24: Kelsie

The first twelve hours…

Being stuck in here is not the worst thing I have ever experienced. In fact, it is actually a nice break from Richard and gives me time to plan my next moves. There is one thing that is bothering me.

That phrase. He seemed distracted by it and yet he was also obsessed. 'Evil will be defeated before the powers of one they call a god.'

"But what does it mean," I mumble. Beginning to pace the room I finally take notice of the darkness surrounding me. It's so different from normal and yet it is nothing like what Serenity used.

"The one they call a god. That's it! Somehow her powers are like that of a god and could they be linked to mine? But I don't have that kind of power. I never have." I had something to finally take my mind off the darkness. "But what about the first part. It makes no sense. The only evil is those who try to kill metas. Even the traitors aren't evil, they've just lost their way in our world."

I keep talking to myself and trying to work out the riddles. Always careful to whisper, I make sure nothing can be heard by the cameras in the room. Even though I can't see them, I know they're there.

Finally after a few hours, the panic sets in. Being in the dark never works well for me. When I sleep I have to have some sort of light in my room or I go mad. This is something I've never experienced for more than a short while. And a 'short while' is only an hour at the most.

Careful not to hyperventilate, I focus on my breathing. Structure and consistency keeps me going and I need to do everything possible to focus. I can't lose myself to madness. A little darkness never hurt anyone.

Then the panic sets in. I desperately call for the light but none reaches me. The second I feel even the slightest pull of it towards me, it disappears. That's when I curl up. Without so much as a cot in here, I am stuck with just a blanket and pillow.

Curling myself up, I try to sleep. Passing the time that way might be the easiest way to not lose my mind.

Twenty four hours in…

Time is starting to pass so slowly that a minute feels like eternity. I have no clue how long I've been in here. My only focus is surviving.

I haven't seen light in who knows how long. The few times they've given me food they are careful. Having helped design these specific cells, I know that the door is over a foot thick, the room is resistant to all explosions, and the small entrance where the food comes in has two openings. One does not open unless the other is sealed.

I curl up in ball, trying not to lose my mind. Eventually the exhaustion of the past few days completely catches up to me and I lose all consciousness.

…

My eyes slowly drift open and I see light. A figure sits across from me and that's when I realize I'm tied to a chair. They're shrouded by darkness and make no moves. I try to summon the light but with my hands tied it doesn't go very far.

A laugh comes from whoever is sitting across from me. "The all powerful Kelsie Mortem is finally unable to get herself out of a situation. And here I thought you were going to be a challenge to capture."

"Who are you?" I snarl, straining against my bonds.

"Don't you recognize me?" Their voice takes on a mocking tone.

"Why would I? I usually don't make a habit of knowing every person who likes to hide where they can't be seen." I keep trying to cast the light but it falls short of whoever it is every time.

"And here I thought you knew me. Let me shed some- light- on the situation."

They step forward to where my rays can shine on their face.

"You." The word drips like poison from my mouth.

"Nice to see you haven't lost your brains since I last saw you," Victoria says.

"Where am I?"

"Why should I tell you? You haven't been completely honest with me, now have you?"

"I have been. I trusted you. You were an ally and someone I was bringing into the ranks."

"Then why didn't you? Why did you have your little spies watching over me?"

"What spies?" I feign ignorance.

"You know which ones I'm talking about. They're some sort of shifters and apparently they've been following me around for weeks."

"Welcome to being part of the Underground sweetie. You have constant surveillance and almost nowhere to escape," I tell her. "And as for bringing you in, that's something that typically takes a while and I'm already on thin ice with my father."

Victoria does not find that little bit of information amusing in any way. "Your father doesn't trust you? That's the best thing I've heard all day."

"Not like you trust anyone so you have no room to talk."

"Oh shut it princess. You may think you're infallible, but really you just haven't met your match yet."

"So I take it you think you're my match. Quite the ego you got there Tori."

"Do. Not. Call. Me. Tori," she hisses.

"Why? Is that something that brings back bad memories for you?" I taunt. "Did your mommy call you that? Is it the name of your old best friend? Did they abandon you just because you're a meta?"

"I suggest you shut the hell up before I shut you up." A dagger appears at my throat. It presses in a little bit and I feel a small drop of blood run down my throat.

"Wow. How original. You use my own creation against me?" I reach out with my powers and seize control of it. Easing it away from my throat, I slice through my bonds. "Now, you are going to tell me just how to get out of here. Got it?"

"Like I'd ever tell you. Besides, you've been gone for well over a week. If anyone was even looking for you in the first place they would've given up by now." Victoria has the guts to sit back down in her fancy little chair.

"Oh trust me, they're looking. You're so naive you think they would just give up. Trust me sweetie, they won't." I lash out my hand and bind Victoria's wrists. "So, lead the way."

She just stands in place and seals her mouth.

I let a rope snake around her throat and begin tightening. "I said, lead the way."

She falls to the ground gasping for breath. "Please. I'll do anything," she manages to choke out.

I leave it where it is for another moment and then let the rope barely loosen. "Are you ready to be compliant now?"

"Yes."

"Good." I pull her up to her feet and burn through the doorknob.

Keeping a tight grip on her bonds I lead her though what looks like an underground bunker. Victoria leads me to a garage where her car is. I shove her into the passenger's seat and create more ropes to tie her in place.

I drive straight to the Underground and knock Victoria out on the way there. Once I park the car I pull her out and drag her along the ground.

One of our agents approaches me. "Ma'am, would you like any help with her?"

"No thank you. I've got this taken care of."

"But the last prisoner you brought in you had us help carry." The look on her face made it clear she wanted to help but also that she was worried about what I am doing.

"That prisoner was actually valuable. She is nothing more than someone who has taken advantage of the trust she has given."

"Yes ma'am. If you need any help, please let me know. My loyalties lie with the Underground and with you in line to become the leader, I am here to help you as much as possible."

"Thank you. May I ask you your name?"

"It's Cassy, Miss Mortem."

Please, call me Kelsie. And walk with me while I transport her to a cell."

We turn down the hall and begin making our way towards the cells.

"Are you a meta Cassy?"

"Yes ma'am. I am a meta."

"What are your powers?"

"I can control my body density."

"What do you mean by that?"

"What it means is I can either make my atoms really close together or really far apart. It allows me to walk through walls or become bulletproof," she explains. "It's hard to control at times but it is typically useful."

I pause outside a cell to unlock it before throwing Victoria in and placing her on the small ledge that will serve as her bed for now.

"Tell you what Cassy, come find me in the afternoons. I'll help you train. How old are you?"

"I just turned 17."

"How long have you been here?"

She doesn't answer for a few moments. "Since my power first showed itself. My parents didn't want a meta in the family. When it showed, they practically sold me. That was about eight or nine years ago if I'm right."

Her parents sold her to the Underground. Did they know that their daughter would be turned into a killer with us?

"I don't know what to say Cassy."

"It's okay. At least here I'm not feared by everyone I meet. And I have anything I could ever ask for."

"But are you happy?"

"I guess. At times it gets hard but you get used to it. How did you survive here?"

I stop in my tracks. "I don't really know. It all blurred together. My father made me untouchable but I also became the most dangerous person here."

We continue talking until we reach the dormitories. I let her go with a reminder to meet me in the training room tomorrow afternoon. Cassy shows a lot of potential and that could be extremely useful in the future. If I'm ever to take Richard down, I'll need all the help I can get.

Getting back to my room, I plug my dead phone in, peel my clothes off, and get in the shower. With it being over a week since I was here, the shower is the best thing I've felt since I was surrounded by light.

Victoria may have shown her true colors, but at least she knows I am more useful when my strength isn't gone.

Once I get out of the shower and dressed, I turn on my phone to see nearly a hundred texts from various people. Serenity sent several and they all sound concerned. At least as concerned as a text message can sound. Marin sent a few when I was first locked away and then he started sending dozens at a time.

There are a few from Richard but he seems more concerned with me getting Serenity back than where I am.

"Nice to see who really cares about me," I mumble. I pull up Marin's tracker and look at where he's been over the past few days. He was at base a majority of the time but then he made a trip to the outskirts of Atlanta.

The weird part is that where he was is close to Smith's. Saving the location, I make plans to go tomorrow. Wherever he was, it is definitely a place I need to check out. He could be up to something and if the Underground gets revealed all is lost.

I shoot a text to Serenity and make plans to meet tomorrow. Intentionally choosing a busy place, she agrees to meet. For now she trusts me and I need to keep it that way. Until she has been turned, everything must seem fine.