Prisoner

Chapter 2

I toss a pack of playing cards into the werewolves' vault. "Here. The guards had an extra. Knock yourselves out."

"Thanks, Noelle," Kris says, expertly catching the deck.

Doll-eyes tilts his head and drums his fingers on the bars. "So? How was the vault?"

"Noisy," I reply. I scowl at him. "Not as noisy as you, though. Quit that!" I gently slap his fingers so he stops.

He pauses. "Noisy? How?"

"Chains shaking." I pull up a chair and sit down. "It's odd. The guard I posted there said it is always silent until I come by. It only makes noise when I'm around."

"I wonder why," Doll-eyes says thoughtfully. "The thing inside has never seen you, right?"

"I don't think it's seen me," I say, uncertain. "I've never seen it."

"Good," Leo says softly. "That thing is unlike any creature in this prison."

We all turn to stare at him. "Have you seen it?" Kris asks, sounding genuinely curious.

"Yes," Leo murmurs. "I was here when the Warden brought it." His glances at me. "Not Noelle, of course. That thing has been here far too long."

"What did it look like?" Kai asks. 

"What was it?" Doll-eyes chirps.

I blink. "How long have you been here, Leo?"

His black eyes meet mine. "A long time," he says quietly. "A very long time." He doesn't look away, and I shudder. 

What is it with monsters and staring? I think. 

"Go fish," I hear Baekhyun say from inside the vault.

I burst out laughing. "Really? You're playing Go Fish? Don't you know anything more sophisticated like rummy or clabber or B.S.?"

Kris snorts. "Because B.S. is so sophisticated."

Kai winks at me from behind his cards. "How about strip poker?"

I scoff. "The last thing I want to do is see you naked, dog breath."

"You look so pretty when you smile," Doll-eyes says, watching me.

I scowl at him. "I said stop staring at me! You are the very definition of creepy..."

"I can't help it," he says. "You are so beautiful. It's hard not to stare."

I can't help the blush that rises to my cheeks. "You haven't been out in a while, haven't you?"

Kris huffs. "None of us have ever gone outside since we came here. The only humans we have seen in several years are the guards and the Wardens...all of which are male. Except you." He eyes me before looking away thoughtfully. "I can barely remember the city..."

"If only we could have a little break outside," Kai sighs.

I growl. "If I consider it, will you quit bugging me?"

All demonic, werewolf, and Doll eyes are on me. "Really?" Kris asks. "You'll actually consider it?"

I shrug. "I'm your Warden. I'm usually as confined as you are. It's very tiring, watching you all day. Fresh air would be a nice break." I glance around. "But don't get your hopes up. The amount of security needed to let you guys go out--even for a few minutes--would be astronomical. You'd be up to your eyebrows in guards."

"What if we promise not to try to escape or hurt someone?" Sehun asks. I was a bit surprised to hear his voice; he rarely spoke. 

I smile wryly. "I don't think that will suffice."

"Are you calling us liars?" Kris growls. His eyes flash red.

"Are you liars?" I retort. He pauses. I fold my arms across my chest. "You see? I have no way of knowing. If you say no, you could be lying. If you say yes, you could be telling the truth...but then you'd be liars anyway."

"What if we make blood oaths?" Baekhyun asks, raising his hand to his teeth.

I reach through the bars and grab his hand. "Don't hurt yourself over five minutes of daylight," I snap. He stares at my hand on his arm, and I pull away. I look around at the dark, grey walls and artificial lights. "Maybe I could get some windows put in..."

"Windows would be nice," Doll-eyes says thoughtfully. "That way we could at least see outside."

I sit back down in the chair and fold my hands behind my head. "I'll talk to some people," I say, yawning and closing my eyes. "Windows are definitely more possible than a field trip."

The hair on the nape of my neck stand on end, and goosebumps rise on my arms. I shudder. "I can feel you staring at me, Doll-eyes. Staaaaaaahhhhp."

He chuckles. "You're a very goofy warden."

I hear footsteps coming closer, but I don't get up. "Warden," a new voice says.

I open my eyes. It's one of the soldiers. "What is it?" I ask.

"New arrivals--ones for the maximum vaults."

"Arrivals? How many?"

"Four, Warden."

I frown. "They might have to double up. All right; lead the way."

As I move towards the door, I see Leo move out of the corner of my eye. He grabs my arm through the bars. "Noelle," he murmurs.

I blink and stop. Leo has never used my name. He has always called me 'Warden.' My eyes meet his. "What is it, Leo?"

"Be careful," he says simply before fading back into the shadows. Not a man of many words...Then again, not even a man...

"Okay," I say slowly. I turn to follow the guard.

"He's right," Kris says, his eyes flashing red. "You should be careful." 

Weird, I think, confused. Are they nervous about the new arrivals? Doll-eyes was the only one who didn't say anything. I stopped as the guard unlocked and opened the door.

I sucked in a breath. "Whoa."