Deadly

Chapter 18

We followed Benjamin to the roped off area. The same guard I'd seen before was sitting there, he bowed his head at the sight of Benjamin. Rising from his seat, he grabbed the crimson rope and pulled it aside. Benjamin walked past him, down the stone stairs.

" What's down there?" Felicity asked Bennett. The guard gave her and Dallas a not-so-friendly scolding. He must have been one of the people that caught them trying to sneak down there.

" You don't want to know." Bennett said quietly.

But I did want to know. Part of me was scared, yes. But I was being given the chance to know exactly what it was. Without looking back, I followed after Benjamin. He was already waiting in front of the metal door at the end of the hall. Feeling the presence of another, I glanced behind me. Dallas paused when we locked eyes, then continued until he was standing beside me. Bennett remained with Felicity at the top of the stairs. It didn't look like they'd be joining us.

" Are you coming?" Benjamin asked. He lifted an eyebrow, hand poised to open the door. Wordlessly, we joined him at the end of the hall. He opened the door and immediately I smelt something foul and rotten. Dallas recoiled at the smell, covering his nose. I stared into the pitch black room, unconsciously moving closer. Benjamin flicked on a dim light, descending down the iron staircase. I tried to see further, but the light didn't go very far.

" I've got a bad feeling about this.." Dallas said uneasily.

" Maybe it's just a wine cellar," I said stepping onto the stairs.

" In a restricted area?" He asked.

Chuckling, I continued down the stairs. At the bottom, I heard a distinct sound of chains rattling. This time there was no confusing the sound with something else. Those were definitely chains. Dallas and I shared a look. Off to the side, Benjamin appeared with an oil lamp. He gestured for us to follow, choosing what seemed like a random direction. With the light from the oil lamp, I was starting to notice the outline of cages. Cells, maybe.

A shiver ran down my spine. I looked around the dark basement, scattered patches of light coming from very small windows high on the wall. Benjamin stopped in front of a row of cages. He held the light up, illuminating what was inside. My mind protested with what my eyes were seeing. Fefe. Riley. Darla. They were each in their own cell, curled up on the cement floor, backs pressed against the bars. I felt a twinge of sympathy seeing them like that. Dirty, bruised and hopeless.

" This is a dungeon?" Dallas asked, his voice wavering.

" Indeed."

" How long will you keep them like this?" I asked.

" When I feel they've learned their lesson." He said indifferently. " I'll release them."

I could feel the blood draining from my face. " You'll leave them like this after we've gone?"

" That is correct."

Fefe raised her head with great effort, her eyes meeting mine. What use to be hatred, was now a blank stare. It was almost like she didn't recognize me. Riley groaned, one arm thrown over her messy hair. She looked cold, lifeless.

" Are you satisfied?" Benjamin asked. " I'd like to be leaving soon."

Reaching out, I seized Dallas's hand. His fingers squeezed mine in reassurance, eyes glued to the three cells. I didn't want to leave them like this. Who knew how long they'd be kept here, suffering. They had tried to kill me, I didn't forget that, but I also knew there was a reason. I just didn't know what that reason was.

Without waiting for an answer, Benjamin started walking back to the staircase. Like a moth drawn to a flame, we followed the light. I tried to ignore the wailing and clinking of chains, but it was impossible. Benjamin disposed of the lamp, gesturing for us to go up the stairs first. I released Dallas's hand, slowly ascending. At the top, I stopped in the open doorway to look back. It was too dark to tell how big the basement was, but based off of the distant noise, I had a feeling it was rather large. It made me wonder how long they'd been there for. What were their crimes?