Chapter 69 Reaper 46

Chapter 69 Reaper 46
“Bethany?”

Bethany’s eyes didn’t want to open. She didn’t know the voice that was calling her name, but somehow it cut through the fog. And her head hurt.

A lot.

What the hell had happened? As her lids fluttered open, she struggled to put the pieces together. It was such a jumble.

And her head hurt.

“Rory…” She crawled to the prone body of her friend, gathering her up in her arms. “Rory, wake up.” She whispered. “Please wake up.”

Rory’s eye lid fluttered, and Bethany let out a breath of relief. Thank god for that.

“What happened?” Rory struggled to sit up right, she looked a lot better than Bethany felt, that was for sure. Bethany gazed about the room, it was in shadows and hard to make out, but she could see the hulking shadows of furniture. The whole place stank of rotten wood and damp. The carpet felt damp with mildew under her hands, yet still seemed to let out a plume of dust with the slightest of movements.

“I don’t…” Everything was mixed up in her brain. “Know.” Bethany clutched her head in her hands, the palms coming away with blood. The last thing she remembered was approaching the car she had assumed was Eric and Anita’s. And then nothing but a spark of pain and blackness.

Did someone knock her out?

Why would Reaper's parents do that? She groaned.

“You’re hurt.” Rory’s face was worried as she searched the wound on Bethany’s head with her fingertips, making her wince and pull away. She waved her friend away, before changing her mind and clutching her to her. “I am so glad you aren’t dead.”

Rory’s smile was a flash of white in the dark, but she didn’t laugh. “I’m glad you aren’t dead as well.”

“My head hurts too much to be dead.” Bethany tried to joke. “Have you seen Liv?” Bethany’s breathing was coming in gasps, as she looked around the room. It was dark outside, and the room was bathed in shadow. It was getting harder and harder to see.

How long had she been knocked out?

“Liv?” She called out tentatively. Not knowing where she was, wasn’t doing her anxiety any good.

“She’s not here.” Bethany froze. That voice again. Somehow familiar yet she didn’t know it.

“Where is she?” Rory’s voice was stony, and Bethany felt her scoot up close to her.  Reaching for her hand.

“She’s safe.” The voice was blatantly female but flat. Lacking emotion.

“Mae?” Rory’s voice is uncertain.

Bethany frowned. Mae? The tech girl Requiem had been speaking to?

The same Mae that had phoned with a message from Reaper?

What was she doing there?

Bethany launched herself into the darkness. Screaming her fury as she reached for the mysterious Mae.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Mae had curled herself into a ball as Bethany’s hands rained down on her head and body. But she didn’t make a move to fight back.

“Where is my daughter?” Bethany’s breathing was ragged as rage overtook her. If this woman had hurt her child, then she would kill her. She wrapped her hands around the slender throat and squeezed. Mae made a gurgling sound in the back of her throat.

“She’s not here, she was never here. She’s safe I promise!”

“Bethany,” Rory’s voice was steady. “Bethany stop, look at her. She’s just as much a prisoner as we are.” Bethany let herself be drawn back. Glancing about the dark room.

It was just a normal room, and she didn’t know why she was so surprised. What had she been expecting? Bars on the window and chains on the floor?

“I’m getting out of here.” She strode towards the door.

“It's locked, I’ve already tried it. Got myself punched for my trouble.” Mae smiled ruefully, and Bethany had her first good look at her, as she stepped into the little light that came from the window.

One side of her face was a mass of blue and purple bruises.

“Why were we taken?” Rory’s voice was small.

“I don’t know, honestly I was just employed to hack your computers, I never meant for it to go this far.” Mae was sobbing again, covering her face. “And then they wouldn’t let me leave. I don’t think they really want either of you, especially you.” She leveled her eyes on Bethany. “You were just an easy way to get to…”

“To get to the men?” Rory finished it for her.

“And you.”

“I’ve heard them speaking, you are just bait. They don’t care what happens to us as long as your mates come to get you.”

Bethany paled. “What do you mean, they don’t care what happens?”

“The men,” Mae sobbed. She looked so young. Barely an adult. “We are part of their reward.”

Bethany felt sick. “You are talking about rape and murder! Why would anyone… ?” She trailed off. She knew better than anyone, the monsters that lurked out in the world.

Was rape and murder such a huge leap, from kidnapping two unarmed women by the side of the road? One of whom had only given birth a few days earlier.

“Someone tried to rape me once before; I didn’t let it happen then, and I won’t let it happen now.” Rory stood up on shaking legs. She began pacing. Her anger vibrated off of her in waves.

“No one is raping anyone.” Bethany joined her friend at the window, trying the catch. It wouldn’t budge. Painted over years ago by the looks of it.

“Can you get a message to Requiem?”

Mae lowered her eyes.

“What have you done?” Bethany’s voice shook. “Mae what have you done!”

“They made me, they made me send the coordinates and they…” She paused, letting herself be taken over by hiccupping sobs. “They took photos of both of you when you were asleep. Your men will be on their way, and then they will die, but not before they make them watch what they will do to us.”

Rory growled, and for a second Bethany thought she saw her tiny friend's eyes change.

“Rory, are you a shifter?” Bethany couldn’t help but ask. If they had a shifter on their side, they might be able to take their captors. “Are the men who took us shifters or human?” Bethany crossed her fingers. Please say human. Against human men they might just have a chance. Especially if Rory was a shifter.

“I have shifter blood, but I can’t shift.” Rory sounded desolate as she settled herself back against the wall. “God, I miss Noah. I can’t believe I'm only going to get to spend a few days with him. It's not nearly enough time.” She began to cry again. “I wanted to raise him, watch him grow into a man just like his dad. Maybe see my own grandbabies.”

“No one is dying here tonight Rory, you will see your baby grow up. But I need to know, are you a wolf?” Bethany had lowered her voice into a whisper as she knelt by her friend. Motioning for Mae to scoot next to them.

“No one is dying, and no one getting raped either. We aren’t helpless. Rory, is your animal a wolf?” She asked again. An Icey calmness had washed over her.

“Yes, but I can’t shift.” Rory sounded bitter.

“Well your eyes just did, are you sure you can’t shift? Have you actually ever tried?”

Rory paused. “Well no, I was pregnant when I found out.”

“There you go then, I have a plan.” Bethany groaned softly, the pain in her head making her vision blurry. “I’m not going to let Reaper die trying to save me, and I’m not going to leave my daughter motherless either.”

“What’s the plan?” Mae’s voice was hopeful. Her brown eyes wide. “They have weapons.”

“So do we.” Bethany’s eyes drifted to the old bed and its ratty mattress, its sharp springs poking out. She began to tell them her idea, talking in hushed whispers. Thankful that their captors didn’t have the super hearing of shifters.

Rory was staring at her with determined eyes, her mouth set in an angry line. “I will need one as well; in case I can’t shift.”

Bethany nodded. “Be ready when they come in, and whatever happens, as soon as a gun gets dropped, grab it. Don’t do anything else. Go for the gun.”

They nodded eagerly.

“And fair warning, I’m going to break your nose when this is all over.” She leveled her gaze on Mae’s still form.