Escape {COMPLETE}

~Chapter Eighteen~

I was awake before we even got there, but I pretended to still be knocked out. He was carrying us like ragdolls, and I noticed Walker was being carried on the opposite side of its' torso. It felt more like we were gliding than walking, and I still couldn't see this...thing's feet. Walker looked so limp and lifeless across from me, his eyes closed and breathing light. If I couldn't hear the soft intake of breath very now and then, I wouldve assumed the worst by his appearance.

I squinted my eyes, barely open, so the creature wouldn't realize I'd regained consciousness. I closed my eyes again and let the wind softly brush against my cheeks, turning them icy cold after a while. I squinted them open after several minutes, trying to figure out where we were. All I could see was the silvery moonlight bathing the leaves of trees, leaking in through the many gaps and speckling the ground with its brilliant light.

I glanced over at Walker one last time, trying to make the movement of my head look as natural as possible. He was still limp--I wondered why I had woken up. I guess he didn't hold the rag over my mouth as long as he held it over Walkers'. I inwardly shuddered at the thought of this disgusting things' hands on me, even though I knew I was in his clutches at that same moment. I wanted to writhe and wriggle out of his grasp, and run far away, where he couldn't hurt me anymore. But I knew that was only a small fantasy.

Suddenly, I heard the slow creak of a wooden door opening. I slammed my eyes shut, trying to become limp and moveable. The creature gently handed me over to someone else; someone with strong hands and muscles obviously buldging. I squinted again, peering out to try and see who. The lighting was very dim, but I could make out a slight outline. It seemed somehow familiar....but it's hard to make out details when you're squinting. Not to mention, I was still groggy from the stupid chloroform....damn, I watch way too many medical shows.

I gave up on trying to figure out who was carrying me and closed my eyes slowly. His walk was like any normal human's-he swayed slightly with every step. I heard another door open, more swiftly this time. I realized, by the bouncing, we were going down stairs. I tried to make any noise, but whoever was holding me obviously didn't care if they jostled me. I patiently waited for us to reach the bottom--despite the fact it was sort of starting to get me dizzy.

A final door opened, only it was keypad-locked and made of heavy metal; iron or steel, but the sound of it scraping along the floor as it opened. I heard hushed gasps and furious whispers as I was carried into a room. My eyes were still closed, so I had no idea what was going on. The voices became silent as the person carrying me set me down on the cold, hard ground. I heard his footsteps grow distant as he left. I fluttered my eyes open, watching him go. He went back and grabbed Walker from unseen hands, and laid him down beside me.

"HANNAH!" Everyone was screaming. "I CAN'T BELIEVE HE GOT YOU!" "THIS CAN'T BE POSSIBLE!" "WE'RE ALL DOOMED!" So many outraged, incredulous, and terrified screeches met my ears I couldn't tell who said what and when. "GUYS!" I shouted over them. "SHUT UP FOR A SECOND AND LET ME BREATH!" Walker was starting to regain consciousness, and he sat up, holding his head. He let out a low moan, blinking rapidly to get accustomed to the sudden light. "W-where are we?? What's going on???" He asked, fear evident in his eyes.

"That man," I explained, "he took us here. He kidnapped all my friends as well." I swept an arm across the room, indicating everyone else sitting around us. "Why would someone do such a thing?!" Walker growled. "I don't care why, I just wanna know who did this....." Nick grumbled under his breath, but everyone was so close that we could hear him.

Erin was sitting in the corner with another boy...a boy I'd seen before, but couldn't place a name to.....I walked over to them and said, "Erin! Hey there! Who's your friend?" She giggled and replied, "Hannah, this is Michael!" My eyes shot wide open. "Michael?? Idahoan Michael?!?" I asked incredulously, my voice a harsh hiss. "Don't start with the Idaho jokes...." The boy--sorry, Michael--growled. "How....why.....I thought you guys broke up!!!" I cried, sounding a lot ruder than I'd intended. Michael became stone-faced, and Erin leaned in close to my ear, whispering, "Oh, yeah, we sort of got back together....."

"Again??" I whispered back, again, sounding ruder than I intended. Michael looked at me with chilled malice glittering his gaze. Erin looked at me, seeming sort of angry at my reaction. "You should be happy for us!" She hissed. I sighed softly. "I know how you feel for him, I know..." She still didn't look convinced, but scooted back beside Michael. They whispered quietly to one another.

I stood back up and walked over to Nick and Rachel. Patrick was right beside them, and he stood up to meet me once I arrived near them. He, again, hugged me. I blushed, but not with pleasurable embarrassment. It was more of a 'please don't do this...' blush. But, reluctantly, I hugged back. He sensed my unease. "Are you okay, babe?" He murmured reassuringly, his hands still on my hips. Any other time, I'd be elated! But not right now....

"I'm fine..." I muttered back. My hands were on his forearms, but I gently slid them off. I couldn't bear touching him right then. The guilt was eating me alive..... "Are you sure?" He asked, looking down at my face. He lifted my chin with his fingertip, grinning, trying to make me feel better. He obviously had no idea that it had the opposite effect. I'd never seen him so affectionate before. It was so romantic, but with such horrible timing.... "I'm sure, baby." I murmured a little louder, forcing my voice to sound stronger.

Patrick nodded once and sat down again. I sat beside him almost instantly, Walker on my other side. I was stuck in between my past and present loves. It was incredibly awkward.

That is, until a sudden loud, rumbling bang shot through the silence like a bullet through water, making us all jump. I unconsciously grabbed onto Patrick's arm, fright getting the best of me. I realized I'd done this and quickly let go, but he put a hand on my own in response. I guiltily stared at the floor. Another bang shook the ground we were all seated on, echoing around the tiny room.

Footsteps, growing closer and closer, coming from the door.....

The steel door slammed open, and the tiny light bulb hanging from the ceiling started to flicker. It eventually flashed so fast, it felt like there were strobe lights were going off. It only took mere seconds, but the bulb finally burst, raining tiny glass shards. I was sitting right below it, and the powdery glass fell down upon me. It did nothing more than glittered on my skin, until i got the bright idea to brush it off. It scratched at my arms and I hissed in pain, blood droplets welling up. I ignored them, and we all stared at the door.

Without the lightbulb, it was pitch-black dark. The monster's voice rang throughout the enclosed space. He spoke loudly and clearly, addressing all of us. "It's time."

The room instantly started to morph. It was horrifically altering shape and color, bending and twisting around us. I gasped, and Erin let out a muffled whimper. I instantly felt a claustrophobic edge creeping up on me, choking my throat and making me shiver. Erin leaned into Michael, and he protectively wrapped an arm around her, daring anything to touch her.

The room had transformed into something seemingly random at the time, but it didn't make it seem any less sinister. It was a snowy forest, the trees black and bare, looming like prison bars around us. Snow was gently falling, covering the ground in a soft blanket of white. The snowflakes filled everyone's hair with little white sparkles, seeming to make everyone glitter. The monster....we couldn't see him. He had disappeared. But we could still hear him.

"You children are probably wondering why I've brought you here, and I shall now explain. That...Shainfeld girl....." He spat her name like it was a disgusting disease or something. "She may seem normal in your eyes. But, I can see past that pretty little face. She isn't what she seems!" He roared, the bodyless entity's voice boomed around us. Michael tightened his grip around her, curling his upper lip like an angry wolf. She sank lower into the snow-covered earth.

"She is the reincarnation of one of my worst enemies..." His voice was rumbling, gravelly and furious, but it had an edge of sadness to it. "Vanessa..." He murmured, his evil-sounding voice turned to a soft whisper. "She was my one, true love....." Suddenly, all around us, it seemed like a flashback was being played. I felt like I was inside of a green screen.