Heptagram (Unleashed, Book 1)

Chapter 4

The silence in the room after Keegan left is deafening. He said he had something to take care of, but he'd be back soon. He told me I was now free to explore the place, and given how impersonal this room is, I almost want to take him up on his offer.

I sigh. Right now there are more important things my brain is trying to deal with. Four months. The Healer has been missing for four months. And my mother has been 'in contact' with him for all this time. I discard the idea that she may know where the Healer is. From what Keegan told me, his whereabouts are vital information, and as manipulative as my mother can be, I really can't fathom the idea of her being so selfish as to keep that for herself.

This means one of two things: either someone had her fooled or she had me fooled all along. And she is certainly not the type of person to be manipulated or deceived.

And excluding that chance leaves only one possibility. Keegan told me the house of the Healer has been under strict surveillance ever since he went missing. There are precise instructions to go there immediately if someone enters the place and to preferably ring that person back to Zeta. According to him, this is the kind of information that anyone who knew about who lived in that house should have been aware of as well.

So, basically my mother sent me there knowing that the chance of me being brought to Zeta was high. And she knew what the consequences of that would be.

Keegan's words keep playing in my head on a loop, like a broken record. Entering Zeta right now makes me a Candidate for the Proclamation, meaning there are very few chances of my living to see the next month if I don't.

I squint my eyes and get up from the bed. I don't care how disorienting this place can be: the idea of staying in this room for one more second is absolutely unbearable. I walk to the door, which slides open as soon as I get close enough. I furrow my brows, confused.

Weird. When I was trying to get out earlier, I was much closer and yet it didn't open. So, when Keegan said I could explore the place he meant that I really was free to do so. I guess they are not worried that I might run away.

I pop my head into the corridor and see no one. Everything outside the room is gray – the walls, the floor, even the ceiling. The door closes behind me with a low hiss. My fingers trace the border of a "Z" engraved on the matte glass and the number right below it: 0007.

I see no other doors as I start to walk down the corridor. My hand touches the scratchy surface of the wall while the sound of my light steps fills the still air. I feel like I'm somehow intruding. I didn't sneak in, and since there's a good chance that me leaving could endanger my life, I have more than enough reason to be here.

The corridor seems infinite, but luckily there are no turns, so making my way back will be rather easy. The more I walk, the lighter my steps become, until silence descends upon me like a veil. I can't help it.

I was taught to be attentive, almost paranoid in an unfamiliar environment, so I'm not surprised that my instinct kicked in and my guard went up. Nonetheless, the quiet is driving me crazy, so I purposely tap my feet on the ground with more force, just to have a sound to keep me company.

I don't notice the corner and I just manage to detect the presence of someone before I am slammed against the wall. My surprise only lasts one second before I react driving my knee into the stomach of my aggressor. They dodge it, but that gives me the space I need to escape them and take a few steps back.

When I meet their eyes, I freeze. The only thing that comes out of my mouth is "What the hell?"

Kain smirks, looking me up and down. "Not bad. Maybe you are not that weak after all." His voice is calm, like he didn't just try to pin me against the wall.