Underground Legends: The Hunt (BWWM)

Chapter 26 - Abella

Abella Sterling (Female P.O.V)

October 23, 2074

My eyes fluttered open and closed, blinking away the haze clouding my vision. Everything is an alarming shade of gray, from the floors to the walls. I lightly shook my head, willing the colors to return.

The action jarred my memories, bringing them back in droves. I jerked upright, expecting to come face-to-face with my assailant, but he wasn't there. Or rather, I was no longer at the house.

Where am I?

And how long have I been out?

The last thing I remembered was shooting the man trying to abduct us.

What the hell happened after that?

And how did I end up here?

My eyes swept over the long, narrow room. There were no windows or decorations except a single bulb jutting out from the wall.

A cold sweat washed over me when I saw Veronica lying next to me on the floor. Completely still and unmoving. Her chalky white complexion made me immediately assume the worst.

She was dead.

I reached over to check for a pulse when her eyelids suddenly cracked open. Taken by surprise, I gasped and snatched my hand back. Once my initial shock passed, I felt nothing but relief.

When she slowly sat up, I looked around her, noticing the others beginning to wake.

As far as I could see, only the players were here. And I hoped that meant my brother was still at Cromwell's. Far away from whatever this was.

A tendril of hair fell into my eyes as I rested my head on the wall. I started to brush it away but stopped upon noticing the watch given at the start of the competition wasn't there. In its place is a thick silver bracelet with five glowing green lights.

Beyond confused by its presence, I twisted my wrist back and forth, looking for a clasp or release button, but I didn't find either. The only thing there was a tiny keyhole in the back of the device.

Panic quickly set in, and I tugged at the metal, hoping it would break away, but it didn't even slightly budge.

Feeling beaten momentarily, I let my hand drop to my side. My breath stuttered when I saw the black fabric bunching around the device. An unusual coldness washed over me from my head to my feet. Shakily I reached out to touch it while praying it was an apparition or an illusion.

Even though I knew it wasn't. I could feel the soft fibers brushing against my skin from my neck to my ankles.

My stomach coiled as the realization sunk in. Someone had stripped me of my clothes and replaced them with this black jumpsuit and boots.

A quick scan of the others revealed they wore the same. Numerous questions raced through my mind as I tried to deduce the reason. Yet no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't make sense of it.

"Where are we?" Veronica asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

"No idea." J.P. ran his fingers through his hair, making the short turquoise strands stand on end. "And to be honest, I don't remember anything after we sat down to eat."

"Me either," Stu said as similar replies circulated the room.

"The killer..." My voice faltered when everyone turned to look at me, giving me their undivided attention. Having them look to me for answers was undaunting, but they needed to know the details. I cleared my throat and started again. "He showed up at the house dressed as a caterer. You guys were unconscious, and he tried to take you."