I'm Not an Animal (Slow Updates)

Chapter 18

The building was massive, concrete and grey against the sky. Giant chain-link fences surrounded the complex, massive coils of sharpened barbed-wire on top. The supports for the fences were cemented to the ground, and another roll of barbed-wire curled around the base, preventing anyone from crawling under the tiny gap between the fence and the ground. Gates were spread out around the perimeter of the building, and pillars towered over the four corners of the complex-watch towers filled with armed guards.

The building itself was huge. If every window that lined the walls belong to its own room, which I highly doubted, there would be thousands of rooms in the entire structure. Even with one room sharing anywhere up to five windows, there would still be hundreds of rooms. I tipped my head back, trying to take in all five stories of the building.

We were lead along a dirt path, our shuffling feet kicking up dust behind us. Four guards manned every gate, and I was both glad and disappointed to see that only two of the guards on our gate had the dead-eyed look of those under the Control Serum.

The guards nodded towards us and opened the gates, closing them once the last stragglers had made their way through. The sound of the gates grating across the ground and slamming shut was the last straw for a couple of the others, and they started crying. Our captors walked away from us--there was no need to guard us as there were massive irons gates and huge fences to keep us in--and started to talk in hushed voices.

I made my way to Zaki, Ruby, Eleanor, Marion and Wyatt. We walked together along the path, until I finally spoke up. "Guys, I know what happened to them," I motioned to our guards. "The bartender put a note with my food. These people are being controlled. It's called the Control Serum, and I think they plan to use it on us."

"That's just great," Zaki said sarcastically. Ruby rolled her eyes and punched his shoulder playfully.

"We have to get out of here. There's no way I'm going to let someone take away my freedom. It's not ending like this!" She cried, fiddling the feather in her hair.

"We can't, Rubes. They have people with rifles in those towers. They'd shoot us the second they saw us run. Maybe we can do something once we're inside, but there's nothing we can do here."

"You're right," Marion said. "We have to bide our time. Once we're inside, maybe we can talk to the others, and-"

"And what?" Eleanor snapped. "Haven't you been listening to yourselves? The second we put a foot out of line, we're dead! We'll just have to hope for a miracle."

With that, our little group fell silent. The building loomed in front of us, its shadow swallowing us into the inky blackness. As my eyes adjusted to the sudden darkness, I heard the door scrape open. My eyes fell on the person standing in the doorway. The first thing I saw was the beautiful brown-and-blonde ombré braid.

The second thing I saw was the smirking face of Alyssa.

"You!" I screamed, launching myself towards her. Guns were instantly aimed at my chest, but I didn't care. Two pairs of hands grabbed me, pulling me back. "No! Let me go!" I yelled, pummelling whoever was holding me. Zaki and Wyatt. Zaki pulled to his chest and I struggled against him. The guns moved to him.

"Don't worry about her," Alyssa said. "We have a history of sorts. I'm sure she mentioned me?"

"Yes, Alyssa. And not all of her words were kind." Silve said, tucking her gun back in its holster.

"Heh, I'm sure they weren't. Right, everyone follow me." She walked back through the door and started down the hallway. We were pushed into the building, the Wolf Gang standing right behind us and forcing us forward.

We followed Alyssa down the hallway, her bobbing braid a constant in the mass of hallways and side-paths. She finally stopped at a four-way cross. "Boys, to your left. Girls, your right. Tora. Come with me." We waited until the others had gone their separate ways, then Alyssa motioned for me to walk in front of her.

"So," I asked after the sixth turn. "Are there maps here?" I mentally cursed myself for not attempting to memorise the layout of the building, but I knew it would take me years just to memorise this floor.

Alyssa chuckled. "No, there's no maps. But we are given these." She pulled from her pocket want looked like a small phone. I opened it up and a hologram was revealed. It showed where we stood, as well as the layout for the rest of the building.

"Are there rooms below us?" I asked, pointing to the hologram.

"Indeed. In fact, that's where we're heading now. It's where you'll be staying until tomorrow's performance."

"What about the others?" I questioned, fear knotting my stomach.

"Oh, they're a bit...preoccupied."

"What was down those hallways?"

"Operation and Testing Rooms."

"So you are using the Control Serum on them!" I cried, realising my mistake.

"How do you know about that?" Alyssa asked, stopping behind me.

"I, uh, heard one of the others talking about it on the way in. I didn't see who, they were behind me." I couldn't bring the bartender into this. They'd probably kill her if I told them the truth!

"Ah. Okay." That seemed to satisfy Alyssa, as she started walking again. Another ten twists and turns later we found ourself at a massive staircase, one that went down into the ground. I took the steps two at a time, then Alyssa pointed out a pale-pink door. "You'll be staying in here," she said, ushering me in. I walked into the room, then Alyssa locked the door behind me.

The small room consisted of a bed, a table and a chair. Cotton pyjamas were folded neatly in my bed. I changed into them and shoved my clothes into my satchel. The pyjamas consisted of long, black-and-white striped pants, and a white shirt with a detailed tiger head drawing.

I lay down on the bed and was surprised to find that the pillow was soft and the mattress was softer. I kept my satchel close, curling around it. I remembered the berries, and opened the satchel to grab them when my eyes fell on my Viewer. I reached in and pulled it out. I turned it on, opened Emails and sent one to Misha.

M, dont hve much time. Held in a plc clled Outer Reaches. Others hve been injected w/Control Serum. Might not see u again. Sorry. Luv u (as a frend, u kno that 😉). Stay safe

I clicked the Viewer off and slid it back into the satchel. Then I lay back in the bed and stared up at the low ceiling. Surprisingly, sleep came easily. That night my keep was pleasant and dreamless.

I was woken up the next morning by banging on the door. The guard said they would come in in ten seconds whether I was presentable or not, but I told them to just open the damn door and get it over with.

The door swung inwards and I looked at the three guards who had walked in. My eyes fell on the familiar sandy-blonde hair and I choked out a gasp. My eyes trailed down his face, stopping when his glazed gaze met mine. "No," I whispered. Those eyes, yesterday, had held so much love that it broke my heart to see them like this. "Zaki."

"Grab her," he said, motioning to the guards. "Take her to the roof. It's time for the fun to begin." His mouth twisted into a wicked smile and I snapped out of my daze.

"No!" I screamed as the guards, neither of which I knew, grabbed my arms. I wrenched against them, but it was no use. "No! Zaki! This isn't you! Zaki! No! NO!"

***
Hehehe, how was that?! Where you expecting that? What do y think is going to happen on the roof? And sorry if you thought you were getting an update yesterday. I tried updating it, but stupid wattpad GLITCHED and deleted half my chapter.
Anyway, that's Alyssa in the media section. I don't know if I've described her before, but if I have that's what I know want her to look like. I don't think I described her. Meh.
See you on the flip-side.