The Broken Ones

Chapter 9

Felix:

I didn't know how, or why, but all I knew was . . .

I was definitely dead.

Why, then, was it so cold and jagged? I always figured death was supposed to be the most peaceful thing you could possibly imagine and more, but this wasn't even close to my idea. I was almost disappointed. I could hear the odd sound of scraping, footsteps shuffling eagerly across the floor, a crackling fire in the distance. I didn't want to open my eyes in fear of what I might see, but, to my disappointment, I couldn't control a small groan from escaping my lips. Dammit. I didn't need to open my eyes for my captor to know I was awake. I might as well just jump up and start screaming. My breath hitched as I heard the sound of footstep come to a stop and spin around on the heels in my direction. Every curse word I have ever heard in my life bounced around my head with the sound of approaching skips. I either wasn't dead, or I was just simply thrown in hell. Both didn't sound very comforting at the moment, or very surprising. Death never really seemed to go my way. My breathing was forced to a stop before it could hit the skin of the person who seemed to be inches away from my face. "Felix?" the scratchy voice said.

My eyebrows furrowed a little in confusion, quickly returning to their original position as I scolded myself. "Ha!" the voice boomed, jumping up. "I knew it! Get up, boy."

I stayed deathly still, not really knowing if I could move or not, even if I wanted to. I heard the man take a deep breath before he began speaking again in bored tones. "Fine, fine. I guess the blonde one wouldn't hurt to eat first."

My eyes shot open, my body jumping up in sudden alert. The reaction was just too immediate for me to even push back. The old man beside me, I recognized as the one from before, began bursting out in wheezing laughter, clutching his stomach. "Man," he said, "you really care for the girl, don't you?"

I couldn't believe him. I couldn't believe the situation I was in. It was almost comical. I sent a quick glare to the man, swiftly averting my gaze around the stony room until my eyes landed on the two bodies in front of the fire. Relief flooded my every sense, practically controlling my legs and causing me to dart over to Kat and Taylor. I ignored the man as I examined their faces, thankfully finding their breathing to be functioning normally. Just then, I noticed something odd. Taylor's wounds seemed to be completely healed up. Not even a scar remained.

"Ahh," the old man breathed, edging closer to me from behind. There was something more serious to his tone than before. "Strange, isn't it?"

"What the hell did you do?" I could feel my nerves acting up again and the twitching in my fingers begin to increase. I was almost positive he could tell what was up with me.

"Is something bothering you, Felix?"

"Yeah, how do you know my name?" I clenched my fists and stood up, bringing my face close to the mans. He showed no sign of fear or even anger. In fact, he looked the complete opposite with an almost amused expression playing on his face. Still twitching, still breathing heavily, I continued to stare him down.

"Come sit," the man said.

"Not until you help them."

He rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers. I didn't see how that had no effect whatsoever on the situation, but then I remembered: he's crazy. To my surprise, and slight horror, I saw Kat's eyes flutter open, followed by Taylor. They slowly sat up together, massaging their heads, before adjusting to the scene in front of them.

Kat let out a small squeak as Taylor remained in confused silence. When Taylor's eyes met mine, I gave her a small shrug, to which she returned with an uneasy smile that lit up the room. However, the feeling she put off didn't last long before I remembered who else was in the room with us. I glanced over my shoulder and found the old man smirking at me with a raised eyebrow. He sure had a lot of cockiness for a dude, I was assuming, nearing death.