Chapter 4 The Dark Experiment
Chapter 4
Selene’s POV
The Dark Experiment
“Why exactly were you careless to the point of letting him see you?” I muttered in disappointment, under my breath, as I paced restlessly in my dorm room. My reflection in the mirror wasn't helping, but joined in the accusation.
“He saw way too much to ignore,” my wolf hissed from within me, clearly disturbed.
“I know about that.” in confusion, I raked my hands through my messy hair. “But that didn't help me to calm down. If I had ended up attacking him, that would have been a perfect way of further exposing myself."
“No need to coat words, you already exposed yourself.”
The voice wasn't just coming from my wolf, it was more of memory. The way Riven's mocking grin stubbornly sat boldly on one corner of his lip. "Well done."
I clenched my jaw, as I tried to convince myself that I was still in control. “He still can't explain who I am. He can’t because I didn't show me."
But, doubt refused to let go of my mind, settling down even in my skull.
The mask I had succeeded in building, felt thinner tonight, giving me the feeling that just one tug from either Cael or Riven could end up ripping it away.
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Later on, with map in my hand, I quietly slipped into the lower wings of the academy. By rules, I wasn’t supposed to be seen close to this area. None of us had the permission to come near. But that was where I found myself. For the fact that it was under strict restriction, even made it the perfect place to go.
As I moved, the stone corridors reeked of nothing else but dark secrecy, and mixed of blood. I tried whispering soothing words to calm my nerves, but my chest kept pounding.
“I will take left, then take down the stairs… and ensure to follow the broken seal…”
“You shouldn’t have come here,” my wolf warned, but I didn't listen.
“I don’t think I have any choice here.”
On arrival, the catacombs opened just into sight: and behold, the walls was filled with faded glyphs, which shone faintly the moment I touched them. I felt the power omitting from it, old and forbidden.
I knelt to its level, carefully studying the lines. “These are rogue marks,” I breathed calmly. “It seems they've been experimenting real hard here.”
Every mark screamed of nothing but blood spilled, of lives cruelly twisted into something unnatural. My bloodline’s screams happens to be boldly written into these walls.
As I was still examining the scenerio, I heard an approaching footsteps, but it was above, then voices. My entire body froze, my heart jumping out of my chest, as I listened.
“…another one’s finally gone,” that was said by a deep voice.
“Disappeared?” That sounded like Cael’s tone. I didn't need to think twice before I will know. It sounded cold, and controlled.
“Yes, sir. The last seen happens to be in the west courtyard. It's a candidate with the name, Risa. Her bunk was discovered empty. And the worst is, no one’s talking.”
My blood became iced, as I could not comprehend what lead to it. A student is missing, and there are proof.
“Make sure to seal the entrances,” Cael ordered as the one in charge. “If there happens to be someone who is hunting and is within these walls, do your best to find them. No one dares leave this academy without authorization from me."
“Yes, Alpha heir. I will do as you said.”
Their boots became louder than ever, but at some point, it started fading.
The echo of Cael’s command still clung to me like a second skin, even after the sound of boots died completely. Seal the entrances carefully. He was actually locking us all in...with a monster.
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My hand started shaking as I traced the glyphs. They’re seriously taking students secretly, testing, and torturing them at same time. The same way they did in clearing my bloodline.
My wolf snarled from within, and I was disturbed. “We should find a way to take our leave right now. Before they enventually catch you here.”
“No, that shouldn't be in our agenda now.” I curled my fist as I tried to hold myself, my knuckles turning white. “This is exactly the evidence I have been trying to get ever since I came here."
As I was still contemplating on what to do, something caught my eyes. It was half buried, and on a closer look, I discovered it was covered in dirt, and also with streak. I quickly lifted it to get a clearer view, holding it close to my chest, then I saw it. It was blood. And not just any blood, rogue blood. My kind of blood.
My chest tightened as my thoughts raised, doing my best to dictate what it was all about. My fury burning deeply, even to the point of getting to my ribs. “They haven’t stopped the rogue experiment. They are hell bent on destroying every rogue in this academy, just like they did to my family.”
This wasn’t an Academy as it appeared to be from the outside. It was customized slaughterhouse, deliberately dressed in banners and rules.
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I turned to finally take my leave, but I ensured to clutch the shard like my salvation depended on it. But all of a sudden, something from nowhere seized my ankle.
I froze as I wasn't expecting such, my breath locking so hard in my throat.
And to worsen it, my voice became very rasp, darkness taking over me, making me weak, and broken. "Help...m...e.."
I tried screaming, but before I could open my mouth, something shut it back. My teeth piecing deep into my tongue, my eyes darting to catch whatever was happening to me. Then, I caught a hand, pale and trembling, suddenly pushed through a tiny gap in the stones.
But it wasn't a guard, neither was it a prisoner. I couldn't figure he identity of the one behind it.
“Who’s there?” I whispered, my voice sounding very urgent, but I ensured it crouched low.
The hand twitched even more, then I noticed it move, to the point of gripping tighter. “They… they...took us to... Please, don’t let them do more of...”
Before the voice could finish, a crash was heard enchoing from above. Then, the next second, torches flared uncontrollably in the upper hall. I forcefully yanked my ankle free, my heart racing uncontrollably, then confusion steps in. I had no idea which I should do first, follow the faint voice warning me to escape, and the tiny one pleading that I help and grant freedom.
But in all of these, my wolf howled within me in panic, and I needed not to be told that trouble was brewing somewhere. "Run this minute, or risk being caught the moment they step in here!"
The hand reached out to me again, even more desperately, and the voices above getting closer each second. I had no idea which step I should take. If I leave, survival is sure. But what if I stayed back, will I end up saving the both of us, or getting us all killed?
My pulse accelerated, my chest pounding aggressively as I stared from the trembling hand in the wall back to the shadows rushing down the corridor. One choice would be to save myself. The other could automatically change everything. And unfortunately, I had just a heartbeat to decide.