Chained (The Siren Series #2) Read online

  Chained

  By

  L.A.Griffiths

  Chapter One

  Pete arrived at the Laveau house, ready to see his daughter again after sorting out the morbid details for his sister’s funeral. He had decided that he would only have a few attendees since there was no family from his side and they didn’t have many friends. This is why he didn’t want Ellie to be with him. He didn’t want her to worry like she did last time. He had tried to protect her in any way he could, but this was something he could not shield her from. Pete pulled up in the driveway and powered down the engine. He paused at the wheel, willing himself to move from the seat but he just sat there and deeply sighed.

  “Come on, Pete. You need to do this.” He said to himself.

  Pete pushed open the door and locked the car with one press of his keys. He stood outside looking up at his home, wishing for everything to go back to how it was. His hand trembled on the door handle. Pete clenched his fist to try and get rid of the nerves. He tried again. He had to be strong for Ellie and show that he could bear the weight of it all, to show her that there was nothing to worry about. He hadn’t been sleeping well at night and it showed on his face. He was ready to paint the fake smile on again. He opened the front door to expect Ellie to run up to him and hug him tightly as she used to do, but as the door slammed shut there was nothing.

  “Ellie, I’m home!” Pete called out.

  He waited in the hall for an answer. “Ellie?” he called out again.

  Something wasn’t right. Pete walked into the living room to see that the TV was still on. The television played an afternoon talk show that he had no interest in. He walked through the living room and into the kitchen. All was left was an empty plate sitting in the sink.

  “Ellie, Ellie?” His voice started to creep with panic.

  He picked up his pace and headed up the stairs and into Ellie’s bedroom. Pete held onto the door handle as he felt his heart drop. Some of Ellie’s draws had been opened. There were clothes scattered on the floor and a few missing items from their rightful places.

  “Ellie!?” fear had gripped him and it wasn’t letting go.

  Pete quickly ran down the stairs. His mind raced with horrible thoughts that he didn’t want to entertain. There, sitting on the sofa was Ellie’s phone. He snatched at it and searched through, thinking it could answer all of his questions. There were old text messages wishing Ellie to get better and a few asking what were her plans. Then the voice of reason appeared to give Pete some comfort.

  “God I hope she’s in school.” He prayed. “But why take her clothes?” another voice popped into his head making him feel worse.

  Pete picked one of the girls number from the phone and decided to ring it. He picked Lilly’s and the phone started to ring. After four rings a whisper answered the phone.

  “Ellie? Is everything ok?” Lilly whispered on the phone.

  Just hearing Lilly thinking it was Ellie filled him with dread.

  “Uh, no it’s her Dad.” Pete had to resist the urge to start panicking. “Lilly, is Ellie there at school with you?” He held his breath.

  There was silence on the other end.

  “No, she’s not.” His world collapsed.

  He ended the call without saying his goodbyes, and the phone fell from of his grief stricken hands.

  Chapter Two

  Voices filled my ears. Someone was talking over me. Their stale breath filtered into my nose. There was more than one person, and they were all talking at once, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. I think they were arguing amongst themselves.

  I couldn’t move. My limbs were lifeless, and I was at their mercy. I wanted to get up, to run away, but my body felt heavy and light at the same time. My head pounded in sync with my own heat-beat and I felt like at any minute, I would float away and be rid of all this. Away from whatever had me in its grasp.

  “Stick her downstairs, and keep an eye on her!” One of the voices shouted.

  Where? Where am I going? Panic flooded in and I tried to keep calm. I was picked up and man-handled as they dragged me away. Then the smell hit me like ton of bricks. I was reminded of the deepest horrors I would rather try and keep locked away. The leaches dragged me away while their talon nails dug into my arms. I wanted to scream, flail my arms around, but my entire body was paralyzed, I was useless.

  My poor vision failed e as I tried to make out my surroundings. Dark bloodied stone pass me by, as I was carried down to whatever hell they had in store for me. A creaking noise echoed throughout and I was thrown up against something solid and pain spiked up and down my back. I screamed out in joy, I could still feel pain. That was a good thing; I wasn’t dead, not yet.

  Something cold made its way around my weak wrists and again I heard the creaking noise. Then there was silence, no voices, nothing. I tried to get to my feet but something pulled me back, slamming my body back into the wall. I then realized that I was chained up like a filthy animal. I try to scream, but every time I did my throat would seize up. Again I try to struggle against the clanging metal, but the chains that bind me were strong.

  Finally my eyes adjust to the darkness and they revealed a small dark cell without any windows. The walls were gripped with mould and dirt. It traveled along the dark stone and up to the ceiling. It was disgusting, and I was living in it. At the front of the cell stood a large rusted metal door with a tiny spy hatch attached. They just want to see me suffer.

  I slump to the floor in defeat. I wish Rhea was here. Then my mind exploded with memories, it all came flooding back to me. The house, the monsters, and what had happened to Rhea and Sophia. I hope they made it out ok. It was my entire fault, I wish I never had these stupid powers, and then everything would be ok. I wouldn’t be chased by monsters and turning people into crazed animals. I was a danger to myself and others around me. Remembering what happened also brought back the pain. My body burned with the bite marks that the leaches left. I tried to ignore the pain as best as I could but tears trickled down my cheeks and fell onto the black stone floor. Without thinking I tried to wipe them away but the chain would clang and the cold metal bit into my wrist.

  More tears fell down my face. I wanted to be strong; I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of seeing me crying on the floor. Then my heart started to pound inside my chest. Outside my cell there were muffled footsteps. With each step they became louder and clearer. Then there was silence. I held my breath as I could hear the bolts of the old door move into place. My heart thumped rapidly inside my chest as the rusted door opened, filling the room with a familiar stench. I gagged on the powerful aroma as the creature stalked into my small cell. Seeing the leach again was still frightening as it was the first time. He sniffed the air around him and his inhuman face landed in my direction and smiled a sharp grin.

  It slowly slunk towards me with it sick twisted smile on its filthy scabby black lips. I tried not to scream as the disgusting monster was just inches away from my face. Then a thought came, it was a stupid one but I had to try. I quickly got up on my feet and brought out my leg and tried to kick at the monster. The leach quickly caught my leg and dug its nails deep into my calf. My leg stung with pain as I tried to wrestle it out of its filthy grip. Finally he released, and I fell to the floor trying to clutch at my wounded leg. The hideous monster just stared down at me licking its lips.

  “What do you want?” I tried to ask

  It didn’t answer, I don’t even know if they could talk. Then while I felt sorry for myself he pulled out a syringe filled with the same black substance I remembered at the manor. My eyes shot open as he started to play around with it between his claws. I backed up from him but it was no use. He came c
loser to me and I tried to scream. He stuck the syringe into my neck and the room began to spin and sway. That same feeling of weightlessness washed over me. I tried to fight against the sedative but it was no use, I was losing the battle. I sat there, slumped on the floor as I watched the leach walk away.

  While I was in and out of consciousness, moaning groans and terrifying screams pierced my ears. More shrill screams carried throughout the cells, and I just wanted to curl up in a corner and close my eyes tight. I just wanted to shut it all out for good.

  I woke up with my face on the floor. My entire body felt weak and there was a tingling sensation running through my battered body. I tried to lift my head up but I felt like it was filled with bricks. I just laid on the floor, staring at the door hoping for it all to stop, hoping for it all to end.

  Hours or even days passed without anyone disturbing my numb sleep. I could still feel the black fluid flowing throughout my body. It made every nerve inside feel fluffy and numb at the same time. Deep down I never wanted the feeling to stop and that scared me more than anything. It prevented me from thinking straight and that’s what they wanted from me, numb and lifeless.

  Then I was awoken from my sleep by more footsteps on the cold ground. The chains rattled as I tried to stand but my balance failed me and I fell back down onto my knees. The affects of the drug were still in my system. The door was pulled open and stale air filled up my still breathing lungs.

  “Please, no more injections.” My weak mind thought.

  In walked a human man who looked oddly familiar. He came closer to my face and he smelled fresh, something I hadn’t smelt in a while. This was no leach. The mysterious stranger came closer into my cell carrying something with both hands.

  “You hungry?” the voice asked. The oddly familiar man carried a metal tray, with what looked like sludge along with a half a cup of water.

  His voice, I’ve heard it before. I couldn’t be sure since my mind was in fragments, but inside my mind I knew that voice. Then he came closer and I saw his deep blue sea eyes penetrating through the darkness. I stared into them and I could feel myself being drawn in. I pulled away as everything came into place. I tried to speak but my throat was too dry.

  My mind burst with questions and I needed answers, but as soon as I could form a sentence inside my mind it would float away from my grasp.

  Dr. Moss placed the plastic cup to my lips and I eagerly drank from it. The water was a bit warm and stale but I welcomed anything at that moment. Then he quickly snatched it away before I could quench my thirst.

  “No all at once.” He said.

  “Are you going to free me?” My throat burned while I tried to talk.

  Dr. Moss didn’t answer.

  “Please.” I begged.

  “Ellie, I’m not here to help you.” He placed the cup back into my mouth. “I’m with them now.”

  As he spoke the words my heart dropped. There was no rescue for me.

  I finished what was inside the cup while staring into those deep eyes of his.

  “Why!” I wanted it to come out as a scream but a mere whisper escaped.

  “It’s complicated. I don’t want to be here.” He said “but I cannot free you, I’m sorry.”

  “My neck.” I turned my heavy head and showed him the many track marks from the needle.

  He looked disgusted by it but did not offer any words.

  “What do they want from me?” I asked.

  Dr Moss didn’t answer he just placed down the metal tray covered with slop. I looked down at the unappealing so-called food and kicked the tray away, splattering it up against the wall.

  “You will need you strength for what is to come and maybe the next person who comes in won’t be so sympathetic.” He left the tray and exited the cell leaving me in darkness again.

  I wanted to scream till my lungs burst, but my throat brought me nothing but pain. I wanted to scream at Dr. Moss for letting them do this to me. How could he just sit back and let them drug me, and he was so nice at the hospital. Lies, it was all just lies. Something nagged at me about what he said. I would need all my strength? I will never help them in any way; I’d rather stay here and starve.

  Just thinking about food made me hungry, but there’s no way I’m eating that slop. The food that spilt onto the walls had already started to form a hard crust around it. Finally admitting defeat for now, I tried to find a comfortable position. I then waited.

  More screams and curdle cry’s of pain filled my ears. Were they torturing people down here? I hope I’m not next on their list, I had no information to give them. The screams got louder and more terrifying, I just wanted them to stop. As I tried to think clearly, my thoughts would disappear from my grasp or I would forget simple words to hold a sentence together. Soon the numb wave was back and I could feel myself slipping away back into the darkness where it scared me the most.

  Pain dragged me back into the harsh reality. My wrists were now covered in specks of dried blood. The metal shackles were cutting into my flesh. I looked carefully at the cuffs around my wrists, the pain was growing and I needed to get them off. I looked them over but there was no key hole or a way to undo them. I tried to pull them off or to loosen, but they brought me more pain. I wanted to scream with frustration, but I couldn’t. I needed to get out of this place before I go mad. I was so busy with my wrists that I didn’t notice that there was someone looking down at me. I peered up and two leaches stood over me with their sick twisted smile.

  I tried to back away from them but there was nowhere to go. The leaches easily unlocked my chains and forced me onto my feet. For the first time I could feel a tiny bit of relief. I looked down at my wrists; there were deep slashes across them. I tore my eyes away from them only to be ushered out of my cell.

  “Where are you taking me?” I asked with my frail voice.

  They didn’t answer; they just pushed me forward and out of the cell. The room beyond my cell looked familiar. The same stains stuck to the floor, along with pools of blood dotted around the many cells entrances. Each room was numbered, I looked back at my so-called room, and I was number six. As I walked past the many doors I could hear screams and whimpering coming from the rusted out-doors. I held onto myself as the leaches behind me snarled and prodded me. My body was weak, but I didn’t want to fall in front of these creatures, they would only enjoy seeing me suffer.

  We came to a set of stairs that led up and out of the dungeons. Carefully, I took each step at a time. I tried to catch my breath when I finally reached the top.

  “Where are you taking me?” I asked again.

  They just snarled and pushed me forward.

  We walked down a darkened stone floor corridor and along the walls were scratches and specks of blood. The three of us walked through a badly battered door and one of the leaches pulled me to a stop. I stood there waiting in a dimly lit area covered with dirty stone walls. I stood there shivering from the bitter cold. I was still dressed in my jeans and top but they were in shreds. The leaches stood beside me as if they were waiting for something. Around me gas lamps burst into flame and colour filled my vision.

  At one of the side doors, out came a tall and well built man, and accompany him was Dr. Moss. They strode over towards a throne-like chair that was the focus of the entire room. The well built man took his seat while smiling gleefully at me. The doctor stood at his side with his head down at the floor.

  Chapter Three

  “It’s finally nice to see you awake, Siren” The man’s voice carried throughout the stone filled walls.

  “Dr. Moss.” I tried to get his attention but the doctor didn’t answer. He remained with his head bowed to the floor.

  The well built man looked at the doctor and laughed. “He cannot help you, you are mine now.”

  “I’m no ones.” I said weakly.

  The man roared laughing in his chair. He sat forward in his seat as if he and I were the only ones in the room. “You are mine until I am done with you, litt
le Siren!” He almost spat the words out.

  The gas lamps lit up all his features on his scared covered face. He had long black hair that stuck to his sweaty face and deep pink scars under both eyes. His nose was straight but curved at the tip. He might have been good looking once, but time was no friend to him.

  Around me the leaches closed in. They all bowed their heads and I was stuck in the middle along with the other two standing beside me. I was slowly getting scared by the second, was this it? Would I die here?

  “What do you want?” I asked him.

  “Well I want your power, that’s all.” He said “you can join us if you wish?”

  “I will never help you. Just kill me now and get it over with!” I tried to shout.

  “No, no, my dear, you are far too valuable to kill. Maybe a few more days in the cell will change your mind?”

  “No, please!” I cried out. I didn’t want to go back down there. I had to get out of here. I closed my eyes and tried to find any ounce of energy I had left. I opened my mouth and tried to scream with all the energy I had. My throat closed up and my head began to swim. I suddenly lost my balance and fell to the floor. My mind began to spin and all the colours began to merge into one. Around me laughter and snarls filled the room.

  “That stuff we’ve been injecting into you. It’s to stop your abilities; you are powerless against us all.” Again he erupted into laughter “and it’s all thanks to the wonderful doc’ here. He’s quite the genius when it comes to chemicals.”

  His words ran straight through me like shards of glass. I was powerless and alone. I clenched my hands into fists.

  I looked up to Dr. Moss with anger and he still had his head down, he wouldn’t meet my gaze.

  “Someone get her up, it’s a bit depressing.” said the man sitting in the throne-like chair.

  The leaches beside me grabbed onto my arms and pulled me up onto my feet. I pulled back and thrust my fist across one of the leach’s face and hit it hard. Pain shot though my hand and I clenched it against my chest. There was silence, no one spoke. The bruised leach looked towards his master for his approval and he replied with a nod. The creature brought the back of his hand against my face and sharp pain cut against my skin. I stood my ground. Blood trickled down my cheek, he had nicked my skin.