Chapter 72: Where Are We Going?

Chapter 72: Where Are We Going?
Ebony Winters POV:

I wanted to know one thing more than anything right then, but I had a strange feeling that this one, older man wasn't going to reveal the true meaning of what he said about a prophecy. That, and the fact that it had something to do with me.

As far as I recalled, Nic had never mentioned anything about this sort of thing... So, what could all this actually mean? Could this all be some sort of big misunderstanding, or was there more to it than just the eerie look and sickening feeling of this raspy old man? I mean, was I really supposed to be here?

"Clay, be sure to watch her closely," the older man's raspy voice called out in a low tone without him having to turn around and look at me. Instead, he decided to look over at Dylan, still standing there beside him, when he continued, saying. "You there, come with me. In the meantime, be sure to keep her quiet."

Wait, what was happening right now? I don't think I could scream right even if I wanted to. Hey, where were they going? I thought to myself as I watched the two of them vanish out of sight into the next darkened room. I rolled my head over to the side as I looked up at Clay, just as my mind went blank.

'Oh, Nic, where are you? Why aren't you here with me right now?! Why can't I reach you?' I tried to say from deep within my mind, but I didn't hear anything in return.

I closed my eyes, feeling a sense of worry, and wondering if something bad had happened. That's when I suddenly got the urge that I would need to relieve myself. To try to ease this sudden feeling, I forced my knees to draw up off the table as I dragged my heels along the raw feel of the wood.

I couldn't help it as I cried out softly and turned just in time to see the shocked reaction of Clay as he nearly jumped at me just for moving. It was like he couldn't believe it when he saw my legs lifting off the surface of the table. I hope he didn't think I was going to run, cause that was out of the question. Him and his buddy certainly saw to it that... that, wouldn't happen.

"Oh, no, you don't," Clay called out as he quickly reached forward, grabbing each of my legs, right below my knees, on my bare skin just as he forced them back down to the table top.

He moved in such a quick manner that it made the lower edge of my dress come up to around the level that rested right above both of my knees, as I forced my hands down to hover right above my... Oh no, please not again...!

I swallowed hard, seeing exactly where Clay's eyes lingered. How was Nic going to be able to find me in a place like this? Just as Clay was starting to loosen his grasp, as I figured he was going to grab me somewhere unpleasant, I heard a sound coming from the open doorway.

"You see, she is right over here," said the raspy man's voice as he entered the room.

I let go of the breath that I didn't realize I had been holding right then as both Clay and I looked in the direction of the sudden voice. This time, my eyes went wide when I saw them return. They had another man walking up with them. This other man wasn't like the others. He was tall and slender.

I wasn't sure what to think now. I couldn't believe that I've managed to find myself surrounded by four men who I doubt had my best interests in mind. I had absolutely no idea as to what their plans were for me. However, from what I could tell, I don't think any of it was good.

"Well, well, well, she is a treasure," said the tall, slender man as he reached the position to stand at the end of the table down by my feet. As he quickly looked me over, he even reached one hand up and began to rub the end of his chin, and even winced his eyes when he examined the tops of my lower legs. When he finally spoke next. "However, it's a shame she's spoiled."

"If you take a look here, you'll see she has unique features," said the older man's raspy voice as he walked up to stand beside my head. "Her eyes are the deepest green you would ever see."

He even pushed Clay out of the way as he reached for a fistful of hair. I couldn't help it as I winced at the sudden jerking motion of my head to the side. I didn't know what to think. And even worse, I don't think I like the way this conversation was going.

"She would've been much more fun if she hadn't been dragged here nearly the entire way by the looks of things," the slender man spoke up once more as he glared at both Clay and Dylan right then. "However, I won't be able to tell unless I get a better look at her."

"Yes, very good," the older man called out as he snapped his fingers, looking at both Clay and Dylan.

I wasn't exactly sure what to take from this new conversation. Suddenly, each of the two men walked up to me and grabbed a hold of my upper arm in one hand and my wrist with the other. What were they doing now? Each of them jerked me about, just as I tried to pull back from either of them with no avail.

They set me up, forcing my body forward all before they forced me to a standing position. By the height of the table, I wouldn't have been able to remain standing up straight because of how they were holding onto my upper arms. So, instead, they practically fought each other, trying to decide which side of the table they should drag me off of when they both forced me to come off at the end of the table.

If I were being honest, I don't think either of them thought this through as they forced the tall, slender man to take several steps back out of the way. He even narrowed his eyebrows as he crossed his arms in front of himself.

"Now that she is standing upright," the older man's raspy voice rang out just as he walked up to stand behind me. "You can see her features much better.

"Not as good as I would like," said the tall, slender man as he turned on his heels and faced away from me before he added, "Now follow me."

The raspy older man reached up and grabbed the tops of both of my shoulders, pulling me back slightly when he said, "What are you waiting for? Follow the man..."

I started to shudder at the feel of the older man's grasp on my shoulders. Please not this...