Life After Death

Chapter 21

Nathaniel's pov

I don't know how long the journey was. No one spoke for the entirety of the trip. We just seemed to stare at each other with the same horrified feeling coursing through us. Not sure if we were being taken to our deaths or not, whether there was even another option - and if there was, whether death would just be easier and less painful.

Maybe they didn't recognise us. They never saw us upfront; they had no reason to know we were the ones that caused all that trouble a month or more ago. And as for Axel, Whitney, and Javon, the only thing they had done was be with us at the hotel, forging the Reapers mark as though it had been copyrighted like a brand.

What I did know, was that we were all equally scared. It didn't matter who was showing it, and who was trying desperately hard not to, each proved that we were all just as scared.

And as the ride went on, with no knowledge on when we'd come to a halt and be yanked out of our seats, we just grew emotionless and our bodies numb, zoned out and uncaring. Wanting whatever was to happen to be done and out the way, even if that was our death. The only thing I felt was the gentle pressure of Vivian's head on my shoulder as she too lost any energy that was remaining within her.

. . .

The harsh jerk of the brakes being slammed down upon shook us out of our slumps. And all of a sudden, we felt the realisation that we didn't want it to be over and done with, we wanted the van to just keep driving further and further away from our problems.

But the sound of footsteps that could briefly be heard from the outside was enough to tell us we wouldn't be so lucky.

The doors barely even opened a crack, letting only a glimmer of the outside world in, before people stormed in. They grabbed our heads viciously, twisting it in directions a neck probably shouldn't turn, before we all relented our struggles and gave in, letting them wrap a blindfold around each of our heads. Only making the fall to the concrete ground outside more painful as they lugged us out, our hands were behind our backs, and we had no eyesight.

"Get off me!" Jace cried, as we could hear him shuffle about, finding some of the fight left inside of him, "Where are the others? Where's my sister!?"

Though I couldn't see it, the thumping sound that followed, and the gasp that came from it was enough to tell me that he'd been pushed to the ground and shut up, no answer given.

After that, it was mainly silence that followed yet again. None of us daring enough to yell, fight, or scream anymore, knowing we were at a severe disadvantage what with the loss of the use of our eyes and hands. It was only the shuffling off feet that broke it, as we were moved from one place to the other. I could tell when we got inside, the air felt different, hotter, but I still had no idea where I was, or who I was with.

I did know I was with someone though; they were sat on the same type of metal chair directly behind my own, our hands skimming each other at any kind of movement. However, neither of us spoke. Perhaps because we didn't actually know if we were alone. Our eyes still covered by a harsh fabric.

A door slammed shut only moments later, both of us jumping out of our skin. And since we hadn't heard it shut before, we took it to mean someone had left.

"Who am I with?" The other person asked, breaking the silence. A feminine voice I could never mistake for anyone else.

"Oh, thank God," I sighed, "It's me, Viv," my nickname for her being all the confirmation she needed to know exactly who it was.

Knowing that we couldn't be sure whether or not we were entirely alone, we knew to refrain from talking about anything even correlated to escaping or killing anyone. Willing to do anything to keep us out of even more trouble.