Naturesse (book 1 of the (supposed) Evealutions trilogy)

chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

The last

Thalia

***Something hard was pressed uncomfortably into the small of my back. I twisted, every muscle in my body ignited by adrenalin. My eyes were closed fully shut, still stinging horribly from whatever was sprayed at me. I was bleeding. A warm, sticky feeling clung to my neck, oozing down to my collarbone and chest. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move.

'Looks pretty battered up...' the voice was harsh.

'Serves it right.' another harsh voice.

'Can't believe it worked.'

'What worked?'

'The trap.'

'Oh yeah...' There was a short pause. Then;

'So what are they gonna do with it now?'

'How'm I supposed to know? All I know is that we were told to catch one.'

'Don't give much away do they?'

'Nope.'

I groaned, eyelids flickering weakly.

'Shut up.' Something collided with metal, producing an echoing, clanging noise. Deep, raucous laughter followed.

'Let's get goin' already.'

Whatever I was lying on was shifted, making me whimper and curl up.

I blacked out again.

When I awoke, a dull clinking emitted from my wrists and ankles. Heavy metal chains dragged over a metal floor, screeching; making the hair on the back of my neck stand to attention.

Most of the blood had been hastily wiped off me, leaving long red stains where it wasn't removed fully. It was sticky. It hurt. I closed my eyes to remove the pain that light brought upon me.

'Commander.' the word was short, clipped, a respectful and slightly awed recognition.

'Bit damaged, isn't it?' Suspicious.

'It was the best we could do, Sir. With the rate it was attacking and trying to escape, force was necessary. We have managed to keep it subdued for two days. It could be worse.' Fake.

Two days. Two whole days. I had been blacked out for two days.

It was three days since the bombs had been dropped.

'Do you have the scanner required?' Businesslike.

'Yessir.' Curious.

Something was handed over. It sounded metallic. Everything sounded metallic. Rough hands grabbed both sides of my face, sending spirals of pain down into my shoulder blades. The hands were cold metal, and pinched my skin with scale like layers.

Was that it? Edvations weren't even alive? They were androids? Machines? Was that why they were so advanced with their technology, because they were a part of it?

No, wait. That didn't make sense. Everything I'd seen so far made them seem as if they were alive.

A metal glove.

I tried my best to wriggle out of the grasp, twisting and turning, moaning in pain yet still determined. One hand let go, only to be swung back, smacking me hard and leaving long red marks of blood.

'Sir, shouldn't you be more careful with it? There is a lot of money invested into this project.'

'I'll do whatever the hell I want, this thing isn't worth that money.'