broken thieves

six

Everyone is deadly silent as Danielle moves to the end of the table we're all sat around. Blake's hand is still in mine and Colby takes a seat on the other side of me, taking my other one in his. Maeve is sat on the other side of the table in between Adam and Zavier, and Jayden is beside him.

Everyone knows that this can't be good news. Zavier already looks like he knows what's going on, but he's put up such an impressive mask that it looks as if he's turned to stone.

"So, um," Danielle starts. She can't meet any of our eyes. "Obviously you all know how difficult it's been trying to find Simon and the Drakan's. We've been working day and night, desperate to find any way to get... Enoch, Chelsea and Connie back..." she takes a moment to compose herself. "And, while I wish I could stand here and say we've made any progress, I know I would be lying to you. There's been nothing."

I breathe out a shaky sigh, knowing that that can't be all there is. Danielle shouldn't be this worried about telling us something we already know.

"But... okay maybe there has been something. But it's not a good thing. At all."

I make eye contact with Zavier. I see him sigh before wrapping a protective arm around Maeve, who's slightly trembling in her seat, nibbling at her fingernails.

"What is it?" Jayden asks, his voice cracking a little.

"Is it, I don't know, photos or something?" Blake asks. I glance at him before looking back at Danielle.

"Something like that," she says. "We have been sent a video. Of Chelsea. It looks as though she... she's been forced to film this video. To threaten us."

Jayden shifts in his seat. "What about Enoch or Connie. Were there any from them?" I feel like he's asking the questions in benefit in all of us. At least, I wouldn't be able to trust my voice with my suddenly erratic breathing. Blake must know, as his grip tightens on my hand.

"There's nothing from Enoch and Connie," Danielle mutters.

My heart seizes in my chest. Is that a good or bad thing?

Danielle sniffs, leaning against the table for support. "I think... um... I think maybe I should just show you. But if any one of you needs to leave at any time, please feel free to do so. What I'm about to show you... well, it's just horrific, but, as much as I wish I could keep it away from you all, Zavier and I agreed that it's something you should all be aware of."

I'm not ready for this. I'm really not. I contemplate just getting up and leaving the room now, not wanting to see what nightmares might appear on the screen. But I don't, partly because I don't think my legs would work, and partly because no one else does. If they're strong enough to sit through this, then I should be too.

Besides, what the Taken are going through is so much worse. I owe it to them to see what's going on.

However, the video hasn't even started yet I know this won't be easy. A chorus of pained gasps travel through the room, Maeve clasping her hands over her mouth with a shaky 'oh my god'.

On the screen is Chelsea. Although it doesn't look like her at all.

Her gorgeous, dyed blonde hair has been completely shaven off. Her skin is sickly pale and her features are hollow. Her face is covered in ugly, purple and yellowing bruises, and there's a bad, deep cut on her eyebrow that clearly isn't receiving the medical attention it needs.

She's underweight, the clothes she's wearing are baggy, and her eyes are entirely dull. There's no hope or life in them what so ever. She's been drained of life and she's been there just over three months.