Almost Human

Chapter 12: Closer to the Master

I kept my eyes shut. I was awake finally, but I didn't want whoever was in the room to know that. They've tied me up somewhere. I could feel something tight wrapped around my ankles and wrists. It confined me. I tensed my muscles. What did they inject me with? How do I know it's all out of my system? I needed to breath. Worrying wouldn't get me out of here. Strategy. I needed strategy.

There was no talking from what I could tell. There was a beeping of machinery, which sounded to be going with my heartbeat. Alright, so they'd hooked up to stuff. Just great. Either no one is in the room, or there is just one.

With my fingers, I began to feel around for a way to loosen the straps across my wrists. I wanted to be free. "Oh come on now Bree. Trying to escape really helps no one here," a condescending voice tampered into my brain. I huffed and opened my eyes.

"Yes it does," I groaned. "It helps me."

I turned my head to see a man leaning back against a wall. Duel guns were strapped to either sides of his belt, made obvious by the tucking of his shirt behind them. Where am I? This isn't my normal room.

"Who are you?" my voice was full of venom.

"Your friend," the man purred. I laughed aloud at that one. He is either crazy or an idiot.

"Friend? Oh thanks. Strapping me down makes you my bestie. We'll hold hands and skip down the hallway any minute now."

The man chuckled lightly. He came over towards me and I tensed. If he tries anything...he took the cuffs off my wrists. On thank goodness. I sat upright but he never did take of my ankle cuffs. Well, not that I'd expected him to. I studied him more once I'd sat up. He had slight curly black hair and a very light black beard coming in. Who was this man? I'd never seen him before.

As if reading my mind, he announced, "My name is Zachariah. If it'd make it easier for you, you can just call me Zach."

"Can I call you asshole?"

He shot me a disgusted look but didn't respond. "I am The Master's right hand man." Wait what? He's got a hold of my full attention now. All joking aside. "Your little stunt to get weapons was...cute." I clenched my fists. Excuse me? "It's obvious you're a natural born leader." Something crossed his blue eyes when he'd said that but I couldn't quite catch the look. "You've defiantly caught the attention of The Master."

"Who is he? Why does he want to see me?" I asked.

"You've shown promise. And once you've proven yourself worthy, he'd be happy to explain all your questions." This is fishy.

"What about the others? Doesn't he want to meet them?"

"They haven't...met his standards like you have," Zach explained.

"I want to meet him now," I hissed.

"Careful. You haven't proven yourself worthy to meet him yet. Just worthy of his attention. You have much more he wants to see from you first." This is all too complicated. Couldn't I just meet him and ask the questions that have been driving me insane since they'd brought me out of the ice?

"Like what?"

"I guess you'll have to find out." This was a waste of my time. Can I go now?

"What did they inject me with?" I rubbed the spot on my neck where the shot had punctured my skin.

"Just a sleeping drug. No big deal." Worry shot through my veins. What did they do to me while I was asleep? Did they test on me? What did they find out? "Well anyway, once you can get your rebellious streak under control we'll let you go. You'll have more soldiers escort you too. No more Elementals escaping. Since you have impressed him The Master chose to release valuable information to you.." Oh really? "You and your fellow Elementals were not created as you were led to believe, not entirely. It is true we altered you brain to think like a soldier...though the powers....each of you were born with." Excuse me?

I'm not human? Is that why we are treated like this. "Just because you were born with these abilities does not make you stronger. We can still take you down. Remember that." He turned on his heel to leave.

"You forget we're stronger than you...human," I called after him. He stopped in his tracks. "And don't think for one second you're better than us." I let my words sink it. He didn't respond as he quickly walked out of the room. That's right. Cower and run.