Captured

Chapter 9

Over the next few days I received visits from Jak while Kane was gone. He would bring small amounts of stolen food from the kitchens in exchange for information. It wasn't the type of information Kane asked for like the location of the facility or who I had escaped with. Instead, he asked me where I'd learnt to fight and how I'd killed Kane's right hand man.

I enjoyed talking to him and it became the only thing I had to look forward to. He was the most decent man I'd ever come across and while I still had my reservations about him because, friendly or not, he was still a man, he was the closest thing I had to a friend in here.

However, today, Kane hadn't left his office in the morning like he usually did. He shoved a plate of toast into the cell and went straight to his desk where he had stayed all morning.

Finally, in the early afternoon he left his desk, presumably to leave. However, I frowned when instead, he beelined for me. "Get up," he grunted, approaching the bars and sliding open the bolt keeping me trapped inside.

When the door swung open, he suddenly felt a lot closer and a lot more threatening. I frowned, slowly rising to my feet while he scowled down at me. "Out."

He stepped aside, leaving the doorway clear and an escape seemed almost easy. "Now!" He barked when I hesitated and with that, I was darting out of the cell. I didn't bother to wait for any further instruction and made my way to the office door, hoping to get as far away as possible. 

"Not so fast!" He snapped, grasping my arm tightly and tugging me backwards.

"What's going on?" I snapped, turning so I could face him. I'd forgotten how tall he was when we were face to face and startled at the scowl on his face.

"If you think I am going to let you out of my sight," he snarled, forcing me out of the office and into the long hallway.

I was shoved towards the main entrance to the building and just when I got my hopes up that we were going outside where I could run, we veered to the right and entered a large room filled with tables.

The room was filled with the men from the facility and they turned to face me and Kane as we walked in. I had never lacked confidence and was devoted to making sure I always seemed strong in the presence of men. But having all their eyes on me had me shrinking backwards into Kane's shadow.

"What am I doing here?" I hissed, glancing up at Kane while he smirked.

"Mingling," he stated, nodding his head towards our left.

I turned to see the rest of the girls gathered in the corner, concern etched on their faces as they eyed the large men crowding around the room. I moved to approach them, relieved to see most of them standing there - including Calla. Kane's grip on my arm only tightened as I took a small step in their direction.

"See, I'd like to start rebuilding the human race as soon as possible," he stated, his lips close to my ear as I stared at my friends, watching them turn to look at me with relief flooding their faces. "And that requires you and your friends getting pregnant."

I shot around to stare at him, my jaw dropped as he grinned back at me. "So go, mingle. Find the father of your future child."

With that, he shoved me in the direction of the men before folding his arms and leaning against the door, blocking the only exit. Instantly, I darted in direction of my friends and threw my arms around Calla. "Thank god you're okay."

She hugged me back just as fiercely. "I was so worried about you," I told her, pulling away to look between the other girls. "Are you all alright?"

Calla nodded and squeezed my hand. "We're fine, we were worried about you. Where did he take you?"

I rolled my eyes. "He has a cell in his office," I told her, my eyes scanning over the girls. "Tina?" I questioned, a sinking feeling in my stomach.

Calla shook her head. "He killed her," she stated softly, sadness washing over her face, "I don't know why."

Tears filled my eyes but I swiped them away. "Do you guys know why we are here?" I asked them, watching them all shift uncomfortably before nodding.

"Do you have a plan," Calla asked, her eyes pleading.

"We're surrounded," I muttered with a shake of my head. "And outnumbered. And unarmed. I'm so sorry guys," I whispered.

"Enough of this," I heard Kane growl before I was suddenly ripped away from my friends. "I didn't let you all out for a catch up, now go! Over there!" He snarled, steering me towards the men before moving to grab another one of the girls.

One by one, the men in the room approached us, having no personality and no respect for personal space. I ignored them as much as I possibly could, more interesting in gauging out my eyes than mating with any of them.

I attempted to hide myself in the back corner, where Kane couldn't see me avoiding them. "You're not invisible you know?" Someone commented and I turned, relieved to see Jak staring back at me in amusement.

"For once, I wish I was," I said with a shrug.

"Listen, if you don't find someone by the end of this, he's not just going to let you off," he said, his eyes scanning the rest of the men behind him. "You may as well try."

I shook my head. "None of these men have even an inch of respect for women. They just want someone well behaved that they can order around and torture."

He laughed. "We aren't all that bad you know?"

I met his eyes. "You seem to be the exception," I told him.

The corner of his lip quirked. "Why's that?"

"Because you don't speak to me like a slave or some sort of pet you can order around. You almost speak to me like a human."

"Almost?"

"You're a little patronising... like you're talking to a child," I explained, watching his sympathetic eyes widen in shock.

"I don't mean to," he replied genuinely, "I thought I knew better than to underestimate you."

I grinned. "Thank you."

"What are you doing?" Kane suddenly snapped, his face appearing in front of me, drenched in annoyance.

"Mingling," I told him, nodding towards his brother.

"I didn't mean him," he snapped, shaking his head.

I frowned. "Why not? He's a man isn't he?"

Kane turned to Jak who raised an eyebrow. "He's too young to be a father," he said before turning back to me, "go and find someone else."

"Katherine is younger than me," Jak pointed out, raising an eyebrow at his brother, a gleam in his eye.

"Not now Jak," Kane snapped back before glaring at me. "Go."

With a sigh, I left my friend and ignored the many men that came up to me with insults meant to sound complimentary and offers that I'm sure were meant to be flattering but instead made me feel sick to my stomach.

"So," one of them said, his hands on my waist as he all but pinned me against the wall. "You're the one Kane keeps locked in his office? The leader?"

I fought to try and get out of his grip but he only tightened it. "Has nobody ever taught you you're place?" He growled, squeezing my skin until it bruised.

I lifted my knee and slammed it right in between his legs, breathing a sigh of relief when he dropped my arms to cradle the area. "They have," I answered his question while backing away. "I'm just a slow learner."

With that, I disappeared into the crowds of people.