Winged

Chapter Fourteen

Sabrina

Expecting some barren dungeon filled with young, skinny children in horribly tattered clothes, I am delightfully surprised by what Grant Washner reveals as he opens the door.

The sirens, Grant's most prized possessions, lounge in a large saltwater inbuilt pool, crevices in the wall underwater and at the surface, half under where the women lay, some just sitting on the edge, dangling their feet in the water, naked except for a thin coloured bracelet, many different shades of colour.

Everyone had one, I realize, looking up at the crevices in the tall roof. No wonder there were so many steps, that roof must touch the surface! My heart leaps in my throat at the sight of wings up there. Could it be possible? Were my friends playing in the roof of a mansion?

Grant Washner's assistant quickly swapped the chains for something else, a light purple bracelet on my thin wrist, that horrid burning sensation of chains lingering. No, it's still on me. I start to panic before realizing I'm not crazy. The bracelet must have the same material embedded inside. I tug at it, and it won't come off, let alone go past my hand.

But I keep looking at the roof, trying to catch another glimpse of wings.

I hear the men retreating, leaving me in a cavern full of witches, beasts, sirens and- Oh god is that a dragon? And I panic, nearly forgetting about my friends to chase after them. But then I hear a swoop of wings, and a little girl, head up to my chest was hugging me fiercely, almost sobbing and almost knocking me over.

In a couple of seconds, Harriet and Jackie were there, Harriet biting her lip and Jackie giving me a look that made me want to spin on my heels and run. Of course, I kept my feet planted, half afraid one of those cats the size of a horse would eat me up.

"Hey, Luce,"I say in a soft voice, but it feels awkward just standing there in a quiet cavern filled with hundreds- hell, even thousands of other creatures, all staring at us. At the newcomer in their dungeon. Or mansion. I still hadn't made up my mind over what this place was.

She looks up at me, and I gasp at her, finally being able to see how shockingly different she looks.

Her face was full and healthy, such a contrast to her old self that it pointed out how thin she used to be, little to our knowledge as we all thought all the skin and bone was what we had gotten used to. She looked well cared for, her hair brushed and tied back in a slick ponytail.

Lucy, Harriet, and Jackie. live, and surprisingly extremely healthy. In better shape then I'd ever seen them, probably healthier then they'd ever been.

Harriet and Jackie stare behind me, searching for someone. Looking for Annabelle.

Who, to their utter disappointment, did not emerge from the closing door. Guilt drops in my stomach from the recent events. What if I was wrong? What if they killed her?

Would Harriet and Jackie tear me apart from limb to limb? Would I be taunted by her ghost, here, and in the afterlife? Would I go absolutely bonkers with guilt, or would I turn into some hollow shell?

Annabelle could be dead or dying.

And I left her all alone.

I take a breath and calm myself. I can't change what may or may not have already happened. I should just get us out of here safely as soon as possible.

It was just the not knowing that was eating away at my mind, messing with my head.

I tuck my thoughts safely away in the back of my head and plaster a smile on my face to assure Lucy, even though I know I hate people pretending everything's fine in front of me. Maybe It's a natural instinct, being considerate of others. Or maybe we just like to hide our feelings.