Bad Blood

Chapter 16 - What a horrible mess

A sharp trill brought me back to my senses, and I struggle against whatever is binding me. I had been blindfolded with black silk, which I only knew because I was deathly allergic to it, and I could already feel my eyelids starting to itch. I gladly hadn't been gagged, so I restrained myself from sucking in a sharp breath. There was no need to alert the captures of my consciousness until I'd strung together enough information. 

I'd been tied to a wooden chair, the feeling of the curved backing was familiar.  It reminded me of Jack's dining room chairs, but I knew I was far from his 70's styled home. I lifted my nose to the air and took in a long breath without making so much as a sound. The room we were in smelled faintly of orange air fresher, the chemical type, typically used in moldy-smelling bathrooms. It had been sprayed some time ago the strength of its chemical stench had started to fade, which meant it hadn't been used to fool my nose, but rather to cover up the waft of mold or mildew. Mildew of course was found in damp and wet places like a kitchen or window sill, but more commonly in places of high humidity, and the further in the ground you went the more this became a problem. So I came to the rather sensible conclusion that we were somewhere far underground. 

The cold sting rubbing against the inside of my thigh, and against the bottom of my left foot told me I hadn't yet been searched. I'd hidden my daggers on my person this morning after Jack had left the house, and I was feeling glad that I had. Now all I needed to do was work out if someone else was in the room watching me, and as my right eye started to swell under the thick silk I strung together a plan. 

I started with a loud sharp intake of breath, and a hacking cough to pretend that I'd just woken up. Breathing hard, I called out to the room and when no one responded I said; "Where am I?" 

Nothing. 

I wriggled in my bonds. "Anyone there?"

Still nothing. Which possibly meant no one was there, but of course who would leave their captive alone in a room? I had to be sure. 

I fell silent until my right eye had swelled up enough to cause the fabric on my left eye to slip. I reached up with my tongue moving my mouth until I was able to grab onto it with my teeth. I pulled it down and looked around, at a small white-walled bare room. Crusty grey carpet covered the floor, and upon looking down I spied my crumpled school uniform, and my legs bound together by brown rope. 

Rocking forward, I stood up on my toes catching myself before I rocketed forward onto my face. Shifting as much weight as possible on the tips of my feet, I took a deep breath. I had to be ready to move as quickly as possible as the only way to get out of my chair would cause a very loud bang, alerting anyone and everyone to my presence. I watched the door very carefully. It was a normal standard home door, equipped with a heavy-duty lock, which with the right pressure in the right places could be kicked open. 

Tensing my muscles so as to protect them better, I launched myself backward onto my back. there was a loud crash as the impact of the fall broke the backing of the chair. The bonds around my hands loosened and I pulled them out, already reaching from the dagger on the inside of my pocket. Once I'd hastily cut through the bonds on my feet, I rushed over to the door and measured up giving it a swift kick. It thrust open and I peered out into an empty grey carpeted hallway.

I jumped out of my skin as alarms started blaring throughout the hall. Drats. The lock on the door must have triggered some security system, which explained why no one was in the room with me. All my rational thinking went out the window as I decided at the last moment to run left. 

Taking a corner I came face to face with another door, and with a swift move, it bust open. To my surprise, the room was identical to the one I'd just been in, with the crusty grey carpet and bone white walls. t too smelled faintly of orange air freshener and in the middle of it, all bound to a chair with rope is Brooklyn. 

Sirens blare louder as I look between her and the door. This new dead-end complicates things, and don't run now security will surely find me, tie me up and make sure I can't leave this time, but it means I'll have to leave her behind. I hesitate a second longer before rushing forward to cut her bonds. I can't just leave her behind. 

It takes a couple of smacks to arouse her from her unconscious state. When she finally opens her eyes, she looks up at me. "Sticky fringe?"

I self consciously fluff my fringe. "Huh?"

She smirks. "That's what I call you now, Sticky fringe. You sweat so much on your forehead that your fringe sticks to it."

"Well if that how you're going to be, then you can save yourself." I say as I give her my best glare.

"Whatever. I don't need your help anyway." She grumbles as I throw up my hands and back away. After a few moments of struggling in her hand bonds, she looks at the dagger in my hand. "Give that to me."

"No, it's not yours and you don't command me. Get your own dagger." I growl.

"It's clearly just a kitchen knife, so don't act so prissy and I need it more than you do. Hand it over."

I snort. "You said you didn't need my help."

Brooklyn narrows her eyes at me. "And I don't. I just need your knife."

"Me giving it to you is still helping." 

"Fine you know what, I'll just run with my hands tied to my chair." She rocks forward and stands up, the rope I cut falling to the floor. 

She waddles towards the door, with her best 'I hate you' face, coming to a wallowing halt when I stand in her way. 

"Move."

I groan as I bend down and quickly fasten off her bonds. They come off in a quick slice. "There," I say as I straighten up. "Was that so hard."

Brooklyn squares up as the chair falls backward behind her. I watch her as she raises her fists. 

"What are you doing?" I go to say, but before the last word is out she uppercuts me in the nose.