Chapter 60

*****Dani's POV*****

Little hands poke my cheek, as my vision blurs in attempts to find who they belong to.

I feel them suddenly pull at me - causing me to sit up, as I groan and stretch - noticing that my head was also aggressively thumping in severe pain.

I rub my sore eyes feeling generally deflated, before looking around and gasping drastically at my new surroundings!

There were hundreds... and I mean literal hundreds of children. All dirty, quiet and scared as they huddled around in what seemed to be a large cave like space.

"Dani..." I hear a small voice cry beside me, as I look down only to see little Viv herself with dirt stained cheeks and tired eyes.

"Viv! Oh my god Viv! Come here!" I instantly sob from the sight of her, as an overwhelming feeling of wanting to comfort every single one of these poor children begins to sink in.

I hold Viv tight as she sobs and cries in my arms, before continuing to stare around at the horrifying sight surrounding me.

The smell of urine and dampness was unbearable and there was no sunlight in this cave at all. I searched further, seeing no sign of water or food either as the children around sat silently - continuing to cough or cry.

They were all different ages, some as young as Viv and none seeming any older than say around twelve.

How long have they been in here...

"You..." I say shakily, pointing to one of the older boys nearby who hesitantly nodded before approaching us.

"How long... have you all been here?" I ask him softly, trying my best to hold myself together as Viv continues to cling to me.

"Well we... don't actually know miss... most of us have been here for years I think..." He shrugs, his eyes empty as he speaks.

"Do you know why you are here?" I then ask, looking for any clue as to what they wanted with these poor innocent children.

"Well uh... they make us work on the mountains sometimes... they also let us older kids help make weapons and stuff... they said we have to pay for our parents debt and when we work hard enough... they will let us go back home." He sighs at the end, seeming as though there was no hope left in him.

But there was hope... Axel was hope...

"Well have you heard about the King?" I perk up ever so slightly, as the boy just nods once.

"He knows that you're all here now... and he's going to save us!" I look him straight in the eyes and whisper, ensuring that I meant every word.

The boy studied me briefly with his pale blue eyes, before offering me a shaky nod in understanding of what I had said.

"I hope so..." He all but whispers, before loud buzzers begin to sound out - causing some of the children to cry and whimper loudly in response.

"What's going on?" I ask panicked - seeing the boys eyes grow wide from the sound - before the yelling of men soon come after as they enter the cave one by one roaring for everyone to get out.

The children scream and stumble towards the exit, as I remain seated holding Viv tightly to my chest unsure of what to do or say.

A rough looking guard soon clocks us as he approaches aggressively, fighting me briefly before winning a sobbing Viv out from my arms. I try to fight and take her back but another guard soon joins - pinning me to the wall as they carry Viv out of the cave with the others as she screams for me to save her.

"You bastard!" I yell at the guard, only to be shoved to the ground and left in the now dark and empty cave alone - hearing distant screaming and vans starting up from a far.

Are they just leaving me here to rot now? Was this my last shard of hope? My head continued to pound as I rubbed it and decided there was little point in looking for a way out since the older kids have probably already tried...

I stumbled to my feet, scrambling for any way to survive this... before a single thought comes to mind.

I can try again to mind-link Axel!

I decide to lean against one of the walls to steady myself, before closing my eyes briefly to calm myself as much as possible as I breathed in and out slowly.

I needed this to work...

"Axel... are you there?" I try to reach him, not fully understanding how to yet, as I fight to steady my mind.

I picture him, his tattoos, his eyes and even his precious wolf.

"Axel please... I need you..." I try again, waiting moments before releasing a sigh of defeat.

Why did I have to be a damn stupid weak human girl? My whole life has been a circus act of how weak I am. My own father even bullied me for being pathetic... and now I'm here trapped in this damn cave about to die! It just wasn't fair!

"Well, well, well... come out little angel... I won't hurt you..." I gasp at the sing song voice, echoing around the cave, as my eyes widen in fear.

I attempt to sink further into the wall I was against, praying for it to magically swallow me.

"C'mon angel... I won't hurt you... yet." His statement is followed by a dark laugh, as my breathing rapidly increases.

I wish I was strong... I wish I could fight... but there was nothing... I was just the same scared little girl I had always been... helpless and alone.

"Boo!" My heart drops, as the man jumps in front of me and laughs at my reaction.

"A-Axel...?" I whimper at the sight of him, unsure of what I was seeing since it was so dark.

The tattoos, the face shape, the hair, the build... even the eyes were the same...

"Mmm... I could be your new Axel if you want me to be babe..." He crouches In front of me, coming closer, allowing for me to take in his face fully.

I blink back the tears, confirming that it wasn't in fact Axel... however they were creepily similar!

"You're..." I struggle to speak, finding my voice raspy and dry.

"Cassio angel... it's an absolute pleasure to meet you finally!" He grins, a glint of amusement flashing in his eyes, before I am hauled to my feet and dragged towards the exit...