Chapter Eleven

The idiot that brought me here must have dragged me all the way.

I stand up and take a good look at my surrounding. Ignoring the horrible smell that kisses my nostrils.

I am in a room with no bed, no chair, no window, just a bowl by the corner that certainly contains someone's wastes and a small bulb on the ceiling. The writings on the walls make no sense at all to me. I look in front of me and notice the iron bars, like the kind they use in a cell.

I move to the bars and try to see outside my confinement but its so dark outside. I can't make out anything beyond one meter of my cell, thanks to the little light from the bulb. Then it hit me.

If I am here, where is Elsa? And Samuel?

"Hello!"

My voice echoes along the walls of the corridor with no response.

I try again but still, I hear nothing. I try thinking of other possibilities but my brain gives me nothing.

"E...is......that..........you!"

I can hardly make out the words but that voice.

"Elsa!"

"E......d...e....n!"

Then I hear a cough.

"Elsa are you alright? What did they do to you? What happened?!"

I feel so helpless. Elsa is hurt yet I can't do anything to help her. I can not even see her.

I hear another fit of cough from her.

Then silence.

"Elsa? EL! Please say something. Elsa!"

I try squeezing my body between the bars but it is pointless. I am stuck in here.

"HELLO! SOMEBODY! HELLO! ANYBODY!" I scream at the top of my lungs.

"Elsa please say something. Please," I plead, my voice now low.

"Anybody," I call out again, my voice almost not audible to my own ears.

I slip to the cold floor defeated, tears freely streaming from my eyes.

A couple of minutes pass maybe even an hour, I can not tell.

Then an idea comes to me.

"Samuel!" I call out with hope.

"SAMUEL!!" I try again but not even Elsa's pained voice returns to me. Only my own voice bounces back.

What am I doing? Samuel is probably knocked out cold too.

Suddenly I hear foot steps approaching and brightness envelopes me. For a couple of seconds, I can not see or make out anything. I try blinking but my tear soaked eyes make it even harder.

My sight starts readjusting itself and I start making out the shape of a person, then there is a sharp pain in my left arm. I look at it and see a syringe, I look at the person in front of me and confusion washes over me.

"EL...SA?"

My vision fails me.

Then my legs go weak and can't hold me up any longer. I collapse to the ground and give in to the darkness.

That is why there is so much noise. Meetings only happen when Silas, the General wants to address the compound on an important matter. Other basic information is given to the people by Mr. Spencer, Samuel's father or Bellman when it concern the foragers.

A meeting with Silas is never a good one.

I move closer to the bars, so I can hear clearly.

When the noise from the crowd dies down a little, Silas start giving his speech.

"People of Compound one, before you is this girl who from the outside looks like an angel but is actually the devil."

The crowd start murmuring and he waits for them to go silent before he continues.

I start having a panic attack.

"Yes, you all might think she is one of your lucky blondes but she is only bad luck!"

At that my panic gets even higher. I start hearing the beating of my heart get louder and louder almost deafening my poor ears.

He has Elsa there.

If any one thinks Bellman is cruel, then Silas, the General should be the king of all cruel men.

I have to go out there.

I start pacing the cell trying to think of a way to get out.

Footsteps approach my cell and soon after two guards come into my line of sight. One unlocks my cell and steps in while the other remains outside giving me a look that is hard to comprehend right now.

"It's time! Step outside and follow," the one in front of me says, calmly.

Since I already want to leave the place, I step out without protest. Almost too quickly.

"Excited to die much?" the one outside asks me as I rush out of the open cell. I refuse to reply his mockery and concentrate on calming my racing heart.

I start shaking visibly out of anxiety but still muster the courage to follow them through the empty corridor.

As we move, my ears start tuning back into what Silas is saying outside.

"-she is the reason your sons and daughters are going missing by the day-"

A gasp escapes my lips, earning a stern look from the guards.

He is lying through his teeth!

Soon enough we get closer to the entrance. The administration building is situated at the centre of town, right between our district and Samuel's.

As we step out, I can hardly make out the people on the podium, which is at the centre were Silas and the accused are suppose to stand.

"But all Elsa and her friends ever did was provide food for us!" shouts a woman in the crowd. A chorus of yes and other words I can not make out, follow her comment.

"That is what you all think! Because that is what she wants you all to think! She does not care about you! All she cares about is herself! She doesn't even care about her Friends!"

The people go quiet again looking confused from what Silas is telling them and what their hearts already know.

The guards guide me closer to the podium and position me between them.

It's not like I am going to try to run or something, that is Elsa's specialty to be....defensive not me.

The thought makes my heart ache further and I bend my head, putting my hands on my chest to try and calm it down.

We will get through this. We have to.

One of the guards bends a little to whisper into my ears.

"General's order! You have to watch how everything unfolds, look over there," he says to me.

I raise my head and look at the direction he is pointing out and my heart falls at the sight.

"ELSA!"