There’s no face, like a blank canvas, and scales replace the surface where skin would be. A tail protrudes out, wrapping around the torso. Elongated fingers rest at its sides, talons formed at the tips, its feet matching.
“What the fuck?” I whisper, my words muffled by my palm. The strange creature’s head tilts to the side as if it heard me. My eyes widen in shock, and I take a step back when the smallest twitch of a talon reaches for me.
Turning on my heels, I hurry back toward the door. The sound of my feet carry behind me, and it feels like each creature is watching me flee for my life.
I don’t check for anybody in the hall as I open the door, rushingover the threshold as quickly as I can.
Allowing myself a few moments to catch my breath, there are two sets of stairs—one leading down, the other up.
Serena. I have to go back. I can’t leave her here to wither away in this fucking hell hole. She’s been through so much already, and I’ll be damned if I let her suffer anymore.
Mind made up, I descend the stairs, noting the similarities between now and when I was dragged down this hall against my will.
You’re not being held. You’re free.
But I’m not. Not yet, at least. The walls still feel like they’re closing in, wanting to keep me trapped here forever. The twists and turns are familiar, and I chase that feeling all the way to the door that once held me hostage.
This door doesn’t have a security system, so when I twist the knob, it turns freely. Ripples of nausea move over me, the smell of urine and feces wafting against my face. Bringing the back of my hand up to cover my nose, it does little to dilute the scent.
Serena sits in the farthest corner of her cell, looking completely dull of life. Her legs are pulled to her chest, her bony arms wrapped around them, making herself as small as possible. She doesn’t see me come in, keeping her forehead pressed to the tops of her knees. I see her body visibly stiffen, every muscle locking up, but still she makes no move to bring her gaze to the door.
“Serena,” my whisper has her instantly snapping her head up. Her eyes are as big as saucers, not believing what she’s seeing. Quickly, I unlock the door, letting the sound of the metal scraping against itself vibrate the surrounding bars.
“We have to go.” She stands as fast as her frail form will allow. Swaying, her arm instantly reaches out, seeking stabilization, but her weak muscles crumble under the weight. Her shoulder slams against the wall, and it takes seconds we don’t have for her to finally get her footing.
“You didn’t drink the water, did you?” My question is rushed as I pop my head out of the door and peek around the corner. Serena gives me the slightest shake of her head in response.
We begin walking down the way I came. “I haven’t found a way out yet,” I confess. “But we will.Weare getting out of here,” I promise her.
Having to basically carry her up the stairs in her debilitated state, I’m huffing and puffing before we reach the landing I was previously on.
I told her about what I found in that room, and if she was shocked, she didn’t show it, probably focusing on getting out of here alive.
We are getting out of here. I don’t care if I have to burn this whole place down with every single soul in it. I will not be among the fallen. Out of nowhere, the hall is drowned in red, a siren blares overhead, and we both plaster ourselves to the wall.
Guess they figured out we escaped.
Picking up speed, we rush forward. A door sounds at the far end, and footsteps pound against the linoleum. Serena stops all of a sudden, rooting her feet to the floor. She points ahead, indicating for me to go on.
“I’m not leaving you! Let’s go!” I pull on her arm, but she doesn’t budge, pitching forward a bit before gaining her balance again.
Shaking her head, she yanks her arm free of my grasp and starts back down the hall.
For fuck’s sake.
Raising her hands, there’s a rumbling sound coming from the walls. In a matter of seconds, the pipes burst, and water spews from the walls and attacks the guards barreling in our direction.
I’m amazed at her power—her strength is admirable. Snapping out of my daze, my fire follows suit, finding its mark on one of the guards. A devilish smile pulls at my lips as I watchthe fire engulf him. It spreads from person to person under my command, and I relish in it. I soak in the sounds of their screams, absorb them like a sponge, and let it fuel the rage burning inside me.
They tortured me—us. Kept us locked away like rabid animals and treated us as such. Like we’re worth nothing more than the dirt on the bottom of their shoes. They took Serena’s fucking tongue. Her voice. The fire rages, but I don’t let it fester the way that part of me craves. No. They will not die at my hands, not today.
We’ll come back for them. For now, their wounds will scar as a reminder of what’s to come.
Vines plummet from the ceiling, suspending three unfortunate guards in the air. Serena sends an unimaginable amount of water toward their mouths, drowning them with her vengeance.
I guess she had other plans.
Dropping the dead weight, you can’t hear them fall over the chaos that’s erupted. Blocking gusts of air, I’m struck by the same electrical current I’ve become too familiar with. Instantly, my body seizes on the ground. I bite my tongue, and blood instantly floods my mouth.
