A Runt Luna novel Chapter 42

"I am going to go for a quick run." Rory said. "Just to clear my head."

"I have to get back to the meeting but we can finish it a different time if you want me to go with you?" Kole said.

"No, that's ok. I will be back in time for dinner." Rory shook her head, needing the time alone and also not wanting to take Kole away from another one of his duties.

Rory shifted and began to head into the woods. She made it to the edge of the stream, before shifting and letting the smooth movements of the water calm her thoughts. Rory didn't hear the footsteps until it was too late and her world went black.

Her head throbbed as she regained consciousness. The first thing that she noticed was that she was cold and the air smelled terrible. Rory's heart raced as she slowly sat up, her eyes locking on hazel ones that were inches from her.

"What? I?--" Rory paused not even knowing what she was asking or going to say. The movement caused a sharp pain to occur behind her eyes and immediately shut them.

"Careful, you have a nasty wound." A small voice said. Rory frowned and took in the small girl sitting in front of her. The young girl had dull blonde hair, her face was dirty and she was pale. Rory took in the small room and noticed two other people in the dingy room.

"Where am I?" Rory asked, moving to sit up.

"We don't know. They don't let us outside." The small girl said.

Rory nodded and looked around and took in the other two boys. One of the boys looked to be a little older, maybe twelve, he had dark brown hair, and the other boy was leaning into him, and had light blonde hair.

"How old are you guys?" Rory asked.

"I am six, Drew is eleven and Ryan is eight." The little girl spoke.

"And what's your name?" Rory questioned.

"Alice."

"Nice to meet you guys, I am Rory." Rory said with what she hoped to be a friendly smile.

"How long have you guys been here do you think?"

"Often." The older boy Drew said with a shudder.

Rory frowned as she heard their captor again. They had to have been left alone for no more than ten minutes, and they spent it in silence. Their captor came into his dingy cell and stared at them, his eyes roaming over the four of them equally, however this time, Rory noticed that he was not alone. Standing behind him was a tall bulky man who had a scar running from his eyebrow to his jaw.

"Who am I going to take?" The man said, with a deep smirk, obviously hoping to frighten them. "I think I am going to take the little one."

Hearing the man's decision to take her, Alice immediately started crying as the bulky man came towards her.

"What are you doing?" Rory demanded only to be ignored. "No, leave her alone."

The men paid no attention to her, and went to unlock Alice's chain and Rory knew that she had to help in any way that she could. Almost without thinking about it, Rory took her free leg and kicked the man in the back of the knee, causing him to fall sideways. She almost regretted it, as the man turned towards her his eyes with fury.

"Ok, girly. You want to play. Let's play." The man growled, gesturing for the bulky man to grab her instead. The man unlocked her shackle, grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to her feet. Her scalp was burning, as she was pulled down the hallway, her head pounding from the previous injury.

Before she could do anything to get away from her captors she was strapped to a cold metal table, medical tools lying flat and menacing to the side of her.