Chained (The Siren Series #2)

Pete arrived at the Laveau house, ready to
see his daughter again after sorting out the morbid details for his
sister’s funeral. He had decided that he would only have a few
attendees since there was no family from his side and they didn’t
have many friends. This is why he didn’t want Ellie to be with him.
He didn’t want her to worry like she did last time. He had tried to
protect her in any way he could, but this was something he could
not shield her from. Pete pulled up in the driveway and powered
down the engine. He paused at the wheel, willing himself to move
from the seat but he just sat there and deeply sighed.

“
Come on, Pete. You need to do
this.”
He said to
himself.

Pete pushed open the door and locked the car
with one press of his keys. He stood outside looking up at his
home, wishing for everything to go back to how it was. His hand
trembled on the door handle. Pete clenched his fist to try and get
rid of the nerves. He tried again. He had to be strong for Ellie
and show that he could bear the weight of it all, to show her that
there was nothing to worry about. He hadn’t been sleeping well at
night and it showed on his face. He was ready to paint the fake
smile on again. He opened the front door to expect Ellie to run up
to him and hug him tightly as she used to do, but as the door
slammed shut there was nothing.

“
Ellie, I’m home!” Pete called
out.

He waited in the hall for an answer. “Ellie?”
he called out again.

Something wasn’t right. Pete walked into the
living room to see that the TV was still on. The television played
an afternoon talk show that he had no interest in. He walked
through the living room and into the kitchen. All was left was an
empty plate sitting in the sink.

“
Ellie, Ellie?” His voice started to
creep with panic.

He picked up his pace and headed up the
stairs and into Ellie’s bedroom. Pete held onto the door handle as
he felt his heart drop. Some of Ellie’s draws had been opened.
There were clothes scattered on the floor and a few missing items
from their rightful places.

“
Ellie!?” fear had gripped him and it
wasn’t letting go.

Pete quickly ran down the stairs. His mind
raced with horrible thoughts that he didn’t want to entertain.
There, sitting on the sofa was Ellie’s phone. He snatched at it and
searched through, thinking it could answer all of his questions.
There were old text messages wishing Ellie to get better and a few
asking what were her plans. Then the voice of reason appeared to
give Pete some comfort.

“
God I hope she’s in school.” He
prayed. “But why take her clothes?” another voice popped into his
head making him feel worse.

Pete picked one of the girls number from the
phone and decided to ring it. He picked Lilly’s and the phone
started to ring. After four rings a whisper answered the phone.

“
Ellie? Is everything ok?” Lilly
whispered on the phone.

Just hearing Lilly thinking it was Ellie
filled him with dread.

“
Uh, no it’s her Dad.” Pete had to
resist the urge to start panicking. “Lilly, is Ellie there at
school with you?” He held his breath.

There was silence on the other end.

“
No, she’s not.” His world
collapsed.

He ended the call without saying his
goodbyes, and the phone fell from of his grief stricken hands.

Voices filled my ears. Someone was talking
over me. Their stale breath filtered into my nose. There was more
than one person, and they were all talking at once, but I couldn’t
make out what they were saying. I think they were arguing amongst
themselves.

I couldn’t move. My limbs were lifeless, and
I was at their mercy. I wanted to get up, to run away, but my body
felt heavy and light at the same time. My head pounded in sync with
my own heat-beat and I felt like at any minute, I would float away
and be rid of all this. Away from whatever had me in its grasp.

“
Stick her downstairs, and keep an eye
on her!” One of the voices shouted.

Where? Where am I going? Panic flooded in and
I tried to keep calm. I was picked up and man-handled as they
dragged me away. Then the smell hit me like ton of bricks. I was
reminded of the deepest horrors I would rather try and keep locked
away. The leaches dragged me away while their talon nails dug into
my arms. I wanted to scream, flail my arms around, but my entire
body was paralyzed, I was useless.

My poor vision failed e as I tried to make
out my surroundings. Dark bloodied stone pass me by, as I was
carried down to whatever hell they had in store for me. A creaking
noise echoed throughout and I was thrown up against something solid
and pain spiked up and down my back. I screamed out in joy, I could
still feel pain. That was a good thing; I wasn’t dead, not
yet.

Something cold made its way around my weak
wrists and again I heard the creaking noise. Then there was
silence, no voices, nothing. I tried to get to my feet but
something pulled me back, slamming my body back into the wall. I
then realized that I was chained up like a filthy animal. I try to
scream, but every time I did my throat would seize up. Again I try
to struggle against the clanging metal, but the chains that bind me
were strong.

Finally my eyes adjust to the darkness and
they revealed a small dark cell without any windows. The walls were
gripped with mould and dirt. It traveled along the dark stone and
up to the ceiling. It was disgusting, and I was living in it. At
the front of the cell stood a large rusted metal door with a tiny
spy hatch attached. They just want to see me suffer.

I slump to the floor in defeat. I wish Rhea
was here. Then my mind exploded with memories, it all came flooding
back to me. The house, the monsters, and what had happened to Rhea
and Sophia. I hope they made it out ok. It was my entire fault, I
wish I never had these stupid powers, and then everything would be
ok. I wouldn’t be chased by monsters and turning people into crazed
animals. I was a danger to myself and others around me. Remembering
what happened also brought back the pain. My body burned with the
bite marks that the leaches left. I tried to ignore the pain as
best as I could but tears trickled down my cheeks and fell onto the
black stone floor. Without thinking I tried to wipe them away but
the chain would clang and the cold metal bit into my wrist.

More tears fell down my face. I wanted to be
strong; I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of seeing me
crying on the floor. Then my heart started to pound inside my
chest. Outside my cell there were muffled footsteps. With each step
they became louder and clearer. Then there was silence. I held my
breath as I could hear the bolts of the old door move into place.
My heart thumped rapidly inside my chest as the rusted door opened,
filling the room with a familiar stench. I gagged on the powerful
aroma as the creature stalked into my small cell. Seeing the leach
again was still frightening as it was the first time. He sniffed
the air around him and his inhuman face landed in my direction and
smiled a sharp grin.

It slowly slunk towards me with it sick
twisted smile on its filthy scabby black lips. I tried not to
scream as the disgusting monster was just inches away from my face.
Then a thought came, it was a stupid one but I had to try. I
quickly got up on my feet and brought out my leg and tried to kick
at the monster. The leach quickly caught my leg and dug its nails
deep into my calf. My leg stung with pain as I tried to wrestle it
out of its filthy grip. Finally he released, and I fell to the
floor trying to clutch at my wounded leg. The hideous monster just
stared down at me licking its lips.

“
What do you want?” I tried to
ask

It didn’t answer, I don’t even know if
they could talk. Then while I felt sorry for myself he pulled out a
syringe filled with the same black substance I remembered at the
manor. My eyes shot open as he started to play around with it
between his claws. I backed up from him but it was no use. He came
closer to me and I tried to scream. He stuck the syringe into my
neck and the room began to spin and sway. That same feeling of
weightlessness washed over me. I tried to fight against the
sedative but it was no use, I was losing the battle. I sat there,
slumped on the floor as I watched the leach walk away.

While I was in and out of consciousness,
moaning groans and terrifying screams pierced my ears. More shrill
screams carried throughout the cells, and I just wanted to curl up
in a corner and close my eyes tight. I just wanted to shut it all
out for good.

I woke up with my face on the floor. My
entire body felt weak and there was a tingling sensation running
through my battered body. I tried to lift my head up but I felt
like it was filled with bricks. I just laid on the floor, staring
at the door hoping for it all to stop, hoping for it all to
end.

Hours or even days passed without anyone
disturbing my numb sleep. I could still feel the black fluid
flowing throughout my body. It made every nerve inside feel fluffy
and numb at the same time. Deep down I never wanted the feeling to
stop and that scared me more than anything. It prevented me from
thinking straight and that’s what they wanted from me, numb and
lifeless.

Then I was awoken from my sleep by more
footsteps on the cold ground. The chains rattled as I tried to
stand but my balance failed me and I fell back down onto my knees.
The affects of the drug were still in my system. The door was
pulled open and stale air filled up my still breathing lungs.

“
Please, no more
injections.”
My weak
mind thought.

In walked a human man who looked oddly
familiar. He came closer to my face and he smelled fresh, something
I hadn’t smelt in a while. This was no leach. The mysterious
stranger came closer into my cell carrying something with both
hands.

“
You hungry?” the voice asked. The
oddly familiar man carried a metal tray, with what looked like
sludge along with a half a cup of water.

His voice, I’ve heard it before. I couldn’t
be sure since my mind was in fragments, but inside my mind I knew
that voice. Then he came closer and I saw his deep blue sea eyes
penetrating through the darkness. I stared into them and I could
feel myself being drawn in. I pulled away as everything came into
place. I tried to speak but my throat was too dry.

My mind burst with questions and I needed
answers, but as soon as I could form a sentence inside my mind it
would float away from my grasp.

Dr. Moss placed the plastic cup to my lips
and I eagerly drank from it. The water was a bit warm and stale but
I welcomed anything at that moment. Then he quickly snatched it
away before I could quench my thirst.

“
No all at once.” He said.

“
Are you going to free me?” My throat
burned while I tried to talk.

Dr. Moss didn’t answer.

“
Please.” I begged.

“
Ellie, I’m not here to help you.” He
placed the cup back into my mouth. “I’m with them now.”

As he spoke the words my heart dropped. There
was no rescue for me.

I finished what was inside the cup while
staring into those deep eyes of his.

“
Why!” I wanted it to come out as a
scream but a mere whisper escaped.

“
It’s complicated. I don’t want to be
here.” He said “but I cannot free you, I’m sorry.”

“
My neck.” I turned my heavy head and
showed him the many track marks from the needle.

He looked disgusted by it but did not offer
any words.

“
What do they want from me?” I
asked.

Dr Moss didn’t answer he just placed down the
metal tray covered with slop. I looked down at the unappealing
so-called food and kicked the tray away, splattering it up against
the wall.

“
You will need you strength for what is
to come and maybe the next person who comes in won’t be so
sympathetic.” He left the tray and exited the cell leaving me in
darkness again.

I wanted to scream till my lungs burst, but
my throat brought me nothing but pain. I wanted to scream at Dr.
Moss for letting them do this to me. How could he just sit back and
let them drug me, and he was so nice at the hospital. Lies, it was
all just lies. Something nagged at me about what he said. I would
need all my strength? I will never help them in any way; I’d rather
stay here and starve.