Voiceless

Chapter Twelve

 Three days. Three days have passed after the tragic event of Chichi's death. Unbeknownst to everyone else in the hospital, me and Macy were mourning for our friend's death. The urge to scream was very tempting when I heard everyone laughing and sharing jokes when they didn't even know that their own friend was probably incinerated and had become ash on the ground. Many times did I resist the desire to thrash cutlery to the ground and just roar ferociously but the little being inside me prevented me from doing so. Macy became more jittery, her eyes constantly wide and alert, as if someone was going to grab her from behind and choke her until every breath was squeezed out of her lungs. I kept on noticing that every now and then she gulped heavily with her hands constantly shaking. 

A week later and I was leaving Dr Jeffrey's office after having my regular health check-up. I had a smile on my face learning that everything was going well for me and my baby but as I was coming out, Anna pushed me back in. 

"What on earth are you doing?" I screamed as I was man-handled back into the office. My hand instinctively went to my stomach, just in case Anna tried to hurt me. Thoughts of Chichi erupted into my head and I thought 'This is it, they're going to kill me here right now'. Dr Jeffrey adopted a confused look as he stared at Anna. The violent worker looked frustrated and irritated, her eyes wildy emphasized.

"You were meant to come out five minutes later, weren't you?" she asked me nervously whilst glowering at Dr Jeffrey. I eyed both of them cautiously, trying to work out what they were implying. Dr Jeffrey, quickly glanced at his watch and gasped quietly. It was so quiet that it could have been mistaken for a short intake of breath - considering he's an old man - but the circumstances belied that option.

"Does it matter if I come out five minutes early or late? As long as the appointment is over and done with I can come out anytime I want" I told them with my arms crossed. Anna looked sideways towards the door quickly and that's when I realised what they were trying to do. They were hiding something from me, or perhaps all of us. When Anna was too busy glaring at the doctor for the fifth time I lunged at the door, grasping the doorknob like a lifeline, and quickly pulled it open. Hearing Anna shout my name I ran through the door in a hurry. Confusion overcame me. 

There was nothing there. Zilch. Nada. No-one in the corridor. What were they trying to hide from me?Anna came from behind me but as she looked around I noticed the look of relief overcome her features. So there was something, but perhaps it has left?

I heard footsteps from the left of the corridor and assumed that a nurse was coming but when I saw the fear on Anna's face I just knew I had to follow it. I chased the sound of the footsteps from the end of the corridor and as I neared, I realized that there was a door. I never had to go to the end of the corridor before as there was always stairs right beside my room to use. I felt stupid knowing that I should have explored, especially being here for nearly over two months. Pushing open the double doors I found another set of staircases, one leading up and the other down. I decided that the staircase leading downstairs would be my best chance for no reason other than it being easier to descend. 

Racing down the stairs, I barely made it to the last step until a hand appeared in front of me and slammed it across my mouth. The unexpected presence of someone's hand plastered on top of my mouth forced my heart to thump twice its rate. I struggled possessively but the person was too strong and soon enough another hand wrapped around my waist and carried me backwards into the little gap under the stairs. I tried craning my neck to see my kidnapper but the darkness of being under the staircase covered his identity. 

"Shhh, just be quiet while I  get rid of Anna" said the voice, immediately letting me recognize the fact that my kidnapper was male. His hands slowly slithered away from my waist and I saw a shadow of a man heading towards the door but before he could pull it open, Anna burst in.

"Did you see a girl this way? She's about my height" Anna asked frantically. The man who's face was now clear from the light that escaped from the open door, slowly shook his head.

"She probably used the top staircase, no one came down here. You know no-one does." he answered. Anna nodded and before she dashed upwards she said "Go back to your room, you know you're not allowed out."

I furrowed my eyebrows at this. When Anna's steps slowly faded out of hearing the man made his way towards me, under the staircase. From the light that flashed on his face, I knew he was good looking with chiselled features and light brown eyes. His tanned skin made it seem as if he was from an exotic country- probably a place I could compare to Paradise after where I've been living. He had straight black glossy hair that was trimmed at the front. If we weren't in such a situation, I probably would have asked for his number.

"You can come out now" he whispered. I ducked out from under the staircase and squinted as the light blinded me temporarily. 

"You shouldn't be down here, they'll hurt you if they find out you know about this place." he explained nervously. My eyes widened. 

"What is this place? What do the stairs lead to?" I asked frantically, knowing that I was close to discovering something new. 

"I can't tell you, please it's not safe. You'll end up like the last one." he urged. That stopped me in my tracks. The last one? Did Anna and Dr Jeffrey already have their victim? 

"What happened to the last one? You need to tell me what is going on!" I told him, my voice rising with every syllable. The man's eyes widened and he quickly covered my mouth tightly. He dragged me back under the staircase and I was trying to fight free when I heard footsteps descending. Anna came down the stairs muttering, "Where is she?" before pulling the door open and leaving through the corridor. The man sensed that I wasn't going to leave until I knew what was going on.

"Follow me" he said and began making his way down the stairs, further and further down until we approached a small door. A key appeared out of his pocket and he unlocked the door. Walking in, I realised that it was a small bedroom. 

"Don't tell me you live here!" I asked, horrified at his isolated place. The man shrugged. "It's alright. They said they'll place me in a nicer room as long as I continue working for them" he explained. I narrowed my eyes, "Work for them, how?" I asked. The man sat down in a comfy arm chair before pointing at the chair opposite him. 

"I'd rather you sit down for this... Hazel."