Barely An Angel (Completed)

34~ Love and Betrayal

I had to hold my breath; the scent that attacked my nose as soon as I took my first step inside was putrid; it smelled of expired milk and burnt trash. I had to navigate mainly by feeling around for walls that may or may not be there, as there was little to no light to guide me. I plugged my nose with one hand and felt my way through the darkness with my other.

I eventually came to a hallway. The walls on the right side had caved in in some places, leaving gaping holes that led to the outside world. As I stood there, taking in the last sun rays I may ever feel on my skin, it felt as though I stood in a whole new dimension. Outside was the real world, and where I stood was a different universe entirely. It was dark, cold, unforgiving; and outside was all that was warm and good; a soft, enveloping embrace of light that welcomed me. Beckoned to me, told me I didn't have to go down that hallway; I could leave right now without ever looking back. Save myself.

I shut my eyes tight. No. I can't just leave my family. They need me. I turned away from that light, and marched down that hallway with my head held high. At the end of the hallway, there was a dimly-lit staircase that seemingly led to nowhere. But I knew it was where I had to go. I took my first step down those stairs, wincing at the sound the old wood made when stressed under my weight. I held my breath, not because of the smell this time, but out of pure nervousness. I didn't really know what I was getting myself into, but I knew I had to keep going.

So that's exactly what I did. With every step I took, I knew I was coming closer to my possible demise, but I also knew that I was exactly where I needed to be. That thought alone was what I clung to in those moments. When I finally reached the bottom of the stairs, one flickering fluorescent light illuminated a grungy, rusted iron door that looked as though someone yanked the handle right off in their haste to open it. They hadn't fully closed the door behind them either, as it hung open about half a foot.

I touched my hand lightly to the door, but hesitated before I pushed it the rest of the way open, as I could hear voices. Urgent voices, whispering and growling. Whoever they were, there were only a few of them from what I could hear, and they didn't sound pleased in the slightest.

Taking a deep, shaky breath, I quickly pushed the door open with all of my might, preparing myself for meeting these possible Fantom Fang members face-to-face. The first thing I saw was my parents. Gagged and tied together on the muddy floor. I gasped, my breath catching in my throat and tears welling in my eyes.

My mom had caught sight of me, and her eyes widened with terror. She tried gesturing for me to leave by jerking her shoulders this way and that. She then glanced at the open doorway not more than five feet away from her, where I gathered was where the voices were coming from.

I screamed inwardly at myself, willing myself to move; turn around and run, but I was frozen. I was frozen with fear when I saw two shadows moving through that doorway, and the angry, hushed voices got louder.

I couldn't even get myself to move when those two shadows noticed me and began rushing towards me. The last thing I remembered was a sharp pain on the side of my head as I was knocked to the ground with such force that I had never experienced before. As my head hit the ground, I saw my mom's distressed face as she met my eyes with such a despaired stare. It was the last thing I saw before I gave in to the heaviness of my eyelids and let them flutter closed.

***

"Why are they tied up?" A familiar voice rang through the dank atmosphere of the room. When I willed my eyes to open, I realized I was tied up by my wrists, and a cloth was tied cruelly tight around my head and mouth, preventing me from speaking at all. I turned around as much as the crude rope restraints would allow, drawing in a jagged breath when I realized I was tied up next to my parents, who were both seemingly unconscious.