Evanesce (The Darkness #2) (2 page)

Her hand came across a groove in the metal and she could have cheered with joy.
Thank fuck. I found it.
She balled her hand into a fist, ready to smash it out and get the fuck out of her pitch black hell. The car screeched to a stop and she was thrown backwards, tearing a frustrated scream from her throat as she lost the chance she needed.

The car rocked as a door was opened and slammed shut. Straining her ears, she heard footsteps and then the telltale sound of a lock clicking as the trunk was flung open. Blinking rapidly, she curled into herself, determined to not make it easy on him to get to her. Noticing for the first time that he had pushed back the hood covering his face, she studied him. Her label of nightmare man hadn’t been far off the mark. His eyes were a cold black, his head completely clean shaven. A large tattoo covered the left side of his face and disappeared under his shirt.

The man smirked in amusement at the girl’s useless attempt to hide from him. She was in a fucking trunk, just where did she think she could go? Shaking his head, he reached in and grabbed her, pulling her out in one fluid motion. Ignoring her pleas and struggling, he held her close, appreciating the way her body fit to his. She was a pretty little thing, full of spirit and fight. It had been quite a while since he’d broken in a woman. He had a feeling this one would be exceptional in the sack.
Maybe the boss will let me test out the merchandise…
He dismissed the thought as quickly as it came. She was a prisoner of Marcus’s. He needed to give his head a shake and remember what happened to people that disrespected the boss.

“Let’s go,” he commanded and dragged her kicking and screaming towards the building. Raising his eyes towards the heavens, he prayed for patience. He would much rather knock her unconscious, however the boss wanted her unharmed and he was already going to be in shit for the bruise on her face from his gun. He couldn’t risk leaving any more marks on her that he would have to explain.

“Look, knock it off, girl. There’s nowhere to run.” He roughly dragged her through the door, kicking it shut behind him. He was completely caught off guard when she suddenly spun and kneed him squarely in the balls; following it up with a sharp elbow to his chin. Doubled over, he fought to catch his breath.
Damn, this fucking bitch has balls.
Glancing up, he watched her struggle to get the door open, which of course was impossible. This was Marcus’s kingdom and you didn’t escape his castle unless he gave you permission.

Grabbing her by the upper arm he pulled her away from the door, cursing when she struck out again, this time with a right hook that packed more punch than he would have expected. “That’s it. Fuck this shit,” his temper snapped. Fuck the consequences, he was going to be the one carrying marks now and from a fucking girl, no less. Yanking her by the hair, he dragged her down the hall, ignoring her pleas to let her go.

“You can’t play nice, girl, well I’m done fucking around.”
Fucking stupid cunt.

Gasping for breath against the pain of her hair being ripped from her scalp, Brooke twisted and bucked, trying without avail to free herself from the strong arms dragging her down the dark hallway. At the end of that hall, who knew what awaited her. Reaching that destination was not an option. She knew in her gut she would never see the light of day again if he reached his goal.

Without warning, he tossed her effortlessly onto the ground. Landing with a
thud
on the cold concrete she was momentarily dazed.
Run!
she screamed at herself before scrambling onto her hands and knees. Just as she was about to sprint—he let out an amused chuckle.

“Don’t be stupid, girl.” He grabbed her ankle and with no mercy, dragged her through a steel doorway.

“No-o!” she bellowed, her fingernails fighting for traction on the hard cement. She didn’t even feel two of them rip from their nail beds.

Once they were inside, he barely tossed a glance in her direction before he slammed the heavy door, the click of the lock sealing her fate in hell.

Panting, tears racing down her cheeks, she fought the panic.
Don’t give up yet, Brooke.

“No sense in crying. Do you no good.” Yelping, Brooke spun around at the sound of a woman’s hoarse voice. Peering into the darkness, she could just make out a small figure huddled in the corner. Cautiously, she approached.

“Who-o are you? Can you help me? We need to find a way out!” she stammered. Why was this other woman just sitting there?

The woman let out a dry laugh. “‘Ain’t no escapin’. They come. They drag you out over and over until you give them what they want. And then….” she broke off.

Brooke sank to her knees in front of the other woman. Her eyes having adjusted to the dark, she could see that the woman was just a lifeless shell. Her skin hung off her bones, her fingers barely moving in her shackles. “And then?” she prodded. Fear was a slick feeling sliding down her back, seeping into her bones. She dreaded the answer, yet couldn’t stop herself from asking.

“And then they take the most precious thing we women have. They take the tiny lives.”

Confused, Brooke stared at her. The tiny lives? She couldn’t mean…

The low whisper confirmed any mother’s worst fear. “
They take our babies.”

Light filtered into the dirty, dank room. Opening her eyes, Brooke stared up at the ceiling. She was lying on her back in a small gray concrete room. There was no furniture, unless you counted the chains encircling the other woman’s wrists. She must have fallen asleep at some point, exhausted from her ordeal; her fight to get free. Her mouth was dry, her tongue like sandpaper and she desperately wished for a glass of water.

“The first morning is the worst.” The woman spoke in a quiet, raspy voice. Turning her head to look at her, Brooke still couldn’t quite believe what she saw. Who the fuck were these people? Chaining people up in dungeons?

“What’s your name?” Brooke blurted out. If the woman was surprised at her question, she didn’t show it.

“Names don’t matter here. Nothing matters here.” The dull tone of her response had Brooke getting up and approaching her with caution. Kneeling in front of her, she took the time to really study the woman. Her green eyes were dull, no spark in them at all. Eyes that had probably been bright with life, with hope, not that long ago. Her short red hair was matted and stuck to her forehead and she had a smell that indicated it had been quite a while since she had been given bathroom privileges. Still, none of that stopped Brooke from reaching out and squeezing her hand.

“Hey. Listen to me. I don’t know how yet, but I
will
get us out of here. I promise you. We will be free and going back to our old lives in no time. I promise.” The woman scoffed and looked away.

“Getting out of here ain’t an option. You don’t know anything.” She swiped a hand under her nose and regarded Brooke with a cold stare. These new ones, always coming in here with their hope and their promises. Hope was a dangerous thing, it breathed life into fantasies that would never come true. They had no idea that such notions had no place in this hellhole. The only way either one of them was leaving was in a body bag. The best thing she could do for this new prisoner was to rid her of her foolish thoughts before it got her killed much sooner than usual.

“I ain’t your friend and I don’t want your help. Get the fuck back on your side of this goddamn cell.” At Brooke’s shocked expression, she ignored her conscience pulling at her and lashed out harder.

“What, you deaf, girl? Get. The. Fuck. Over. There.” She used what little strength she had to kick out with her left foot, catching Brooke on the shoulder and knocking her off balance. Panting, she forced herself to keep up the cold façade until Brooke slowly gained her feet and moved across the room.
Good. Best she realize now she doesn’t have any friends in here.

Brooke sat in a silent shock at the other woman’s behaviour. She didn’t even know her name, since the conversation hadn’t gotten that far. It was clear the woman wanted nothing to do with her and she wasn’t about to beg for attention like a clingy child. She’d form her own plan of escape and since
Red
could clearly care less about what she had to say, she’d leave her ass behind. Crossing her arms, she glared across the room.
How dare she…

Catching herself, she relaxed. They were prisoners for fuck’s sake. Silent arguments weren’t the answer and were probably exactly what the sick bastards that had taken them wanted them to do. A clever distraction technique, but not one she was going to fall for. Pushing Red’s bad attitude aside, she headed for the door to their cell. Studying it, she considered all the angles before she took her hand and ran it along the edges searching for any loose pieces of steel.

Stopping at the hinge, she felt a small bump.
The screw is loose.
Letting out a small squeal of triumph, she pinched her fingers around the tiny screw and pulled with all her might. When that didn’t work, she wiggled it back and forth, determined not to give up. After several frustrating minutes, it began to give a little and she could have wept in relief.
A little more and I’ll have it…

Chancing a look behind her, she found Red watching her with disinterest. Frowning, she turned back to the door and continued working the screw loose. When it finally popped free, she almost cheered out loud, but managed to catch herself in time. With a smug look in Red’s direction, she walked back to her corner of the cell. Tucking the screw safely in the tattered sleeve of her cardigan, she straightened her spine. At least when they came for her, which they undoubtedly would, she had a weapon at her disposal.

Her joy was short-lived however, when she realized that her excitement had caused her full bladder to announce itself. Glancing around the room, she spotted a bucket on Red’s side of the cell. It was the only one in the room.
Oh, Hell no.

“Red. Hey, Red, look at me. I need to use the bathroom. Where is it? And don’t tell me it’s that disgusting bucket over there,” she pleaded. At Red’s smirk, she knew the answer, and she didn’t like it one bit. Standing, she sighed and made her way to the corner. Red at least had the decency to look away as she lowered her pants and squatted over the bucket. All sense of dignity left her in that moment. Her resolve dimmed as she was forced to stoop so low. How was it possible that just that morning she had been living her life, going to a job she loved…helping her patients, functioning like a normal human being—and now…now she was a prisoner. Kidnapped. Trapped in a dank hellhole with another woman, one who irrationally hated her. Depression threatened to engulf her, but as she stood and felt a trickle run down her leg, her anger came roaring back. She would
not
be a victim here. She would fight until she had no fight left to gain her freedom, and whether Red liked it or not, she was going to free her as well.

Rising from her squat, she pulled up her pants. Losing her balance, she collapsed against the wall. Exhaustion was pressing down on her. The roller coaster of emotions she was feeling were robbing her of the precious energy she needed to fight when the time came. Closing her eyes, she heard a soft whisper.

“You’re brave, I’ll give you that, girl.”

Several hours passed. There was no movement outside of their cell. Red was a statue. The woman never moved or even made a sound for that matter. The silence was driving Brooke slowly crazy as she waited to learn her fate. The scenarios playing out in her mind couldn’t be any worse than the truth behind why she had been brought to this place and who the mysterious person that ordered her capture was.

Ignoring the loud growling of her stomach, Brooke stood and stomped to the door. Raising her fists, she pounded furiously.

“Hey! Did you forget about us in here? Unless your plan is to starve us to death, we need some fucking food and water!” There was a tiny peephole high in the door. Brooke raised up on her tiptoes, desperate to see beyond the confines of the cell.
Where the hell is everyone?

“Girl, shut your mouth. You got shit for brains. You don’t know what you just asked for.” Red’s voice was angry, the first sign of emotion she’d showed since Brooke had arrived.

“Oh now you care? I can’t just sit here! Tell me, please. Who is holding us here? What was all that about taking our babies? I’m not even pregnant, and you sure as shit aren’t either,” Brooke snapped.

Red shot her a look portraying how stupid she really thought she was. A few moments passed before she answered.

“You may not be with child now, but that will change. Just as it changed for me,” the last part of her sentence was said so quietly, Brooke almost didn’t catch it. Red laid her head against the wall and closed her eyes, shutting down.

Before Brooke could press her further, there was movement in the hallway. Heavy footsteps approached and just as she stepped back from the door, it flung open with force. The same man who had taken her filled the entrance, his presence casting an ominous glow. Brooke backed up several feet before stopping herself taking a deep breath for courage.

“Let me out. You can’t keep us locked in here like animals,” she demanded. The man shrugged.

“You want out? My wish is your command,” his tone was like ice and her hair was caught in his hands in seconds. Dragging her behind him, he continued. “Not about to be caught on the receiving end of your claws again, girl.”

Digging her feet in and twisting her body only served to have more strands of her long brown hair ripped from her head as Brooke was dragged through the hallway. The pain was like a shot of adrenaline, it gave her strength she didn’t know she had. Ripping her nails down her attacker’s arm, she didn’t stop until she knew she had drawn blood.

“Fuck,” he burst out, shoving her face first up a set of stairs. Whipping around, Brooke stilled when a gun was pressed hard into her nose.

“I’m ten seconds from ending you, girl. Get your ass up those stairs before your brains become our new carpet.” His cold voice showed he meant what he said. Swallowing, Brooke followed his orders and climbed the stairs, her heart beating wildly in her chest with each step she took. At the top of the stairs, the man shoved her to the right, through an open doorway. Stumbling over her feet, she caught herself and glared at him; hate evident in her eyes.