章 28: Chapter 26
...
I take several steps back but he advances even quicker. I try to scream and run, but three other men in black cloaks step out of the shadows. How did I not notice them before?
"There's no point in trying to escape," the man says.
I'm gagged and my hands are tied.
"Now one more thing." He pulls out a sheet of paper, some ink, and a quill. Then he reads aloud as he writes. "Prince Ashton, if you want your little girl back, meet us at the place where you were taken captive. Signed, The Blacks."
I struggle against the men but they're too strong.
The largest of the men slings my slender body of his shoulder like I'm merely a sack of potatoes. Another man blindfolds me. We walk for what seems like ages. At one point I can tell that we've gone outside. Finally, I can hear a door open and we enter a room.
They set me down and take my blindfold off. I hear them leave behind me. Once my eyes adjust completely, I look around. We appear to be in a small hut that is all too familiar.
"Hello Iris," a voice says behind me.
I slowly turn from where I'm sitting and face Isabella. Why does this keep happening? Everyone I loved or trusted has decided to be part of this disgusting group.
I can't say anything since I'm still gagged so I just glare.
She laughs. "You're so adorable when you're mad."
Then a man comes in. I recognize his voice as the man who first confronted me. Before he was hooded, but now I can see his face clearly. He's an older man with gray hair and shockingly blue eyes. A scar runs across his cheek.
"Hello my dear," he says as he enters. He give Isabelle a hug and then kisses her. "Hello Iris," he then says turning towards me.
I don't look at him.
"I don't think I've properly introduced myself. I'm Josiah, and I believe you've met my wife Isabella."
I still don't look up but I say, "So you're the leader of The Blacks?"
"Yes. That would be me. But I suppose you already know this from reading the journal."
"I didn't get to read it," I mutter.
"Pity. I'm sure you would've enjoyed it."
"What do you want with me?"
"The better question would be what do we want with you. You're young, brave, beautiful, talented, and a girl."
"I would never help you."
"And that is where you're wrong my dear. Boys! You can bring them in."
The three men come back inside and what I see make me loose all feeling. In front of me is a tied and gagged Sonia. She looks terrified and has a small gash on her cheek. But what's even worse is the person next to her.
"Zander?" I whisper. "How?"
"It was really quite simple. Zander has a brother who is a year older than him. They practically look like twins so we kidnapped him and killed him," Josiah says like it's completely normal.
"But he was under supervision."
"I think you underestimate us, Iris. There are plenty of my own capable men at the castle. During the night, Zander was switched with his brother."
At these words, Zander begins struggling. The look in his eyes is savage. He wants blood and revenge. I cry out when one of the men punches him in the stomach, and he doubled over in pain. Then he gets hit in the head.
"Stop it!" I cry out.
"What? You don't like seeing them in pain?" Josiah asks with an evil laugh. "I'll make a deal with you. These two can go, if you agree to work with us."
I hesitate.
Zander has somehow managed to get his gag down and cried out, "Don't do it Iris!"
"Shut up you fool," Josiah says. He walks over to Zander and slaps him.
"I'll do it!" I yell as he prepares to hit Zander again.
He drops his hand, smiles, and says, "I knew you would come around."
"On one condition. You have to promise not to hurt or bother any of the people at the castle."
"I can agree to that." Then he grabs Zander's shirt and pulls him close. "If you say a word about this, and I will find out, she's dead." He points to me.
Zander and Sonia are forced out of the room and Isabella reenters. "Soldiers," she says. "They're searching for her."
"Get her in the cellar immediately," Josiah says. Then he goes outside.
Isabella pulls me by my hair into the bedroom. There she opens a door that blends in with the ground. She pulls me down a few dusty steps. I trip multiple times because I am still tied up. She closes the disguised door and everything goes black. I can hear many pairs of boots in the house above us. Suddenly, there's a knife to my neck as I hear them directly above us.
"If you say anything," she hisses. "You're dead."
I begin to tremble underneath her grasp. Finally I hear them leave. Tears begin to form in my eyes. Rescue was so close, yet so far away. After a few more minutes, she leads me back up into the room I was previously in. Josiah enters and says, "They didn't suspect a thing. The prince was even here."
That night, I'm tied to a chair in the same room. I hear them go into their own room to sleep. Tears roll down my face. The ropes burn and I'm extremely uncomfortable. A couple of hours pass and I came fall asleep even though I'm exhausted.
All of a sudden, the door creeks open. My heart races because I'm facing the other way and cannot see who is entering. I feel the ropes fall off my wrists. Then as he moves around to cut my ankles, I can see him clearly. I almost cry out I surprise.
"Samuel? This is dangerous. You could be killed!"
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