Scarred for life

Chapter 3

"How many do we still need?", I hear one of them say. "I think two", another voice answered. "The ultimatum was made on four. If we can do another one today and one later this week, we will be fine for the next few years."

My heart sinks. That was Callum I just heard. Oh gosh. That was definitely Callum talking to Falya. I recognised them immediately.

What should I do now? I feel an ache in my stomach. We don't talk anymore. I know nothing about the people who do this. But at the same time, I remember. River's hugs. Callums kind face. Damon who always helped me with maths. Falya and Luna...
I have no clue what to do now. I need to think fast.

I try to lean against the wall. No, this is very uncomfortable, let's lean a little to the left.
Oops. Tipped over a bin. The loud bang seems to be ringing in the room for at least 10 seconds.
"What was that?", I hear another voice say. That's Damon. if I wasn't sure yet, then it was confirmed now. But I have other things to worry about. I will get discovered. And what will happen next? Will they kill me? Or should I try to convince them to let me go?
But what will happen to the next one they catch if I escape? Whatever will happen, I won't convince them to let go of the rest of the school.

Then, another question flashed through my mind. Do I even want the others to escape?
No time to think about that now. I should run. Or should I just surrender?

Quick footsteps come closer to me. Two seconds and they will discover me. I jump up and try to run, but my foot gets stuck and I fall down. Great.

Two hands grab my arms in a strong grip. Nails claw into my arms. "Ouch", I mumble. I try to kick my attacker on the shin, but they are too fast. I look up, right in the face of Luna. a screech reaches my ears. I look her in the face. "Can you please not? I don't need to lose my hearing before I die."
"Iris?", stutters Luna. I nod. "Yup. Can you please loosen your grip a little? I won't run." She looks at her hands, still holding my arms. She lets go and I fall down again. I stumble up and push my glasses back on my nose. I know how they look at me now. I changed quite a bit since I saw them last. My hair is shorter than ever and in a little bun on my head. A little scar adorns my face - a souvenir of when I got into a fight with- oh well.

"What are you doing here?", asks River. Where did they come from? I didn't see them before. "I was here to visit my former English teacher", I answered. "Bad timing much", mumbles Callum. He looks at the others. "What to do now?"
"Let's bring her to our room for a bit. But we need to tie her up", Damon said. He looks at me. "Sorry, we need to."
I understand. I think. It still hurts though. Where did that trust bond go which we had together, as a group, not even that many years ago?

Damon pushes me into the room. It's a little room; I am like 90 percent sure that this is the old principal's room. It's not been used for ages. Even three years ago, when I left this school, it was abandoned.
I feel ropes around my wrists. River ties me to a chair, but softly. Let me- yup, got it. Why make it so easy to escape? The knot is already almost untied and I hold the end of the rope in my hands.

But I don't want to escape yet. I need answers.