Here Be Dragons (Completed)

Investigated

The ride back was much different than the ride there. I wasn't handcuffed or shackled to the floor and I wasn't blindfolded, though there was nothing to see except that back of the van that I'd already been in for several hours. I heard nothing from the front of the van, though I didn't expect to, and the drive seemed to take double as long, but eventually we arrived. 

Owen opened up the back doors and stepped aside to allow me to climb out of the surveillance van, his gray eyes cold as stone as he watched me like a hawk. Seriously? If I was going to run, it would have been when I was surrounded by civilization and not in what looked like and underground bunker built to house vehicles. The walls and ceiling were made of cement, but from the cold dank air and the subtle scent of musty water, I assumed that we were, indeed, underground. Numerous vehicles were parked in the room, most of them normal everyday cars that would blend into traffic seamlessly. A silver BMW sat next to a second BMW though it's color varied slightly and looked more gray than silver. Several black vehicles were strewn over the area along with numerous other sedans, pick up trucks, and even a scooter. If the room had also housed computers and gadgets, I would have called it a bat cave, but unfortunately it was just a glorified, albeit secretive, garage. 

When I was finished looking my fill, Owen cleared his throat and straightened his striped tie before holding his hand out in the gesture that I took to mean, 'Ladies first'. I nodded to him and walked forward, finding Victor standing next to an elevator as he waited for us. We all stepped into the elevator and Victor pressed the button labeled '0'. We were apparently on level -2 and I assumed that -1 was the haunted house basement. How big was this place? 

I kept my musings to myself as the soft sound of classical music filtered through the small elevator space as we rose. Just like every other elevator experience, it was awkward and the silence was stifling. I tried to think of something to say but even my sass was failing me now, so I worried my bottom lip as we stood in uncomfortable silence. 

The music changed into a violin number I recognized and before I could stop myself, I hummed a few bars. Owen stiffened beside me and shot me a confused, bewildered look and I furrowed my brows in question but he didn't comment. Instead, he turned away from me as if he'd never reacted at all and I rolled my eyes in apathetic annoyance. I checked my nails, happy to see that the pink was still shiny and it was with a breath of relief that the elevator stopped and dinged, announcing our arrival to the ground floor. 

The elevator opened into the kitchen of all places and I walked out, unable to hide my impressed shock. The room was huge, almost industrial sized, and the numerous appliances were bright and shiny stainless steel. The counter tops were real marble and the cabinets a rich deep mahogany. The floor was also marble, but instead of the swirled design of the counter tops, it was a plain light gray. I saw bits of color here and there when it came to the towels and dishcloths and the smaller kitchen gadgets, and I smiled to myself when I spotted a bright orange french coffee press. 

Owen and Victor led me through the room, allowing me a moment to observe before ushering me out. We walked through the dining room where I'd eaten dinner my first night here and out into the hall. Instead of turning towards the entry way, they went the opposite direction and I shuddered at the memory of coming this way before. It had been when Owen had dragged me to the basement by my hair and I was glad that this time I was walking upright and Owen wasn't angry. Well, he was still angry, but this time his ire seemed directed not at me. I would take it.

We stopped by a door, Victor's hand hesitating on the knob as I heard people shouting and yelling from inside and I had to force my fingers to stop fidgeting. I had a feeling this was about get loud and when these men got angry, they became unpredictable; nine unpredictable, insane men were not my idea of a good time.