My Light in the Darkness

Down in the Cellar

I knew exactly where Zach was. It's where he always goes when he's angry.

To the training field.

I walked quietly. I didn't want to startle him or mess up his shot.

I stood against a tree, watching his every move. He was shooting his favourite bow in a tank top and ripped jeans. God damn he looked good.

His back muscles tended as he drew the string back. I watched as his body relaxed, as he felt the wind, breathed out a long breath, and concentrated. I envied him at the moment.

He released the arrow and watched it soar straight into the Center of the target. I took that moment to walk out of my hiding spot and creep towards him.

He was still watching the target when I came up behind him. I gently put my hand on his shoulder to let him know I was here. He tensed under my touch.

"What?" He snapped, brushing my hand away. He stormed off to the target, leaving me standing there like a fool.

"What did I do now?" I called after him. It was rude considering I've done nothing wrong.

"Nothing," he shrugged, turning around. "Why don't you go back to Jake and see how he's doing," sarcasm dripped from his voice.

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, fuck off." I was agitated with him. There was nothing going on between us. I still hated him.

"Why don't you go fuck him?" He snickered.

That was fucking it! I stormed up to him, I felt the fire in my veins making my blood boil. How dare he? Without thinking twice, I slapped him.

I hit him so hard he staggered backwards. His hand rubbed the red hand mark where my hand connected with his cheek. A low chuckled rumbled from his throat. It sounded dark and menacing.

"Now you listen here," my voice cracked. I was beyond angry. I pointed a finger at his chest and pushed. I didn't stop pushing to prove a point. "Don't you dare treat me like your girl one minute and like dirt the next. I'm not a piece of garbage Zach Herron!" I yelled.

He was just as mad as I was at this point. "My girl? If you think we had something special," he paused, brushing my finger away from him, "you were mistaken." His look was cold and unrelenting.

Mistaken? What happened? I wanted to say something but couldn't. I'm sure I looked like a fish out of water the as my mouth opened and closed. It felt like I had barbed wire wrapped around my neck, I couldn't speak, my breathing became short and quick and I felt panic rise. My eyes started to burn and I knew it was my time to leave.

My heart was physically breaking and he just stood there and watched me crumble. I closed my mouth finally. I felt my bottom lip quiver and cursed my self for going soft. "Okay, Zach." The crack in my voice made him go soft. The look in his eyes was just as pained as I was. I wiped away a fallen tear and turned away from him. A string of profanities was mumble under his breath as I walked away.

I didn't turn around. I hugged my arms close to my body, hoping to bring back some heat to it.

"Wait, Abby!" He called. I heard a deep regret in his tone and I prayed to god he felt the pain I was feeling. I couldn't face him and not crumble at his feet.

I just kept walking until I made it to medical. This was all because of Jake. I needed him gone.

I stormed into the tent, not bothering to be quiet. "Is he okay to walk?" I asked Corbyn without a second thought. He stuttered when he tried to answer. "Yes or no, Corbyn." I hated the look on Jakes face right now. He looked so smug, like he knew what he was doing.

"Yes." He let out finally. I didn't say anything else. I took Jake by the arm and drug him out of the tent.

"Where are we going?" He asked, stumbling behind me.

Through gritted teeth, I answered. "To the dungeon."

After a bit of snooping, I found their own torture chamber. I didn't think Zach wanted it to be found, but I was good at finding things I shouldn't. I made sure we weren't followed before I threw him into the damp cellar.

I took him by the collar and led him to the chains up on the wall. I hung his arms like he hung Zach, the only difference was, I didn't give him a box to stand on because he didn't need it.

"Are you going to torture me?" He smirked. He thought I didn't have it in me? He was dead wrong. I had so much anger built up in this body right now I could probably kill.

After I locked the last chain in place, I wound up and punched him in the stomach. He groaned in pain and doubled over as much as the chains allowed. "Yes." I answered. I let him compose himself before I started. "What do you know?"

"What makes you think I'll tell you?" He sneered.

"Because I'm the only thing keeping you alive right now." I spat. "And you don't want to piss me off anymore then I am," I added. He started at me like I was crazy. It hit him that I was a stranger to him. He didn't know shit about me anymore. I've grown in the past couple years, both physically and mentally. He only changed physically.

"You've grown," he admitted. "A lot stronger then the girl I used to love," he taunted. Love? Fuck no. Not anymore.

"You loved the sex. Get your head out of your ass," I snapped at him. "Tell me what you know about the creepers that raided your camp." I demanded finally.

He hung his head low in defeat. "I know they meant business. They took me back into my own dungeon and tortured me till I told them everything I knew about you," he said. My face dropped.

"Did you tell them about this place?" I asked instantly.

"I'm not stupid," he hissed. "I wanted to keep you safe." There was a sincerity in his voice but I ignored it. "They said your father got to close to the truth and that he meant to expose it. He knew why the purge started and never ended. That's why they killed your parents as soon as it started, because it was legal. I guess they never found you or your sister," mention of Gabby made my chest tight.

I never did find her. I went looking for her almost every day. I went back home too, to burry aunty and uncle. She wasn't there, and there were no signs of her ever returning. I went to Thomas's place next. I didn't find any of his things or him. They disappeared.

"That's why they're looking for you. They think you know. It makes you a threat to their plan." He finished.

I turned my back to him to think. Was he lying? If he was it was a pretty elaborate lie. If he wasn't lying then staying here was putting everyone in danger. I needed to go and end this, maybe I could even end the purge. If I played my cards right, they would have to take me back to see the president and compromise.

It's not like I'm wanted here anymore anyways.

"I want you to take me to them." I decided finally.

Jake raises his brow at me quizzically. "What about your boyfriend?" He asked.

"He's not my boyfriend." It hurt saying it. He was the only person I allowed myself to get close to and look what happened. I was just another toy in the sand box.

"Trust me, Abby, no man looks at a girl li-"

"We leave at dawn," I cut in. I didn't want to hear some sappy romance shit from the very guy who made me believe it wasn't real.

He didn't press on and I was grateful.

"We could die," he warned. He had a look that made me excited. Call my psychotic, but I really was excited for the adventure. I had the chance of finding Gabby on the way, maybe even Gerret.

It was a chance I was willing to take, facing death of not. "Or we could live."

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Yeah so my heart broke this chapter...

But ooooo dramaaaaa