Caged

Chapter 7

     My eyes flutter open as I hear something stir beside me, naturally, I sit up ready to defend myself. The sun was blinding as I took a quick glance around the room, every muscle in my body relaxed when I locked eyes with Abi. She handed me a large glass of ice cold water. I didn't give it a second thought before I downed the whole thing. I handed Abi the empty glass  and thanked her for the hospitality that I was receiving.

     "There's a bathroom to the right in the hallway, I just hung some fresh towels and put anything else you might need in the cabinet. Once you're done we'll have breakfast prepared for you downstairs." I felt extremely out of place, I wasn't usually the one being pampered and treated with this kind of respect. She flashes me a toothy grin before leaving me on my own. I close my eyes and pinch myself on the thigh, this is just a cruel dream this is too good to be true. To my surprise, nothing changed when my eyes peeled open.

      I slowly but surely made my way to the bathroom, peeking down the stairs as I passed them. Turning the doorknob, I pulled the door open. I came to a realization, I haven't had the luxury of a real bathroom with running water for a very long time. Taking my time and looking around the magnificently, cozy, and beautiful room. I've never been this excited about a toilet before. I walk over to the cabinet Abi was speaking of, It was filled with luxury items. Shampoo, conditioner, soap, razors, lotions, hair brushes and everything else you could imagine that a woman would want. I hopped around like an excited schoolgirl picking out her school supplies for the first time. 

     Digging my toes into the soft white carpet beneath me I picked out two black towels, hanging them on a hook next to the shower. I let the cold water cascade down my back, it took awhile for it to heat up. Which isn't odd, we're in the middle of nowhere and this house has definitely stood here for a while. I took my sweet time, running my fingers through my hip long, thick hair. I finished a normal routine, washing my hair, conditioning it and then washing the rest of my body. 

     when I got out of the shower I grabbed one of the brushes and brushed through the tangled mess that's my hair. That's when I finally got a good look at my body and how brutally it had been damaged. My face had one large red protruding scar stretching from my left nostril to my left cheekbone. The skin from my breast down to my hips is terribly scarred, still a little black and blue. I was obviously malnourished, my ribs were clearly visible. I decided to keep it out of sight, out of mind. I cut my nails and threw on clothes that were neatly folded in the cabinet. I left the bathroom in a light blue, knee length, flowy dress, and a long, gray, knitted sweater.

     "You look amazing," Max pulled out my chair for me, urging me to sit down. Breakfast looks mouth watering. The others joined us when they were done with their morning routines, I felt at home here, everyone was so accepting of me.

     "Once you're healthy and happy, we were thinking of showing your hometown. It might jog your memory." As Abi spoke everyone in the dining room nodded their heads.

     "But we'll only do anything that you're comfortable with. If you don't want to go anywhere, and you're more comfortable here, you don't have to." There are many thoughts running through my head, but the most apparent one is how I want to get to know who my parents were. I want to know how others saw them and I want to know what their life was like after I disappeared. 

     "I want to go back." I've always wanted this, I've always wanted a choice and now is my chance to make one. The room became quiet and not a word is said. 

     "Okay, eat up. You'll need to be strong." After breakfast I decided to help them clear the table, it's the least I could do. They don't want me to do anything but rest, I insisted. I want to get to know the area I'm in, there must be something interesting to do around here to pass the time. 

     "Hey, Athena. Do you want to go for a walk? I'll show you around." Max escorted me outside, making sure his pace matched mine. The cottage we came out from was surrounded by trees and I began feeling just a little claustrophobic and was flooded with bad memories from the past. 

     "So, I know that you have questions. Ask away, I'll answer anything." We were walking side by side, down a narrow path through the trees. 

     "What were my parents, I mean, they're obviously more than human. Or I wouldn't be born with these weird powers Abi speaks of." Max flashed me a cheeky smile and placed his hand on the small of my back. Guiding me to a bench under a large weeping birch tree. 

     "As you might know, your parents were hunters too. They were the best of the best, they were hired for all kinds of different secret operations. You know, there are stories stating that hunters achieved their powers from a single teardrop from Lucifer. But rumors had it that your parents fought him. That they made him shed a tear with their bare hands and all the powers that were stored inside were given to you. It was said that your parents made a deal with the devil himself, the deal was that if anything were to go south Abigor were to come for you. He's the commander of sixty legions also skilled in secrets of war and prophecy. One of the highest ranking demons in hell." 

     "That all sounds like bullshit. Things have been going south for ten years, and the only person who saved me was you. Not some Abigor dude." 

     "See, that's the thing. The only person who could ask for his help and trigger a beacon is you. But something deep inside you didn't want help, you didn't want to be saved. you wanted to save yourself. That's what I think happened at least." At this point I was picking at the skin around my nails, doubting the words that came out of his mouth, this all sounds like a nightmare. 

     "Don't tell me you believe that stuff." Great, now I'm talking to someone that's psychotic too. 

     "Thousands of people believe it's true, Athena you're the descendant of the most powerful people in the world. There are those who want to hurt you and keep you for themselves so that when Abigor comes, they could somehow slip into hell with him. They want the powers that you have." Sighing, I decided that there's no point in arguing, I don't know half the truth anyway. Max's cell phone rang, he said a few yes's and no's before abruptly hanging up.

     "Abi wants to test your powers and how far they've come, so we have an idea of where to start you off with your training."