AA1: Dying To Survive

prologue

"Answer me!" He yells. He's fuming from anger. He's not used to having people disobey him.

He is scarry, I must say.

I can't see him, I have only gotten accustomed to his voice. He visits a lot.

It has been a week since they captured me, with hopes that I'll sing like a cannon bird. I scoff. What do they take me for. I have been trained to remain silent.

I have never seen the room I'm kept in. I'm always blindfolded. I can only rely on my hearing.

I hear footsteps fading to a far side. A door opens. Far more carried drumming sounds emerge. I hear heavy footsteps get closer to me. Even though I can not see anything. I can feel a figure above me.

He moves slightly away. The room is silent. When I suddenly hear a refreshing voice. "Has she not said anything?" The man enquires. This one is different. He's calm. When he talks, the room remains silent. He's footsteps are heavier. He must be the alpha of the little pack.

"No." Another man replies. Ohw I know the voice, it's the guy with the anger issues.

The voices seem to degrade with pitch, as they evolve to silent hushed whispers. Later, I hear a thud. I assume it is someone punching the wall.

"Look guys, we could calm down, have a drink, and have a nice talk about this." I say. It's the first time I'm saying something after a week of being held captive. Maybe because I didn't see the need to say anything. And now, I'm a little bored.

I assume they are drowning in shock. So I don't pay attention to them and rather continue.

"Or we could take the easy way out and just kill me. I am content I won't say anything since I don't know anything, and I don't really like the torture. So I suppose you should just kill me."

Silence.
I groan in annoyance.

Sometimes I really wonder why I even love this job.

"I know I'm not the first, and I certainly won't be the last. Just do it." I'm really calm for someone who's bargaining to end her life.

"You've been silent for a week and the first thing you suggest is to be killed. Her highness couldn't just share a single word with the boys." The alpha says. His voice is quite delicate for someone who kidnaps as a hobby.  I'm not sure if he's angry, or if he's taken an interest in our conversation.

"Ohw, sorry about that, I've been keeping myself for the big guy, who I suppose is you. Also I don't really like talking, and," I attempt to bite my nails, and in a failed attempt, I remember I'm tied. I sigh,"This is really taking longer than I expected."

"Look, I don't like pulling this card, but then I guess you leave me no choice. 2003111319750718, " he says. I can feel his hot minty breath on my face. He is extremely near for my personal liking.

"I have no idea why you just recited those numbers. And could you just take five steps back. I really like my personal space, damn, I can smell the fish you ate last night." This is getting awkward, and I'm playing with danger. I should not be pushing his buttons. I'm blindfolded for heaven's sake. I hate it most when pain comes where I can't comprehend. I love to be prepared. And right now, I'm not.

He sighs. Just when I'm planning to say something to soothe the tense air, I taste a metal at the side of my face.

Something is seriously wrong with me. Besides them hitting me since I got here. Something is definately wrong.

I spit the blood in my mouth. I must have bit my tongue harder this time.

This is why I hate surprise attacks.

"For people who love having guests, you're not very good at taking care of them." I'm not even sure if I feel the pain anymore. I'm numb.

"I'm a very nice person. I have been tolerant. More than I normally would be. You're forcing me to be the bad guy." My blindfold is taken off. I can't believe I just said 'my blindfold'. I seriously have attachment issues.

"Please, we haven't done anything. Please. Please." It takes a few seconds for me to completely open my eyes. They're swollen. Everything is a blur.

"Please!"

No matter how senseless I am. I know that's my mom on the phone. Which explains the numbers. The damn numbers! I can feel my senses getting back to me. My brain is much slower today. How do I handle this? If I plead to let them go they'll know they have something over me. But my mom, damn my mom...

Thanks to my swollen eyes they can't see my shocked expression. "Mom!!" I hear another scream. That's my little sister, it's no doubt. What are they doing to them?

"Ohw will we be having a huge reunion or something?" I joke.

"We cut their pinkies last night. Just the left hands. And this was taken five days ago. If that's how they were on their first day. I wonder how they might be doing right now." He says. I haven't thought about checking where I am. I can only hear the screams of my mom and little sister repeatedly make a howl.

I raise my head. I try to sarcastically smile but my mouth and jaws hurt. Can't I move a single part of my body without having them hurt?

I slightly raise my head. I come face to face with extremely black eyes. Disgusted by him I attempt to close my eyes. They hurt. Even blinking hurts. I wince from the pain.

"You were right, you're not the first, and clearly judging by how far we've gone. You won't be the last." He says.

He richly giggles. "I'd kiss you right now but then again, akho mfuneko yokungxama( there's no need to hurry)..." He kisses his two fingers then places them on my left cheek. "there's always a next time. When you'll be clean of course." Jerk!

He stands, damn he's tall. Okay, I might have taken this lightly. I get kidnapped a lot. I truly took this lightly. And now my family is in danger. It's my fault. Get ahold of yourself bitch, no time for a pity party.

"It's late. You must be tired. I'll let you sleep on it baby. Maybe by tomorrow. You'll be ready to talk." They blindfold me again. Minutes later I feel something on my arm. A needle, shit, no wonder my brain's been foggy.

"Goodnight princess." He says. 

I begin to feel sleepy. I'm trying hard to stay awake, I'm trying hard to remember everything, but I can feel the darkness of nothingness engulf me.

"Heyy, we need her, she must stay alive. She's entertaining, I can't have her go to waste" Is the last thing I hear before I suddenly wake up.

I hesitantly sit running my eyes across my pitch black room. It's empty, except the hands I feel wrapping around my figure. "Are you having the nightmares again baby?" He enquires while kissing my collarbone.

He softly takes my arm and rests me on his chest. "You're safe with me love. Nothing will happen. It was all a dream." He reassures me while brushing my arms with his huge hands.

Something about the way Nathi soothing me, makes me want to believe that I'm safe. "What ever tries to get to you will have to get through me first," he kisses my forehead. I give away in his arms and wrap my arms around his lower bridge.

"Come on let's get back to sleep," he says. He starts breathing steadily when my eyes begin to close in sync with his peaceful heartbeat.

It was just a dream.  I hope to try and convince myself before a drift of an empty sleep attacks me.

It was just a dream.