Deceit

Chapter 2

"Вставай." Natalie's voice carried over to Anelia, waking the girl from her slumber. Her arms and legs were unbound from the chair she slept on, her limbs thankful for the lack of friction as she slept.

The door of the helicopter was open, bright sunlight burning her eyelids. Natalie was already stepping out into the open. Not wanting to be left alone, Anelia followed suit at a much slower pace.

It took a few seconds for her eyes to adjust. When they did, Anelia realized that the flying contraption merely took them to a much bigger aircraft. People dressed in business attire and skin tight bodysuits walked around them, having set destinations and other jobs to fulfill.

Anelia's breathing began to accelerate as she tried to keep her limbs as close to her body as possible. A slight tapping of her index finger on her left elbow captured Natalie's attention before she turned away. "Не теряйтесь."

Anelia hurried to stay close to her kidnapper. Even though she was forcibly brought here by the red-head, sticking together was a better option than venturing out into the throngs of strangers. 

"Могу ли я даже плавать?"

The bridge of the ship was compromised of rows of computers, more strangers in suits, two seperate walkways, and a lone man with an eye patch as he stood out from the rest. Anelia thought that he looked more like a pirate than anything else.

"Romanoff, my office. Now." He walked away, his heavy black boots squeaking against the squeaky clean floor.  Natalie barely looked in Anelia's direction before following the man. Not wanting to be left behind with whoever it was playing what could be seen as a tiny ship shooting other tiny ships, Anelia stuck with the older woman.

The twists and turns of the ship's interior nearly made Anelia dizzy. She was only able to focus on the bobbing of red hair that lead the way.

Upon reaching a large double door at the end of a singular hallway, a lone woman with black hair tied in a low bun and a dark blue catsuit stood in the way. Her face looked severe, almost startling the youngest female. Anelia held onto the back of Natalie's leather jacket, not even realizing her actions.

The stern looking woman spared a glance to the nervous girl before opening the doors using a key card. Natalie patted Anelia's hand, slowly stepping forward as to not trip the girl up during their walk. 

Inside the room were rows of cells down what was another hallway. Various people inhabited the prison-like rooms. Some didn't care for the newcomers while others voiced out their opposition to being kept in a cage.

At the end of the hallway sat an empty cage. Anelia put up no fight to the inevitable. What was the point when these strangers seemed prepared for almost everything.

-_-

A change of clothes was offered along with a meager peanut butter sandwich and water. Anelia slowly ate, trying to savour the food and have it last as long as possible. There was nowhere to run and it would seem that she would be stuck there for who knows how long. Maybe until she went crazy like the others.

There was no way of telling time within these walls. The area was dark and the same wailings could be heard a mile off. 

Instead of wallowing in despair like she could've done a hundred times over, Anelia chose to imagine new creations as she fiddled with her fingers. 

Maybe she could make something that allows people to communicate with animals of all kinds. The neighborhood alley cats were always pretty nice when she would feed them bits of her own food. Or maybe a home that builds itself from a tiny little box. Maybe then she could always have a place to sleep instead of slumming it in the most dangerous places she can find.