Outsiders

Chapte 10

I slowly opened my eyes, a pounding headache making my vision swim. I tried to grab my head, but realized that I was tied to a chair. Panic set in as I struggled against the straps. Desperation made me attempt to transform into my ghost form, but the moment I tried, an excruciating shock coursed through my body, forcing a scream from my lips.

I looked around, taking in my surroundings. It seemed I was in some sort of mansion's dining room. A long, ornate table stretched out before me, with five chairs on each side and one at each end. I was sitting in one of those end chairs. Large, heavy curtains adorned two giant windows, through which dim, muted light seeped into the room. At the far end of the hall, there was a door, and another door stood on the right side of the room. The decor was lavish yet eerily old-fashioned, with an air of forgotten grandeur.

I heard the lock on the hall door click and looked over, fury burning in my eyes as four people in black cloaks entered, circling me silently. Their presence was menacing, and they moved with a practiced precision that made my skin crawl.

"Who are you?!" I demanded angrily, my voice weak but defiant.

They stood around me quietly, not uttering a single word. "Answer me... now!" I shouted, causing one or two of them to flinch, but they still said nothing.

One of them pointed a gun at me. I stared directly at him, my fear overshadowed by anger. "Oh, you're going to kill me? Go for it. I lost my boyfriend because of my best friend, all because of my stupid, evil sister Chloe!" I yelled, my voice breaking with emotion.

Tears filled my eyes as guilt washed over me. "All I wanted was to keep my team safe and keep my life under control... without my fucking powers being a problem. I wish I was a normal teenager sometimes," I cried, my voice cracking.

I lowered my head, my hair falling to the side and covering my face, hiding my tears. But I was sure they could hear me since the room was deathly quiet.

"Untie her from the chair, but retie her hands together behind her back," a middle-aged man commanded. I looked up to see one of the hooded figures approaching me. As soon as he untied me, I seized my opportunity. I swung my legs up and kicked him away from me. I stood up and managed to transform into my ghost form. I floated in front of them, my hands igniting with green flames. "Alright! I want you to explain why you kidnapped me and stuck a needle into my neck!" I commanded, my voice laced with fury.

"Silence, young one. You will listen to us if you want to survive," the man spoke again, his tone calm and authoritative. I heard footsteps behind me and turned to shoot, but no one was there. Suddenly, I was shocked from behind, the pain forcing a scream from my lips as I reverted to my regular form and dropped to all fours. They pulled my hands behind my back and tied them together tightly.

He pushed me forward through the door they came from, leading into a dimly lit hallway bathed in a creepy red light. The atmosphere was more terrifying than being dropped off a roof. "Why don't you just kill me?" I asked, my voice filled with despair.

"No need to," he replied, his voice cold and unamused. He kept pushing me forward.

"Okay? You're kind of freaking me out here..." I said nervously. I couldn't see him, but I could sense his amusement at my discomfort. "Can I at least get your name?" I asked.

"Silence!" he commanded. I looked down and realized I had chains around my feet. The long hallway was lined with animal skins hanging on the walls, adding to the eerie ambiance. "Your wish was to be a normal human... correct?" he asked.

"At times, but not all the time. I mean, yeah, having powers is a pain, but it's saved my life on occasion," I replied, my voice trembling.
"I see. You also mentioned your sister, Chloe Baker," the man said, making me even more nervous.