Predator | 52

April stirred in her brief sleep when a loud noise erupted from the floor above her. She woke up and her eyes flittered over every corner of her cell, wondering if she just imagined the odd noise. It was the third of fourth time she woke up from her slumber, but it was the first time she thought she heard something.

A little time after Shawn left her in her cell, April fell asleep. She wasn't even tired, just physically exhausted, despite the fact that she didn't even do anything else besides sitting on the ground and wait for something to happen. For someone to finally find her and take her awake from this horrid place.

She didn't know what time it was, or how much time actually had passed since Shawn left her here alone. She fell asleep a couple of times, so did that mean a few days had passed? And how much time would have to pass until she turned insane in this cold, dirty and dark place? She was beginning to turn sick from the rotten smell of this place and the lack of light.

Her legs were beginning to ache from the uncomfortable sitting position. She didn't move her body for a long time, hours maybe, or even days.

She sprawled out her legs in front of her. The cell was beginning to get colder with each hour that passed. Remembering Shawn's words that he had left her a blanket down here in the cell, she forced herself to stand up.

She leaned her hand against the wall for support. She walked over to the corner of the cell with her shaky legs. The sound of the chains around her wrists startled her for a second. She almost forgot about them.

The lack of light was making it hard for her to see properly, but she noticed a small and old prison bench made of stone that she hadn't noticed before. But then again, she didn't exactly take a look around the cell either.

She briefly wondered just how old this place was. It didn't look like any of the modern prisons nowadays. It was more like a dungeon.

This place was old. The ground and the walls were covered in dirt. And there was the rotten smell that constantly burned her nostrils. This place was worse than an ordinary prison. This place was much scarier and the eerie silence was hard to endure. The whole place looked like it hadn't been taken care of since years.

But then again, she doubted that Viktor would even bother to offer his prisoners tidy and nice cells. The old bench was enough kindness a prisoner could hope for.

She searched for the blanket with her hands until something soft brushed against her fingers. She grabbed the blanket and noticed the plate with a sandwich and a bottle of water on the ground. Not even the sight of food made her hungry. Eating something wasn't on her mind right now. This place made her lose her appetite.

April went back to the corner of the cell to her previous place and sat on the ground with the blanket around her. Though warmer with the blanket, she still was freezing slightly.

April sat silently on the ground, with her chin propped on her knees. This cell, she noticed right now, didn't have a toilet. None of the cells did. Her stomach churned at the thought. She didn't know how often Viktor used these cells for prisoners, but suddenly the disgusting smell made sense.

She leaned her cheek against her knees and hoped to fall asleep again. It was better than being awake and very much aware of her surroundings. In a matter of a few minutes, April was asleep again.

It wasn't until some time later, that she woke up again when she heard another loud noise. This time, though, she was sure that she didn't just imagine it. She tried not to breathe noisily, suddenly scared that it might be someone she didn't want to find her. Afraid, that it might be Viktor.

Her heart started to beat loudly against her chest when she heard footsteps echoing through the walls. Someone was walking towards her cell. The footsteps were slow in the beginning and turned faster and faster, running to her cell.

She scooted closer to her wall, until there wasn't any inch of space between the wall and her back. Her mind raced with thousand of different possibilities of what might happen now or whose face she was going to see.

She closed her eyes and prayed for Nikolaj. His face was the first that raced through her mind. She wished it would be him to find her first.

The footsteps came to an abrupt halt.

April's eyes were still closed tightly. She knew that someone was standing in front of her cell and watching her and she was afraid to open her eyes to see who it might be.

"April.." the person said, the voice sounding strained and but relieved at the same time.

Nik. It was Nik. His familiar voice made her slowly open her eyes and a breath of relief escaped her mouth. She couldn't believe it, he really came. She had started to doubt Shawn's words when he said that she will be find soon enough. But he was here now, standing in front of her to get her out of here.

"Nik?"

Nikolaj didn't hesitate another minute and gripped two of the bars and ripped them out, so he could enter the cell and free her from the chains around her wrists. Her wrists were aching from the pressure of the cuffs and she was relieved to be finally free of them. Nik pulled her up and wrapped his arms around her. She had missed him so much.

"How are you?" He whispered.

"I-I'm good," she stuttered, her throat suddenly feeling very dry. Maybe she wasn't as well as she said she was. "I just want to get out of here, Nik."

She didn't want to spend another single second in this place. She wanted to leave immediately and forget everything that happened, even though she knew she could never forget it. She will always remember this place.

She wanted to go back to her brother, see if he is fine. April knew he was able to take care of himself, but Shawn was insane, there was o guarantee that her brother was safe right now.

"Nik?" April asked when he didn't move. He wasn't looking at her, his eyes looking at nothing in particular. His gaze seemed so distant and empty. "Nik, what's wrong?" April asked again when he didn't answer.

Nikolaj's face was beginning to blur. April rubbed her eyes, not sure what was wrong with her eyes. Was she going to faint now?

With a sudden jerk of her head, April realized crestfallen that it had been nothing but just a dream. A silly, hopeful dream. She had fallen asleep again and her head must have slipped from her knees.

With sudden anger washing through her she tried to yank herself free of the chains. But it was hopeless, the chains were firmly attached to the wall. She realized then that Shawn had prepared this cell for her. The chains were new, everything else in this place was not.

She pressed her back against the well and slid down to the ground. She released a shaky breath. April's eyes were brimming with unshed tears, but she refused to let them fall. She knew that she was going to get out of here, so there was no point in crying. Nik and her brother will find her. She knew they will.

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I know I wanted to update two weeks ago and I have no other excuse than to admit that I completely forgot to finish this chapter. I'm sorry! I still hope you enjoyed this chapter. There are only one or two chapters left!