Birds of Shadow

CHAPTER FOUR

I don't know how long I slept for. Time was irrelevant. Voices drifted through the mental fog, but I couldn't quite catch what they were saying. 

Eventually a tiny voice in the back of my mind convinced me that enough was enough. Running from the problem wan't going to change it, though I sure was working my ass off trying. 

When I opened my bleary eyes the restraints around my arms and legs had been taken off and someone had placed a small plate heaped with toast and eggs on the lower shelf of the cart next to my cot. I could tell that it had been placed there recently as a large amount of steam was wafting off the top. The huge room remained the same as when I had fallen asleep with the exception of a few new unidentifiable lumps taking up beds. 

I sit up slowly, my breath hitching as black spots fly before my eyes and blood rushes through my exhausted body. I swing my legs over the side of the cot and notice for the first time that I'm wearing a completely different outfit then they one that I had been wearing when the Xeno's took me. The word captured rings through my mind but I ignore it, turning my attention to my clothes.

I'm wearing a black long sleeve v-neck with an unbuttoned dark green flannel over it. I also notice that I'm wearing jean shorts much to my embarrassment. Ever since I was little I've always avoided showing any skin at all, but there wasn't much I could do about this. For my shoes the person who had dressed me (What a weird thought) had thankfully let me keep the black and white high top converse that I had loved almost to death.

Surprisingly all of the injuries that I had acquired have disappeared. Even my shoulder doesn't react when I rotate it in its socket hesitantly. A rumble of hunger rips through my stomach aggressively and I munch on the toast and eggs while I watch the nurses float between occupied cots like wraiths, albeit ones clad in bright blue scrubs. 

Once the hunger is satisfied, I decide to go exploring. My mind hasn't completely accepted the fact that I am now in what looks to be a huge bunker with people who can turn into birds and who essentially kidnapped me and won't let me go home, but I figured checking the place out couldn't hurt anything. 

I quickly pull my hair back into a Dutch braid and lace up my shoes, trying my best to do it discreetly. Unfortunately, one of the nurses notices and starts to weave her way through the beds in my direction.

Shit.

I start walking down the aisle towards the only door in this place. I start slow, hoping not to seem suspicious but then I hear a voice call out after me.

"Excuse me honey! You aren't supposed to be out of bed!" 

I start walking quicker as I hear fast approaching footsteps behind me. I start sprinting for the door as she comes closer, making a break for freedom. I hear her yelling for the other nurses, but by then I've already passed through the door into a pristine white hallway with more fluorescent lights that make sure there are no shadows to be seen. The hallway is lined with metal doors that are all shut and there's a staircase at one end while there is a huge set of locked double doors at the other. 

I decide to go with the staircase and I head that way walking quickly, glancing behind me to see if the nurse was still following. She seemed to have given up with the chase, so I happily skip up the stairs free to go where I please. 

When I reach the top I find a gigantic atrium with so many different levels and walkways and impressive staircases. Everything appears to be made of metal, with colors varying between grey, black and white. The bottom where I'm standing appears to be a cafeteria of sorts, with long white tables set up in neat rows and buffet lines to the left and right, heaped high with steaming food. People all dressed in grey uniforms mill around, chatting pleasantly and laughing with their friends. I can't see the levels above me but there are four different staircases leading to the upper floors, to my left, right and in front of me. I start to head to the one on my right, trying to stay as inconspicuous as possible, but I realize that I must be sticking out like a sore thumb with my colorful clothes while everyone else is wearing the same drab grey outfit. Sure enough, heads started swiveling in my direction and the steady stream of chatter died down.

I kept walking, pretending not to notice their burning gazes on the back of my head. I stepped on the bottom stair and it let out a deafening creeeak that echoed ominously through the atrium. 

I didn't even know that metal stairs could creak! What kind of shit was this?

I froze, waiting for repercussions from the watching crowd. Whispers broke out and two huge men wearing the same outfit as everyone else with the exception of it being black stepped forward. I couldn't help but notice the deadly looking guns attached to their hips, or the way that their hands strayed towards the handles. 

One of them spoke up in what he obviously imagined as a kind voice, but it did nothing to hide the tense undertone. "Miss, are you sure you're supposed to be here?" My mind scrambled to come up with a believable excuse, but I remained silent when nothing emerged. Obviously I wasn't supposed to be out, and the guard seemed to realize that as he took a step towards me.

"Alright, we're just going to escort you back to your room, okay?" Without waiting for a response he steps even closer to me, reaching for my upper arm as if to forcefully drag me off. I jump backwards, adrenaline surging through my veins. The look on this mans face tells me that he isn't planning on taking me back to my cot, but somewhere else entirely. 

Fear pulses through me as I turn and bolt up the metal stairs, the shouts of the crowd behind me. I reach the top and sprint down the walkway to my left, glass railing lining one side and a long wall with scattered doors, all closed, on the other. I wasn't that high up, but I loathed heights and still got dizzy as I sprinted down the walkway, avoiding looking down through the glass railing. I passed the series of grey metal doors, but spotted one that was open towards the end. I quickly darted in, slamming the door shut behind me and making sure to lock it. The bodies of the two guards slammed into the other side, making the door shake from the impact. I quickly grabbed two small tables and piled them in front of the door, a lame attempt to barricade myself in. Shouts filtered through the door and I heard someone faintly call for a key. 

I took a deep, shaky breath and quickly thought through all my options, but before I could get very far a very annoyed voice from behind me chilled me to my bones.

"And what exactly do you think you're doing in here?" 

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AUTHORS NOTE - sorry for the lame descriptive chapter guys, I'm kinda of hitting a major writers block tbh

Please tell me what you think! I am so grateful for all the support! Have a wonderful day :)

-Aspen♡