Unplugged: The Hidden World (#2, Unplugged Trilogy)

Chapter Thirty Two

I'm woken in the middle of my slumber when Matthew gets up and quietly leaves the room, presumably to get something to drink. I don't know exactly what time it is, but I do know that I need to clean myself up. Grunting, I stand and enter the bathroom, closing the door and squinting my eyes when the light turns on.

My gaze switches from the ornate sinks to the spacious shower to the bathtub, almost the size of a small pond. I've never taken a bath. Never seen a bathtub, for that matter. Feeling lazy and adventurous, I flip on the hot water tap. Instantly, the tub starts to fill with steaming, warm water. I shed my clothes and step into the bath, goose bumps rising along my arms. It takes only a minute more before the water fills nearly to the brim of the tub, and I sink in to my neck.

Silently, I lie in the water, thinking about this strange paradise within a prison. Thinking about the things Sam will make me and my friends do today. Thinking about what Matthew told me last night. That he loved me. Somehow, the thought thrills me and terrifies me all at once.

Eager to distract my talkative mind, I grab a bar of sweet-smelling soap and start to scrub my skin, dried dirt and blood flaking off easily. Then I cover my hair in shampoo, working until each strand is clean and no longer sticks together in a clump. Just as I finish rinsing off, I hear the most peculiar noise. Pausing, I listen carefully. It's coming from outside of the room: a loud, repetitive banging sound.

And then, the sound of the front door coming in.

Breaths wheezing in and out, I leap out of the tub and race over to the wall to turn the light switch off. And then, as silently as possible, I begin to throw all of my clothes on. They stick to the water still running over and beading on my skin. I hear screaming and yelling coming from out in the living room, male and female voices twisting together. Confusion and anger make my hands shake and I hide around the corner in the shower, fighting to remain calm. The shouts and screams quiet, and then a rough voice starts yelling.

"Where is she!?"

"Who?" I hear Matthew ask, furious and gasping. Then a thump and a pained groan.

"Don't play dumb with me, Elliot! Now, I'll give you another chance to answer me." A moment goes by.

"Alright. Fine. But you have to promise to keep her safe!"

"I'll do what I want, boy! Now speak up before your little friends get... more hurt."

"She left," he spurts out, his voice almost a choked sob. "Last night. Said she'd try to find a way out before anything else can happen."

"Left!?" The man roars. Another thud. Matthew groans again, agonized and ear-splitting. Then he screams, "No!"

"That's it!" The guard rages. "You're all coming with me, and if I find out you're lying... Let's just say you're other friends will face the same fate. Got that?"

Silence.

"Round them up! Search the entire premises." I hear dragging and whining and grunting, then heavy boots tromping through the apartment. Fear bubbles up into my chest, squeezing the air from my lungs. They can't find me, not after Matthew lied like that. They'd kill him. Or worse.

The door to the bedroom slams open, and more banging ensues as lamps and televisions and drawers are overturned. The steps grow louder and soon the bathroom door is flung wide. I hold my breath, squeezing my eyes shut, desperately hoping that the guards can't hear my racing heart.