The Itus Institute

Chapter 3

At this point I was getting pretty used to waking up in considerable pain.

This time the room was quiet, I could hear breathing but no one was saying anything. I didn't bother to feign sleep, there wasn't much good it would do if there was no conversation to overhear, instead I pried my eyes open, ignoring their protest at the bright surroundings and lifted my throbbing head to look around.

They had strapped me to the bed.

They had strapped me to the freaking bed.

"You've strapped me to the bed." I said, once again in my ever so attractive demon voice. I really needed a drink, but I doubted they'd be so generous this time around.

I heard a snort and turned my head to see a scowling James leaning against the wall with a dark bruise forming on his temple. I bit my lip in an attempt not to laugh. There were some adults in the room this time, two seemed to be standing guard at the door while one stood by my bed, arms folded firmly. I recognised him as the man Luke had been walking to my room before, Redbridge if I remembered correctly. Luke was here too, sat cross legged on the floor with his back against the wall, he had a small smirk on his face and seemed to be avoiding James' eye.

Still no one spoke. I was getting rather impatient by this point.

"You've strapped me to the bed." I repeated, even louder this time.

"How observant." I heard James mutter under his breath. I narrowed my eyes and turned my head to him.

"Oh I'm sorry James, I completely understand your grumpiness. How's your head?" I smirked as he glared and heard a snicker come from Luke who quickly tried to disguise it as a cough, to no avail. James turned his glare to him instead.

"Enough." a deep voice broke through and I turned my attention to Redbridge who had stood up now. "You two need to behave and say quiet or I will not allow you to stay in the room for the questioning." both boys immediately shut up and I squirmed slightly, worrying about what 'questioning' involved. "As for you," he said, turning to face me, "you are strapped to the bed because recent events" his eyes flickered to James and I smirked "have suggested that supervision alone will not suffice in your case. Now, I'm going to ask you to drink this." he held out a small vial of a dark green liquid, "It's apple flavoured." he offered while seeing my wary look. I sighed and opened my mouth for him to pour it in, deciding that it would be easier to cooperate in this situation.

The liquid burned my throat slightly as I swallowed it and I coughed at the discomfort before pursing my lips and steadying my gaze on Redbridge again.

"That is not Apple flavoured."

He ignored me, "Do you work for an agency?" he commanded, squaring his shoulders.

"No. I work as a waitress part time." the words slipped from my lips before I even had time to process the question and my eyebrows furrowed in confusion. from the corner of my eyes I saw the smirking faces of James and Luke and I suddenly realised what the green liquid was for.

I couldn't lie.

"You don't work for an agency?" Redbridge sounded surprised, once again my answer slipped from my lips before I had time to think.

"No." I blurted and then grumbled "Though I'm pretty sure I've already said that."

The bulky man stood before me clenched his jaw, and action I took to be threatening until he turned his head to the right to look at one of the men at the door and I saw a smile threatening to break out.

"How old are you?" he asked

"Seventeen."

"Where did you learn to fight?"

"We spent a term on self defence and boxing at school. I enjoyed it so I carried on when we finished."

"Why was there so much damage done to your neck?" I cast a glance towards Luke who seemed to be worried by this question. I paused, realising the answer hadn't just rolled off my tongue this time. Redbridge seemed to be having a similar thought as he strode to a cupboard and grasped another vial. When I had swallowed the contents of that one he repeated the question.

"Why was there so much damage done to your neck?" There was a present pause again before I felt the words slip off my tongue.

"They used a stabiliser on me twice, once on each side. The devices cut into your neck so they stay in the position and I didn't particularly like that. I tried to pull them off. That seemed to only make things worse."

The man let out a huge sigh, giving both boys a pointed look, he stopped suddenly, as though a thought had occurred to him.

"Are you in pain?"

"Yes." I bit my tongue as soon as the word escaped, angry for allowing myself to show weakness in front of these people. "I mean, not really, everything just aches a little." my statement was disproved instantly as James suddenly rushed forwards and pinched my leg causing me to let out a hiss of pure pain, my leg still wasn't better after the fall down the stairs.

"The solution is wearing off again already." he said, complete confusion evident on his face.

"It's not working the way it should, put some painkillers in the next vial. He ordered one of the men at the door.

I watched as he injected a clear liquid into the vial and dutifully opened my mouth for him to pour it in again. I almost retched at the taste.

"I dot know what your idea of Apple flavoured is mate, but that tastes like the excretion of satan himself." I muttered, my head beginning to swim.

"Sorry, the painkillers will kick in soon."

"S'alright" I muttered.

One of the door guards leant forwards to talk to Redbridge and I couldn't help but listen in.

"Those painkillers are going to kick in any second, you'd better ask your questions while you can."

Redbridge sighed and turned back to me. Shooting a look at James from the corner of his eye he said "How were you able to incapacitate James here in order to escape?"

The ceiling seemed to be swimming now and I laughed, marvelling at the way words just bubbled off my tongue.

"I kissed him." I giggled again "I kissed him and then I rammed his head into the wall and ran. It was funny." by this point my eyelids were drooping, my vision going dark around the edges. I lay my head back and the last thing I remember from that day was the sound of Luke's uncontrollable laughter as he was ushered from the room and James' insults as he tried to grab hold of him.

I seemed to be spending an awful lot of time asleep here.