The Underground City of Cinders

Chapter 16

I woke with a surge of terror running through my system. I tried to take soothing breaths but nothing could calm my panic once I realized my hands were bound. I shook my wrists furiously attempting to rid them of the knots but nothing seemed to help. The rope was course and it dug into my skin as I strained against it. I resorted to using my teeth. I bit and pulled at the rope but suddenly there was a gag in my mouth. A wave of hopelessness crashed over me. There was a flicker of hope as I glanced down to see my feet weren't bound.

I pushed myself to my feet and ran as fast as I could manage. I sprinted until my legs felt like they were going to give out and my lungs seemed to be ready to explode. I gasped for air and peered around me. I was consumed by darkness. I gazed in every direction around me but there was nothing to help me discern where I was. I fell to my knees, chest heaving. I was abruptly knocked onto my back and strong hands dragged me across the floor by my bound hands. I kicked and screamed. The ground was rugged and it seemed to cut into my back as I was dragged.

A thousand thoughts buzzed through my head. Where am I? Am I going to die? I was plagued by flashbacks of my encounter with Miranda. I instantly felt sick. My stomach churned and it took every ounce of control I had to not throw up. Unexpectedly I was slammed into a metal chair. The rigid metal was cold, as cold as the morgue I fought so desperately to escape. There was a jingle of metal as my captor handcuffed me to the chair. Tears of desperation drowned my eyes, "What do you want from me?"

Silence.

The darkness pressed on me, choking me. My breath was ragged and short, "Please... Please let me go."

Silence.

I thrashed my arms. The handcuffs were as tight as the rope but I yanked against them nonetheless. What is this place? I hissed as pain surged through my wrists and up the length of my arms. Without warning my hair was pulled back with a snap and I forgot all about the ache of my wrists. I couldn't help but feel exposed as I sat there, bound to the immovable metal beneath me. There was a sharp pressure along the side of my neck, trailing the artery. I sat very still, terrified. My voice was nothing but a whisper, "Please... I just want to go home. Please let me go."

A roar of laughter boomed in my ears but the gloom continued to conceal the identity of my captor. The pressure on my neck steadily increased until I felt a warm fluid rush down my collarbone. I'm trapped. Seconds later there was a mass of invisible hands that crushed me. The hands gripped my face, pulled on my clothing, and tugged my head backward, further exposing my throat. The was a swift slice across my larynx and my world turned to black.

I jerked up in bed, beads of sweat rolling down my body. I was panting. Chase stirred beside me and sat up to wipe the tears from my eyes, "Elizabeth." His tone of worry was blatantly obvious, "What's wrong?"

I shook my head furiously, trying to clear the images from my mind, "I was... I..." My words were broken by heavy sobs, "Everything was dark."

Chase caressed my face, "Tell me. What happened?"

After several deep breaths I managed to find my voice, "I was having a nightmare. Everything was black. I felt like I was being suffocated. Someone tied my wrists together and handcuffed me to a chair. I tried to get away but... there was so many hands... grabbing me and holding me down."

Chase took me into his arms and gently kissed my cheek. Butterflies? I gazed at him for a long time before I brought my lips up to meet his. His kiss filled me with a warm light, fighting the darkness of my nightmare. My hands found their way up to his hair and my fingers tangled themselves, urging him to be closer. There is something so comforting about the way he holds me. I feel so safe. Time seemed to stop around us. He kissed me and I kissed him back. My breath was hot and heavy as he pulled his lips away to kiss my neck. My heart was racing.