Halo | 18+

chapter two

- AURELIA JONES -

I never thought I'd see the bunker again.

Never thought I'd have to relive the moments my life was taken before me, and I was forced to live the rest of my shitty, horrible life alone. Yeah, that bunker.

But here I was. Standing before it, once again.

Granted, the place we decided to set up camp for a while was only a few blocks east of the bunker I came from.

We don't move very far...

And I walk past it everyday, and never acknowledged it. Until now, for some reason...

My hands were in my pockets, the scorching sun beating down on my back. The entrance to the bunker was blown to pieces, the debris and ruble still everywhere.

It's like it hasn't been touched for 5 years, not a single thing has moved.

It still smelled the same, too. I could see the floor beneath it, the grass that grew itself into the cracks of the metal.

Nature was a scary, beautiful thing.

For example, during the day I love being outside. I love touching the ground with my hands, feeling the sun on my skin, the air in my lungs. It's bliss.

And then I lay down in bed and close my eyes, and all I hear is a low, grumbling sound. And I don't know what it is or what it even looks like, because every time I get too close whatever it is, they start to sniff around.

Gives me the heebejebee's just thinking about it.

I turned my head, the feeling of someone watching me ever so present in my mind.

Lately, I've been feeling like I'm not in my own head.

The leaves rustled a tiny bit as I looked over there, the gravel beneath my feet scraping together as I stood up.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up, something's wrong.

I swear to God I saw eyes, actual human eyes looking into mine, but then I blinked and they were gone. "Is someone there?" I called out hesitantly, reaching for the knife strapped in my wrist.

No sounds were made, except for a slight breeze pushing the leaves. I took one last glance at the bunker and turned away quickly, wanting to get out of there as soon as possible.

I kept checking my surroundings to make sure I wasn't being followed. Grabbing my walkie-talkie, I signalled to the girls back at the house.

"Is everything okay with you guys, over?"

The line crackled a little bit, but I could just make out the faint garbled noises of Angela's voice, "Come- q... quick-" She said, "I- we, sle-... Ally-"

The line went dead after that, and all hope I had dropped, taking off in a second. My heart hammered against my chest, praying silently to a higher power that they would be okay.

"Please, I can't lose them too."

To my luck, when I ran up into the house, there didn't seem to be an immediate danger. But still, I pulled my knife from my sleeve, hiding it away just in case.

The floorboards creaked against my shoes, "Ange?" I called, "Ariel?"

Nothing.

"Guys? Where are you?" My voice trembled. "Guys p-please, this isn't funny."

A tiny whisper on the back of my neck had me turning around instantly, seeing nothing. Only to turn around and saw a black figure three feet away from me. I tried to scream for help by lifting my arms, but I got hit in the forehead with something metal and very, very heavy.

+ + +

When I woke, my nostrils burned with the smell of chemicals. It made my eyes water, adding to the ridiculous, thumping headache I had.

"Hello?" I called out, panic settling in my stomach.

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

My eyes adjusted to the simple, white lighting. It was a bulb, hanging from the ceiling. No windows, no other lights, just a bed chained to the wall and a chair.

I woke up on the floor, the cold seeping into my clothes.

"Can someone tell me where I am?" I wanted to cry, I was hurt, and had no idea where my friends are. "Ariel? Ange, can you guys hear me?"

I climbed onto the uncomfortable bed, hugging my knees to my chest as a way to try and escape the bile that was rising in my throat.

I rocked myself back and forth, humming a tune that he used to sing to me whenever I felt an anxiety attack coming on.

"It's okay Aurelia." I whispered, "Everything's going to be fine." I told myself. For now, convincing myself that everything was fine was working, but the nagging voice in the back of my head thought otherwise.

I continued to hum. I hummed the whole song, once and then twice. I kept singing until I felt like I couldn't anymore.

Was it still today? How long was I out for? Where the hell am I?

The smell of this room was making me feel sick, dirt and mildew mixed with bleach and other cleaning supplies, "Please... anyone?" I pleaded.

I thought I was alone, curling up in the corner. Until suddenly the door to the room swung open, hitting the concrete wall behind it.

I jumped, looking up at the man standing in the doorframe.

I couldn't see his face because it was shielded by a mask, but I could tell by his clothing he was some sort of army.

He stalked closer to me, closing the door behind him.

I stayed put, quieting my breathing as he walked slowly. "Where am I?" I said in a shaky voice, "Please, can you tell me where I am?"

Tears were falling down my face. He didn't say a word.

He kneeled down to my level, holding out a sealed water bottle. He placed it in front of me, "Are you hungry?" He questioned.

I looked at his mask, hopefully his eyes, nodding slowly, "Can you please tell me where I am?" He was silent, "Or at least- how long I was asleep for?"

He started to walk away, I scrambled to my feet, "P-please, I have a heart condition, I need to keep track of my sleeping, just in case." I lied through my teeth.

He paused for a moment, "Fourteen hours." Is all he said.

But hey, sometimes lying works.

Fourteen hours, so it must be the next day. Definitely the morning, maybe the early afternoon. Okay, so where the hell am I?

The man left and came back shortly after, throwing the door open again. I analysed him as he came over. Tight fitted army pants, big boots, a singlet with a vest, and a black mask. He had guns strapped to his sides and he was at least six-foot something.

He placed a grey tray in front of me with a plastic knife and fork.

I looked down at the food. Boiled sausages from a can, steamed broccoli and some weird looking corn and mash. "Thank you." I said quietly.

He nodded his head, lingering for a little while longer before he left.

And I was alone.

Again.

+ + +

Hello lovelies!!!

How are we all? Thank you so much for reading this book, it means so much to me.

Happy reading, I'll see you in the next chapter Xx

WC: 1,188