The Case Puzzle

Chapter 22

*Haelyn’s perspective*

My droopy eyes eyed the bottle of water thrown at me, which tugged me out of my sleep. As soon as I heard the door shut, I grabbed it and drank, emptying the whole bottle within seconds. I felt a slight burning sensation down my throat and ignored it.

It was my third day in that canned box of a room. The room was well lit, white everywhere, reflecting onto the metal-like walls. The red light of the little camera from above glared at me the whole day.

I kicked the bottle back to the door. I already felt the need to pee. The water calmed my stomach a bit but I wished they gave me food as well. During the past two days, someone brought me water only and guided me to the toilet only once a day. The toilet seemed the most ordinary place here, not that I’ve seen much of the place. I was thrown inside the solitary cell blindfolded the moment we arrived here.

I only did a journey to the toilet twice and there was no sight of any other person, not even my buttshit kidnapper. It wasn’t like I wanted to see her, but I wondered why I was being kept in a cell for such a long time. Deep inside, I felt grateful because her giving me attention would only mean something bad. I hoped she continued ignoring me until rescue came, which I hoped they did.

After a while of lying around, I glanced at the opening door. A man, who seemed to be in his forties, approaching me with handcuffs. I backed off against the wall and realised how useless my actions were. Where could I even escape? The man silently put the handcuffs around my wrists and dragged me up with them.

I followed along, with stiff legs, down the corridor. My eyes focused on the similar rooms aligned on both sides of the corridor. Were there people in those cells too?

The white, spacious room finally came into my sight. I made a grimace as I saw the devil herself, leaning against a table, with crossed hands. She was dressed more comfortably, in black shirt and pants. Her slick black hair was tied in a ponytail. She provided a great contrast to all the white I’ve been seeing around.

My curious gaze moved around the room, or should I say, the high tech laboratory. It was quiet and as cold as a morgue. I spotted some computers and flat screens decorating the right side of the lab. Flasks, cylinders, tubes, vials, microscopes and more flooded the front of the lab.

It seemed like those research labs in sci-fi movies, with a sinister feel to it. I was already expecting some sort of maniac scientist to enter and declare that I was now a testing subject of his.

Violetta glanced lazily over her shoulders when she heard us approaching. She gestured to the man to bring me closer, which the man did, by almost punching me forward.

I could not understand what look to give the devil. Should I act indifferent? Or should I show my anxious feelings? Or I could simply laugh my way out of this mess.

When I stood a foot away from her, my gaze went to my bare feet, avoiding her sadistic smile. Why did they have to take out my shoes when taking me again?

"Eager?" Her cold voice resounded as she clicked her fingers on the table.

I looked away, rolling my eyes, and looked back at her. "Eager to return home? Yes."

"Oh, don't look forward that much for this. I wouldn't want you having high expectations," she chuckled.

"Cut the crap. That's delusional of you to think you'll get away with all this. Why am I here?" I breathed sharply, the clinging of the handcuffs echoed, making me feel more annoyed.

"You clearly don't know who I am. You're here for me to show you what you dragged yourself into," she said, gesturing to the place with her hands.

"I'm pretty sure I was supposed to be home by yesterday. You dragged me here," I raised an eyebrow.