Eye of the Hurricane ▸ Scott McCall (2)

xxx. UNSOLVED CASE

xxx. UNSOLVED CASE

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The frigid air was what first made Foster begin to stir awake, her eyes clamped shut, almost as though they were sewn together. She didn't want to wake up, but shivers ran along the skin of her arms, chills crawling down her back and rippling throughout the rest of her body.

Her head lolled around, releasing a sigh as her once plush and firm mattress began to feel rock solid against her back. The tips of Foster's fingers began to run along the cool, sleek metal beneath her, the girl finally forcing her eyelids apart before glancing around.

Blonde eyebrows knitted together as she took in her surroundings. It was dark, but it was most certainly not her bedroom that she was in. Darkness fell over her like a blanket of snow, confusion sweeping over her.

She propped herself up onto her shoulders, straining her eyes to get a better idea of where she was. It appeared to be a basement of some sort, but Foster couldn't be entirely sure of it. Then again, she could never be entirely sure of anything.

A scraping sound echoed throughout the room, ricochetting off the bare metal surrounding her. She glanced around in search of the sound's source, coming to no avail.

One moment she felt numb, and the next blind, searing pain was erupting from her ankle. It felt like two blades were pressing themselves into her flesh, warm, sticky blood beginning to pour out and coat her bare, freezing foot. 

Foster shot forward at this, her blue irises locking on an animal trap locked firmly around her ankle, digging deeper into her skin.

Her bottom lip trembled, fear beginning to overwhelm. What the hell was happening to her? Her body trembled feverishly, not only from the cold but from fear, too. She was quaking in fear the way one would if they were held at gunpoint. 

Shaky breaths escaped Foster's lips as she tried to calm herself down, she needed to keep herself from panicking. 

Stiffly, Foster leaned forward, her fingers hesitantly wavering over the trap with her foot lodged in it. 

How was she supposed to do this? She couldn't even begin to think about how to save herself while she tried to piece together what was even happening to her in the first place. 

Trembling fingers finally rested against the metal trap ever so slight, pain shooting throughout her entire leg. It erupted throughout the center of her foot, shooting all the way up to her knee, her entire shin blinded with agony. 

A whimper found itself escaping her wavering pink lips, hot tears pressing against the back of her eyes as she tried to fix whatever was happening. What could have possibly happened in the time she went to bed to now? 

Did someone break into her apartment and take her? Or what if she was sleep walking? She had never slept while walking before though, so she didn't understand why this would be happening now. Let alone having it come to a matter this drastic. 

Her heart ached in her chest as she struggled to swallow back a sob, longing for either Scott or her father or Isaac. She wanted to be wrapped in one of their arms where it was safe, where she was out of harm's way. Anywhere that wasn't here.

The scraping sound became even louder, almost like a sandbag being dragged across the floor. Except it had a bit of a thump to it, almost like someone limping. 

The scrapes became to rapidly repeat, a choked sob scratching the back of Foster's throat, finally finding its escape.

"Go back to sleep."