Zephyr: The Elemental Clans

129 - Welcome to the Endgame

Naomi Ailani - POV;

"Ouch! Hey!" Ciara barked as we were guided by the rough hands of our captors through a dark hall.

"Ugh, it smells like sewage in here," Jaya groaned.

"Where do you think you're touching buster?!" I spat as I felt the male's hand brush against my glutes.

Without warning, they shoved us into one of the side rooms and slammed the door shut. A powerful, gut-wrenching stench permeated the air. The room was shrouded in shadows. Only a dim, flickering bulb illuminated the centre to reveal a horrific sight. Some type of sick, chair lay beneath the bulb, evidently used to lay and strap down unwilling individuals. As if this wasn't bad enough, it had been stained red with blood and what seemed to be portions of entrails were draped over and wedged in its hinges. Jaya clasped her hands to her mouth as she gagged, attempting to stop herself from vomiting. Ciara,  meanwhile, began to shudder and seemed to be traumatised by the affair.

"You girls seemed to be in a rather uncooperative mood with my allies out there. Looks like you aren't quite aware of the situation you're in."

A shirtless male stood, haunched over a desk in the corner of the room. His hyper-muscular torso was riddled with scars and as he turned towards us, I realised that his face was too. He stepped into the light and I only now noticed the large knife he brandished in his fingers. I bared my teeth as I instinctively stepped infron of Ciara and Jaya, extending my arms to protect them behind me.

"Oh ho? The mother hen sacrifices herself to safeguard the chicks? How touching," he cackled.

"Who are you?!" I hissed.

"Me? A soldier. A man who spent many a day battling for glory in the flames of war. I've watched many an ally fall in battle. Truly tragic. But it's hardened me. Numbed my pain. Because of that, I was drafted into this position," he murmered.

"Position?"

"My time as a soldier has granted me certain skills. It has made me adept in the art of gathering information from people. The tools of my trade are quite simple. The chair says it all," he continued. I felt sick to my stomach as my eyes fell on the demented device once more.

"What do you want?" I growled.

"That's quite simple. I want you."

I felt a chill run through my body as he spoke.

"A pretty face, a smart brain... it excites me just thinking about what I could do to you. Maybe I should have my men fool around with you just a bit. They've been yearning for a pretty thing like yourself. After that I can have you all to myself," he snickered as he closed the distance between us with a menacing yet slow stride. I walked backwards myself, nudging my younger sisters so they would stay behind me but before long, our backs were against the wall. He moved closer, leaving only inches between us. Only now this I fully recognise the difference in our size as he towered easily six and a half feet, if not more. He placed the knife between my knees and raised it slowly, letting it run up the crotch of my suit pants harmlessly before catching the tip of the blade on the last buttons of my shirt and blazer.

"Let's have a look shall we?" he laughed as his arm shot upwards. In one swift motion, he cut through both layers of clothing and my bra, without so much as grazing my skin and before I realised it, he pulled them off of me, leaving my upper body completely bare. I hurriedly covered my chest in surprise and shame, but he wasted no time in slamming me against the wall and holding both of my arms above my head as he pressed his knife against my throat.

"Oh? Sexy bod you have here. I see you workout to keep in shape," he remarked.

"You disgust me," I spat.