The strength to resist

Chapter 11- Dark stuff in a dark room

As planned Ezra was not in the cabin this afternoon. I woke up with a smile on my face. I shook my head. I needed to focus.

I went into Ezras study room und looked through his stuff. I was very careful not to mess anything up and to put everything back in place.

And then I found an old sketch. A sketch of a cage and in this cage was drawn a person. I bet my right hand that this was meant for Arthur.

I looked around for other clues and I saw that one corner of the rug on the floor was more used than the others. So I kneeled down and the floor sounded hollow. As if there was a big room underneath my me.

My heart was pounding louder. The basement that Amelia described.

I lifted the rug and there was a trapdoor. I opened it and large stairs led deep down into the ground.

I hesitated a few seconds before going down. But this is were Arthur could possibly be.

And indeed at the bottom of the stairs there was this cage from the drawing. And there was Arthur curled up in a corner.

Was the drawing I found even a sketch of how Ezra wanted the cage to look like? Or did he came down here to draw Arthur like this? Ezra would be sick enough to do the last one.

"Arthur?" I whispered. He looked up. His lip was crusty because of blood but exept that he looked...fine. I was relieved. The fights we had didn't matter anymore. It seemed like a lifetime ago and so childish.

I went to him trying to touch him. I reached trough the bars. So did he. But he was chained up, making it impossible for him to move further then standing up.

"You don't hate me?" he asked with a raspy voice.

I shook my head.

"You?"

He shook his head.

"Sorry for ruining everything." I said. It was my fault that he ended here.

"Don't apologize. I was wrong too you know. I shouldn't have said the things I said to you. I don't think we were ever meant for each other. You are my best friend. I don't want to loose you again."

Right person, wrong time, I think. He was always the right person.

"You look rough." I said smiling.

"You in the contrary look good as always." He answered pointing at my dress.

"Do you like it?" I asked and did a curtsy.

He smiled too studying my face. "What happened to your cheek?"

I guess it was still red from when Ezra slapped me.

"Nothing. Ezra just slapped me." I put my hand on my cheek to hide the red spot.

"I am going to kill him." He looked around. "Where is Ezra?" he asked.

"I don't know he just left." I said shrugging.

"He doesn't know that you are down here?" he asked with panic in his voice.

"No he doesn't."

"You have to go back up now!" he ordered.

"Not without you."

"Always so stubborn. Darcy listen. Do you even have plan? How are you going to get me out of here? How are we going to escape Highland?"

"I don't know. But I sure that Amelia has something in mind." I mumbled.

"Forget about me until Jacob and Dorian come to help us. Go back up. Ezra is going to be..."

"I have a few adjectives." Said a voice behind me. "Furious? Mad? Livid?"

I turned around and Ezra stood next to the stairs. He came closer and leaned on one of the bars oft he cage.

"So this is how our little best friend reunion looks like." He scoffed.

"Let him go. You have me. You won." I told him.

"You are just so cute when you are brave. I think, I like this version of you." He said touching my red cheek.

"Don't touch her!" Arthur growled.

Ezra grined. "Is this how you are going to talk to me? You are at my mercy. You should at least kiss my feet."

"Then take of the chains and I am going to do it gladly." He answered pulling on the chains.

"I am not that dumb Arch."

"What is your plan Ezra? What are you going to do with Arthur? And with me?" I asked. I was trying to figure him out. To figure out in how much danger Arthur was.

"I don't want to spoil the surprise for you darling."

I was scared. A surprise? What could this mean?

"Now. You know I can't let this go unpunished." Ezra said. He whistled and two buffed guys came down. They opened the cage.

"Let Arthur in peace." I begged Ezra. He didn't respond.

One oft hem was holding Arthur up. The other one started to punch him. In the stomach. In the face. Again and again.

"Please. Ezra please." I begged. Tears went down my face. I looked at Ezra and he was smiling. He liked seeing Arthur in pain. He is a psychopath.

I shook Ezra's arm. "Please!" My pleading was just a whisper that went lost in Arthur winces.

"That's enough." Ordered Ezra his goons. "May this be a lesson for you two." He said to Arthur and me.

"Let's go back up. It is starting to get cold down here." The buffed guys let him go and Arthur fell to the ground without even trying to catch his fall.

I gasped trying to run to him. To see if he was okay.

But Ezra grabbed my arm and pulled me back. "Don't be so dramatic. He isn't unconscious. At least I think so. What I mean is he is not dead. I need him tonight."