CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

 

 

- Hannah

I marvel at the technology like the geek that I am. I’m trying really hard not to panic about this whole situation. For all I know, they could be taking me to some remote prison, never to be found again.

Even though Marquel Sune seems on the up and up, Vina Likana is a horrible person and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. It seems that all the women here treat the men like slaves or the hired help. Even the one who is mostly just sitting in the front while he “drives” this car. I’m not sure why we need him. Maybe in case it breaks down? Because he isn’t doing much. But you still don’t have to be rude.

The hover type car we are in is super tiny and there was a bit of a question about this as we climb in and situate ourselves. I’m happy to be crammed in the back with Marquel Sune and Vina Likana is in the front. I wouldn’t want to be sitting that close to her. I have a really terrible gut feeling and I don’t think it’s just because she wanted my man.

I definitely don’t feel Bren any longer. It’s terrible. When we were in the amphitheater, it felt like I was sitting right next to him. All I want right now is to curl up in his lap and have him stroke my hair and back. I think I’m addicted to his touch.

They talk around me about where we’re going and the spot that’s been picked in the catacombs for leaving me. The map comes up in the air around us, and everyone’s seats swivel to face each other although the guy driving doesn’t bother to turn except briefly, as if noting where we should be heading.

It looks pretty standard to me but what do I know. I just want to have this all over with. Just a few more hours… I keep chanting that in my head, a soothing melody to drown out my nerves.

“This is the locking mechanism you will be tied into the chamber with.” Marquel picks something up off the floor by her feet. It looks like a metal collar attached to a chain! The horror must show on my face. “I know.” Her face is apologetic. “It’s really old technology but remember our laws for this are ancient and they were made and developed over time. The last time they were updated was over three thousand years ago. They were considered traditional and served the purpose.”

“So that gets put around my neck and then you drill the end into the rock or something? I’m getting collared like a dog?” What the fuck is up with these guys? This whole situation is pretty weird and I’m just trying to keep in mind that when this is over, I’ll be accepted. We can be happy and hopefully be left alone. By everyone!

“I’m not sure what a dog is—is that one of your Earth animals? Never mind.” She shakes her head as I nod. “The answer is yes. We will put this around your neck, but no drilling will be needed. There are already points set up in the catacombs for this purpose. The records clearly show where all of them are and it was just up to Vina to pick one.”

“So, there’s no worry of cheating on this though? Like someone getting the map and knowing where all the chain points are?” I’m very curious and have to ask. We don’t want anyone disputing this after the fact.

“No. The main reason is because there are so many scattered around the catacombs that it would take days to check them all. He either knows or doesn’t. Someone couldn’t memorize them and then find someone. It would take days. He only has two hours to find you. We will be going less than half that time in. Understand?”

Yes. I nod and take a deep breath. He can do this. I couldn’t but he can, right?

I’m distracted from this train of thought as we get closer and closer to what appears to be a big, rock mountain. I passed through the Rockies when I was a kid and this imposing mountain looks very similar in height. Twenty feet off the ground, is a small opening and we slow down as we enter. There are flood lights in a circle around the opening, but they only travel about twenty feet inside on either side. I see why we are in such a small hover vehicle. Slowly, we navigate through the tunnel. There are rocks and jagged formations protruding out from the sides. We wouldn’t want to scrape one of them. There are lights on the hover car all along the exterior and often I would see a flicker of animals in the lights, scurrying away.

I’m curious but not! In fact, I’m pretty sure if I start asking about their wildlife, I will definitely start over thinking this. They wouldn’t put me out there if there are things around here that could actually kill me, right?

I can feel us heading down and realize we must be traveling more into the underground. Everyone is quiet as we each look out the sides contemplating our own thoughts. I feel like I may have napped—time went so fast, but I don’t think I did. I’m too busy trying to keep calm and not let the environment get to me. But it isn’t long before we stop.

Everything happens so quickly after that! The driver and Vina step out and check on the ring drilled deep into the rock. There is a bit of banging out there while Marquel attaches the collar around my neck. She holds the end of the chain while I climb out before joining me under the lights on the exterior of the vehicle.

The collar doesn’t feel super tight, just heavy. It pulls me down with substantial weight because of the long, eight to ten-foot chain attached to it. I realize they probably don’t feel like it’s as heavy as I do. They are almost two feet taller than me and a lot more solid. I take my first careful step away from the vehicle on the rough, rocky ground. I’m surprised to notice it feels a bit spongy, like there is a layer on top that gives under even my weight and its color is more red than gray.

I stop thinking about any of this as they walk me over to the ring and attach the chain. They all leave to climb back into the hover car except Marquel who passes a small bag to me. In the lights of the hover car, she opens it to pull out a round disk she wraps around my wrist.

“This is a light. Push here,” she demonstrates, strategically turning the light away from our eyes as she puts it on. “Please don’t turn it on until we are a little further away. There is also a bottle of water.” Pulling it out, she clips the water bottle onto my chain.

“Will Bren have a key to this collar?” My hand unconsciously tugs as if testing its strength. Nope. I won’t be taking this off myself.

“Yes. But don’t worry, if there are any issues with the key he won’t have a problem getting you out of it.” I don’t question her before she turns and starts to walk away. “Best luck to you, Hannah Becker of Earth.”

I watch the doors to the hover car close behind her. It doesn’t even turn around. It just starts going backwards out of the tunnel. It isn’t super narrow here and as their lights recede, I turn on the light on my wrist. It easily illuminates the ten foot wide tunnel. The light carries fairly far in both directions. I’d say a good fifty feet each way.

Well, fuck. So now I just need to stay calm and wait for Bren to arrive. Two hours, that’s not long. Two hours. That’s the worst this can be. It’s not so bad.

Okay. Yeah. I do hear the occasional scurrying further down the tunnel and mostly out of sight. One of the reasons it wouldn’t have done any good to ask Marquel if there are any animals around is because I’m sure I can’t imagine what they would look like. They could look like a teddy bear but be the most dangerous animal on the planet. How would I know?

I don’t want to touch anything, but the day has worn on me. I’m tired and tempted to sit or lean against the wall. A faint tap tap tap, sounding like light footsteps travels to me from the way we were going when we came in.

That couldn’t be Bren, right? Wouldn’t he come from the way we did? It would make sense that they brought me in the quickest way. And don’t they need to totally get out before his time starts? How does that all work?

The footsteps seem to fade away and I decide that I’m not going to freak myself out. Mimicking the way Bren sits to meditate every morning, something I was never big on before I met him, I finally give into the urge and sink onto my butt cross-legged to try and relax as best I can.

Settling in and leaving the light on, I close my eyes and just try to concentrate on feeling him. Nothing—or nothing yet. I don’t know how much time passes but I do hear light, freaky sounds that I refuse to acknowledge. It smells musty and moist in the air and I can just imagine how much my imagination could run away if I let it.

Again, I hear the pitter patter of footsteps very faintly. Unfortunately, still off in the tunnel end that Bren probably won’t be coming from. Only this time it keeps getting louder. Opening my eyes, I look down the tunnel but don’t see anything. But I hear it. It’s quite clear.

In fact, there may be more than one thing coming! Just based on the sound of the footsteps I hear.

It’s almost on top of me before I realize it’s on the ceiling. And it’s big!