Shatter You

Chapter Eight

McKell's Perspective:

When I open my eyes, there's a plate of food and a tin cup of water next to me. I look to the other side to see Elise, still asleep. Alex isn't here. I eat half of the food, then wait patiently for her to wake up. While I wait, I examine my surroundings. We are in a room no more than 10 feet by 10 feet. There is no window. The only light in the room enters through a tiny slit in the door.

I wince as I shift to a more comfortable position. I look under my shirt to see my body covered with bruises, ranging from yellowish to black. The sight brings back the memories of when we were brought here. 

Elise was frozen in place while they forced me to my knees. Alex was shouting something I couldn't make out, and they held a gun to his head. 

"GET UP," they said. They kicked me in the ribs with their steel-toed boots. "I said GET UP." They kicked me some more. I forced myself to my knees, looking over at Elise. She was already passed out on the floor. I slowly raised my hands, agony ripping through me with each movement. 

They're finally going to kill us, I thought. I wonder if this will make my parents happy.

Someone is saying something, but I can't be bothered to figure out what. A gun is pressed to my back and they shove me forward, pain stabbing at every inch of me. 

The last thing I remember before waking up here is thinking: I hope they kill me soon. 

Elise is awake. I watch her eat her portion of the food without moving from my spot. 

Why did they keep us alive? Why didn't they just kill us?

Elise has just finished when the metal door slams open. A guard carrying two rifles walks in, looking us up and down. "Get up," he says.

I push myself off the ground, suppressing the urge to wince. I hope that wherever Alex is, he met a worse fate than us. 

"Follow me," the guard says. He has a buzz cut and military tattoos just like Alex's. 

As if my thoughts summon him, Alex walks up behind the guard, holding a gun. "Move," he tells the guard. Then Alex lifts the gun and aims it at Elise's chest. I am frozen in place, unable to comprehend what is happening. Is Alex actually going to shoot us? Is this why they waited to kill us? So that they could put us though this special torture first? 

Alex gestures for us to leave, then guides us out of the room and down a long hallway. We're brought to a new room with achingly bright lights. I squint, but can't make out anything in front of me. 

"McKell and Elise Ferris," a cold voice says. The voice is strong and commanding, like it's used to ordering people around.

A boot is pressed into my back and I'm forced to my knees. "Easton, dim the lights and release them. I want to see their faces." The boot is instantly lifted from my back and the lights are made dim enough that I can see who is speaking to me. 

I'm surprised by how young he is. He can't be much older than me or Elise. He has blond hair and pale emerald green eyes. His skin is flawless and his jawline is sharp and strong. He has a commanding presence, and it's obvious that he's in charge of something, though I can't say what. I can't deny that he's gorgeous, but that doesn't change the fact that I hate him. He sits on a folding chair as though it's a throne, and his smile is pure calculated evil. His clothes don't have so much as a single wrinkle and not a hair is out of place. 

"You're so stubborn," he says. "You never want to cooperate. You wouldn't even play nice with your cellmate. Sorry, your third cellmate." 

His mention of Alex makes my cheeks flush with anger. 

Blondie studies me closely. "Well, isn't that interesting?" He snaps his fingers and says, "Clark, would you step forward, please?"

Alex comes into view. Rage fills me from head to toe. I want to rush him and punch him in the face, but I would be shot to death before I could get close. 

Alex nods at Blondie and says simply, "Sir."

I still don't know why Alex was sent to spy on us, but I know I want him dead.

"I seems you made quite an impression on them," Blondie says. I look closer at him and notice the military patches sewn onto his clothes. His last name is stitched onto his lapel: Warden. 

Alex stands straight, not saying anything

"You have nothing to say about that?" Warden asks, his eyes dancing with amusement. 

Alex doesn't flinch. "Sir," is all he says.

"Of course. Why should I expect you to have something to say?"

"Are you going to kill us?" Elise whispers. A guard slams his gun into Elise's spine, knocking her to the ground. She whimpers quietly.

"No!" I exclaim, rushing to her side before I think better of it. The guard pulls back his gun to hit me, too, but Warden holds up a hand before he can. 

"That wasn't necessary, Rolex. I suppose I'd be wondering the same thing if I were in their position." He pauses, lowering his hand. "McKell? Elise?"

I help Elise to her feet before looking at him. 

"I have a proposition for you."