. We have too much at stake. I need to leave you, but I’ll come back for you, my Little Bhria, don’t you fret.” At this, He gives me a quick look before directing His full attention back on Malik.

“As a parting gift, I’ll tell you this. This plot is much bigger than you know. By the time you unravel all of our secrets, it will be far too late to stop us. And just know, when you take one of us down, another will replace us. As for my Little Bhria here, well, let’s just say she isn’t the only one out there.” With one last fleeting look my way He says, “Stay safe, my Little Bhria, until I can come collect you.”

Instantly the room fills with smoke and a loud bang echoes out. I watch wide eyed as Zeke and another talnarin rush into the smoke. A short time later, they return with hardened expressions. Malik turns abruptly and smashes his fist into the wall. I jump and let out a small squeal. The smoke begins to thin.

He’s gone.

In a whirl, Malik turns on me and is in my face, ready to explode. I wince, trying to step back. His body cages me against the doorframe and it leaves me with nowhere to go. Voice low and like steel he says, “What the fuck was that?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know. It doesn’t make any sense.” My voice cracks and I will the tears to stop.

His expression shows he clearly doesn’t believe me. “Who the fuck was that, and what the fuck does he want? But more importantly, who the fuck are you?”

“I don’t know who He is or what He wants. I’m Alanna, a talnarin.”

Panic edges its way up. A snarl leaves his lips. Malik grabs my neck and pulls me forward into his chest. He yanks me roughly until he marches me out of the cement prison, my back to his chest once more. As soon as fresh air and sunlight reach me, we stop. Malik flips me around and that’s when I notice only Zeke and him remain. Where the other four went, I don’t know nor do I care at this moment either.

“Who the fuck are you?” He glares at me from a few paces away.

I shudder. “Alanna, an ordinary talnarin who got taken by bad talnarins. He was one of them. The leader.”

“Taken my ass. You are working with him, he admitted it himself.”

What? No, no, no. “I’m not working with Him. I never was and never will. He’s a sick bastard, I would never.” This only seems to enrage Malik further. I watch as his whole body tenses and his face heats. Even his eyes seem to flare and it causes my heart to skip. What do I do?