Vivian

Chapter 26 (maybe)

The following chapter is still up for debate on keeping it or not. I'm not sure if I want the book to go in this way, but I'm trying it out to see what kind of feedback I get. This chapter may not be kept, but it sure was fun to write!

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The boots slowly slide to point directly towards my face. Creeping forward, they push the dead leaves aside with a rustling sound. I can hear my pounding heart. Who is this? What are they going to do to me? Where is Aiden? Wha--

"Well, well, well. Looks like a little rat decided to scurry it's ugly self into my presence. Oh yes." The voice is high pitched, a woman's, and chills me down to the bone. She shuffles forward slowly, each inch making my heart beat that much faster. The air suddenly becomes heavy. Too heavy.

Vivi, we have to get away! Get up.

I... I can't Vi!

Get up, Vivian. Get up. Vivian? She never calls me Vivian.

I--

I said. Get. Up. Vi's voice echoes loudly, making my head throb in pain.

Vi... I.... I can't... Vi, it hurts...

--Up... you... up... now get... Vivian--

"Let's see what you can be useful for, shall we?" Fingers with pointed, sharp nails jerk my head up off the cold forest ground and force me to look into the woman's eyes. Her glowing, purple eyes. Her chestnut hair is tousled but styled at the same time. Her thin, angular face and scaly skin was beautiful. Her expression as she squeezed my throat was calm, with a hint of a disturbing satisfaction. 

As her pupils thin to slits, I feel something probing my head. First on the outside and then inside, as if something were crawling around in there.

"Huh? What's this?" The woman backs up a bit and tilts her head. "You... How are you doing that?"

A shiver runs down my back as she drops me once again to the forest floor. I land with a thump as my legs buckle beneath the dead weight of my energy-less body. I can't move. Why can't I move? What did she do to me?!

"You," she kicks my stomach in with her boot, "are a vermin, oh yes." I curl up, hugging my aching stomach and wishing for her to just end it quickly. "And you're supposed to be my downfall?" 

Lifting my head I watch as she throws her head back and lets out a cackling laugh, like one straight out of a mad-scientist movie. "What a joke. Like you could ever lay a finger on me. That old grouch has no idea what he's talking about." Sighing, she grabs hold of my hair and begins to drag me over the rough leaves and tree roots. "I guess I better bring you back then, yes, oh yes. Ugh, what a stupid waste of my time, yes."

"Let me go! Stop! Please!"

"Shut up, you little rat."

"Where are you taking me?" My voice sounds alien to me, as though it wasn't me saying it. Everything sounds so far away, and my vision blurs.

"I have no obligation to tell you that. But since you're going to die anyway, I guess I'll tell you." She yanks my hair up, pulling me along with it. Setting me on my feet, she grabs my throat again and squeezes threateningly. "We're going to my lab, oh yes, to figure out how you and your ugly self were able to push me out. Oh but don't worry," her eyes glaze over and she grins widely, "we are going to have plenty of fun. Yes. Oh yes."

She sighs again as she continues to drag me by my hair. It's a wonder that none of the hair was being pulled out. "I just hope that I can get my fun in before the Queen requests my presence. Oh, I know, I'll present you to her. She'll be interested in you, oh yes. But I must work quickly, oh yes yes. We can get started right away."

"St-started?" Started with what? What is she going to do with me?

"Oh yes, of course! We must start the dissection as soon as possible. Oh, but don't worry, little rat. I'll make sure you can feel it, I won't keep all the fun just for myself." Letting out another cackling laugh, she drags me deeper into the forest.

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Is this it? Is this how my life is going to end? Am I going to die as a science experiment?

Lifting my head, I glance at the chains keeping my arms attached to the wall. The bricks are slimy, covered in some kind of purple goo. All around me are bones of all shapes and sizes, many of them tiny and sharp. I'd long since tried to pick the locks on these chains, but nothing worked. My hands are scraped and cut, and my wrists are bruised from the rusty metal cuffs around them.

Vi? Where are you? I'm scared. Silence.

"Now then," the scaly woman turns from the wooden desk she'd been frantically scribbling things down at. "Let's begin, oh yes." Turning her body towards me, she lifts one perfectly toned arm. A pair of scissors hangs from her long finger. Snapping them open and closed, her lips curl into a grin. "We'll cut you right up, oh yes!"

"I am afraid," a voice rings out, clearly and beautifully. That voice. His voice. I'd only heard it a couple times before, but I knew that voice. My eyes widen and I whip my head towards the wooden door.

There he stood, one arm keeping the door open, the other clenched tightly at his side. 

Aiden

His stormy gray eyes scan the small hut until they meet mine. Relief and intense anger burned in them. "That will not be happening, this girl will not be touched by you."

I try to call his name through the rag the scaly woman had tied over my mouth, but all that came out was a pathetic muffled scream. He was by my side the next second, untying the rag and smoothing my hair down. With his eyes he told me he was sorry for not coming sooner. "I'm okay, you're here now!"

"I am." 

"Oh, if it isn't the prince." The woman crouches down and her leather pants make a squeaking noise. "I'm sorry, but that girl is going to be contributing to a very important science experiment, oh yes. And the dissection must occur soon, yes!" Stepping forward she raised her scissors, "I cannot allow you to interrupt... My dear prince, oh yes, you must leave before I am forced to do something you won't like."

Without a word, Aiden appeared in front of her and then had her pinned to the wall, his hand curled around her slender neck. Her feet dangled, suspended in the air as he held her up high. Her eyes began to glow again, as she muttered inaudibly under her breath.

"Was that a threat?" The words were quiet but Aiden's voice was strong and terrifying.

Not wanting to be inside the horrible hut any longer I stumble out of it, my eyes glued to the ground. Once I am out, I see, once again, black studded boots void of any scuffs.

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So it's been a while 0-0

What can I say? College is the priority here ^_^ Anyway, I hope this longer chapter makes up for it.

I really do not know if I will be keeping this chapter exactly the way it is... I loved writing it for sure, but I'm not too sure I actually want there to be a supernatural/magical element in the book. If I were to change the chapter, the overall events that take place will remain the same (she is kidnapped for some horrific experiments, and Aiden comes to save her and beat the crap out of the scumbag that cuts her up), but I would modify all the magicy bits to be more realistic (well, realistic for this work of fiction)...

Anyway! Hope you enjoyed! Stay tuned for more

~Rubz out