Don't Talk To Strangers | BOOK 1

twenty

Elle McBriar
...Stopped counting

They say when you're on the brink of death, you don't actually think.

You feel pain, but you don't. And now I know what they mean.

I'm in constant pain. All the time. Who know if its been days, weeks or even months since we've been here. All I know is I've given up. 

I haven't seen Gage since I was taken away. I hope he's okay, I miss him.

I also haven't been attended too since I was thrown in here. 

With all the blood I've lost, I should be dead. I don't know why I'm not. My blood could save over 100 lives, with the amount they've accumulated.

At random parts of the day, or night, I'm being shocked. I can feel my skin being ripped and I can smell the flesh, it burns. Not only my nostrils but myself. Eventually the batter has to die. I'm waiting for that day.

Sometimes when I fall asleep, I pray I don't wake up. But I do. And I'm always disappointed. I wake up thinking I've reached hell, but then my eyes adjust and it's still the same, metal room.

I thought I was finally getting used to the nightmares but here we are, repeating the cycle once again. 

Who knows what'll happen. Maybe we'll be saved. Maybe we'll die. All I know is, I'm waiting for something to happen.

I hear a door slam in the distance, and I don't bother checking who it is. But when I feel my legs being grabbed, I'm being carried bridal style. My eyes are closed, I'm half asleep. Bouncing up and down, uncomfortable fingers dig into my back. 

Next thing I know, I'm being thrown down. I land on my back, my head hitting the hard surface. I open my eyes, feeling my vision go fuzzy, "Elle? Elle are you okay?" Gage asks, leaning over me. I see two of him as he helps me sit up. I can barely breath, I was winded. I touch the back of my head, bringing my hands down to my face, blood.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I pray for this nightmare to be over. 

"Elle?" Gage asks again. I shut him out, bringing my knees up to my chest as I lean against the wall, covering my ears with my hands. An alarm bell sounds, I jump, "What is that? What's happening?" I ask, Gage comes over to me, "It's okay. A zombie probably just got out." 

I nodded, I hope he's right. Then, with the flashing lights and loud siren, the door swings open, and two angry men come rushing inside. They pull Gage way from me, punching his already broken face, I'm next. The shock collar on high heat as I scream in pain.

I tried to claw the collar off me, I'm surprised they let us in here without tying our hands together. I crawled forward, getting my breath knocked out of me. I walked over to Gage, who was lying on the floor unconscious. "Gage, w-wake up!" I pleaded, tears spilling out of my eyes, "GAGE!" I screamed. The guy who was once punching Gage had left the room now, the electricity was still soaring through my veins as I tried to wake up Gage.

He's still breathing, that's a sign, "Gage please, I can't lose you." I cried, whimpering as I put my head on his chest.

Everything is numb. My mind, my body, my words. I can't feel anything, anymore.

I lay beside Gage, twisting my hand into his, linking our fingers together. If we die, we die together.

The collar finally stopped and I breathed. But not for long. Once my back hit the cool metal floor, I succumbed into closing my eyes. Resisting the urge to fight back.