The Project

The Serpent

As I'm escorted rather roughly down the dim hallway that's taking me to whatever destination is in store, I can't help but let my mind wander back to that moment with Cade in my cell. I mean, I had no qualms knocking him out, but what was that when he whispered in my ear? Those goosebumps that slithered down my back, my pulse pounding and my palms suddenly getting damp. How can I hate someone so much and yet be so affected by their presence? The boy is gorgeous, don't get me wrong, but something's just so off about him. I've always known this, but this is a new feeling. A feeling of wanting to know why he's so different. I want to know more about the boy I glimpsed when he said to be careful. However now is not the time to dwell on this things. We're nearing the end of the hall, and I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the stainless steel door before we go through it.

Yikes, I'm a sight.

My jeans that fit so nice before are now covered in blood and dirt, and the blue tank top that had clung to my curvy figure (prior to whatever fight I got into) is now torn badly across my torso, exposing a sizable portion of my pale skin, which seems to glow in the dim light. I can see the welts appearing across my stomach and I grimace, the fight I got into must've been rough. My bodyguards and I go through the door, and frankly I'm a little awestruck by what I see. The hallway was grungy and dimly lit, with a hard packed dirt floor beneath my feet. Now I find myself staring into a room that is almost a seizure inducing white, with stainless steel everything to compliment it. The high vaulted ceilings give it an air of austerity and cleanliness, making me feel rather out of place in my disheveled clothing and tangled hair. All over the room there are computer monitors and holographic projectors with maps, data, and pretty much anything else to give the overall feeling of a big old secret mission.

How cliche...

Cliche it may be, but still rather intimidating as everyone is dressed in the same white shirt and pants, with hair slicked straight back. I'm assuming these must be the employees as they barely look at me before returning to whatever diabolical scheme they're helping with. Suddenly a man appears across the room, and I instantly know he has to be some kind of authority. He catches my eye and starts walking towards me. Perhaps walking isn't the right word, for while his feet are touching the ground, he seems to glide across the room rather eerily. He slides directly in front of me and my admirers (who have had no distinct change of expression since we left my cell by the way) and stands in front of me, allowing me enough time to gather his appearance. Like everyone else in the room, he wears all white. Except his white-out outfit is a suit that hangs from his narrow framework, drawing more attention to how utterly skinny this man is. He looks like a slight breeze could blow him right over, and the thought is almost comical. But one look at his face alleviates any humor I felt. His face is narrow, with a sickly pallor to what once might have been an olive complexion, with slits for eyes that are almost reptilian, and an arrow straight nose that hangs dangerously low to his wide puffy lips. His blonde hair is slicked back and immaculately combed, but still gives a greasy appearance. Without even speaking this man just radiates a vibe that practically screams out,

"I'm evil!"

His squinted eyes scan my body, causing my stomach to lurch. I want to get away from this man. He doesn't seem to notice my displeasure as he is staring at my chest with absolutely no intention of subterfuge. I feel my gag reflex triggering as his eyes wander up to my face and halt. He speaks in a voice that seems to ooze out of his person.

"Miss Arista Neal I presume?"

He extends his hand to me and I don't even look at it; I will not shake this mans hand. If my hunch is correct he's the man in charge, and I don't make it a habit to give a polite greeting to a kidnapper, and my kidnapper at that. The sickly smile he's wearing spreads farther across his face and exposes his perfectly straightened white teeth.

"Oh my dear, you already seem to be a feisty one. I will enjoy breaking you in."