The Call Of The Mimic

Chapter Three!

Taking a deep breath, I slowly took steps down the staircase. I could hear the creeks of each metal step that wiggled beneath my feet the smell of rust and the moss growing through the cracks of the stone walls. The wind from in the tunnels kept blowing softly against me. My scarf slowly ruffled beneath my face tickling the corners of my jaw, I pulled my scarf up more over my nose, trying to hide myself from the smelly stench that kept burning the hairs of my nose.

Once I made it to the bottom of the steps, I was met with a puddle of water slapping into my boots. I watched as the slow stream of water drifted down the drains, showing me the way to the door at the end of the tunnel. I couldn’t see down the halls. I had to put my hands on the walls to keep myself from running into the cement dips of water continuing to lap the sides of my pant legs, but I didn’t mind. I had been here before as I neared the end of the hall.

I could see the small glowing light in the distance, the door that led to the other side of where I wanted to be. I quickly picked up my pace, trying to get to the end, feeling like as if someone had been watching me the whole time. I had walked the tunnel, the tunnel that nobody had gone in for so many years, yet you could feel the souls that had once been there. Lurking around for its next victims to take.

I appeared over my shoulder to make sure nobody was following me still feeling air, sucking from my lungs as I got closer and closer to the end. It was no different from the last time I had visited I could still feel the souls walking in the dark abyss that they have also lost their lives. I found the end of the door and quickly tried to shove on it to find my way out, but it almost seemed impossible as it refused to budge.

The more I stood there, shaking the handle the more I could feel the dark shadows lurking behind getting closer and closer with each passing moment that I stayed put. I tried to ignore it, but the panic started to fill my chest, making the fear buildup in my lungs, and burning in my stomach, more than I had ever expected. My pulse began to pick up looking over my shoulder from every now and then to see if there were anything behind me, I couldn’t find anything, it was still there, the shadow, it was creeping. I knew it, I could feel it.

I wasn’t sure who it would be, but whoever is it was wanted to know that he was still here. I had once felt bad for the soul that was trapped here and after some time I realized that maybe his soul deserved to be trapped here. I quickly moved my hands yanking and yanking on the door as hard as I could yet I still couldn’t get it to budge. I could feel the shadow getting closer and closer, but yet there was nothing I could see I could only feel.

I turned around once more looking as I could feel the breeze whistling from behind me like somebody had followed me down the airlock seal that I had opened to get down here. Turning around I could see no one, but I could hear it. I could hear the foot steps tapping in the distance, the footsteps of someone or something that had followed me down. I became more frantic as I pulled and pulled and pulled on the door and finally, I could see it cracking open.

Just as I burst through the other side, I felt the strong breeze whisper into my ears and onto my face. The dark shadow had disappeared. I was no longer afraid, I was relieved I had finally made it out like I did all those years before. It wasn’t just a tunnel that was for people who committed crimes. It was a tunnel that I had to become accustomed to when I wanted to escape my own demons. Inside the ones that haunted me, but I didn’t understand. I kept them locked away, and they had been locked away for far too long, leaving me with the sneaking feeling that something was there.

Something has been following me all those years rather than dealing with my struggles in my pain. I ran from them just like I was doing now. I ran through the trees that I was met with beautiful trees that were high in the air, swinging with the wind, green leaves whistling as I ran past them, the shrubs brushing past my legs, as I ran through the forest, trying to find that place where the souls didn’t hide, but where the wind blew till I felt safe.

I shoved past a wall of bushes that were decorated with little white flowers, breaking into a clearing of rocks. A river ran through in a rush to get somewhere that I wanted to go. Fish swam by along with the current by themselves, or maybe together. A mist sprayed in the air giving the faintest taste of the river water.

I pulled my face mask down just enough to take in a deep breath of the fresh air. I closed my eyes leaning my head back to the sky as the wind whistled into my ears. It still had the same effect that it had eight years ago. It soothed my soul, brought something to life inside that I couldn’t feel any other time. It was here, something here in Russia wanted me to stay no matter how much I hated it. It called to me and this time I wanted to know what it was.

I crouched down, brushing my fingers in the river feeling the cold water burn the tips of my fingers. The sun blazed high in the sky, making the water glisten, blinding me from being able to see the creature beneath the current. I splashed the water in my face letting the familiar burn run down my neck and soak into my face covering. The inside of my coat heated up as the water turned from cold to a flaming hot from the temperature in my clothes.

A loud thunder of feet rumbling through the area shook the ground. I ducked my head down barely scanning my surroundings to see where the sound was coming from. I couldn’t see anyone near by, but I could them, lots of them running through the trees. Their muffled puffs for air and an occasional slur of profanity from the heat getting to them. They must be training not far from here.

I stayed low to the ground as I stepped from behind the bushes to see how close they truly were. I pulled on my mask to make sure that if I did cross anyone they wouldn’t be able to see who it was. I would be recognized by many in this pack, if not, everyone would know. I danced through the shrubs, hiding behind trees as I slowly inched my way towards the opening of the pack grounds.

A group of voice all yelled the same thing, a sound that I have assumed to be their version of understanding. They all sounded like warriors, only male as their deep voices carried through the trees. I slowly stood to my feet peeking out from behind a tree trunk to an open field full of lushes green grass. Rows of men stood with their legs spread and arms behind their backs staring forward.

“Petrov!” I heard strong voice bellow through the crowd making everyone on edge, even myself.

The man stepped forward from the front of the group with a loud yell to show that he was at the leaders beckon and call. My eyes traveled to the leader that was none other than Tobias Volkov. I bent down slightly as if he would look my way and catch me staring at them training. He walked the long line of warriors before turning and coming back.

“I trust that you guys have made your full loop,” his voice was harsh, but it was also confident in everything he did.

The man yelled out once more, but didn’t dare to look the general in the eyes. Tobias stopped in front of the man looking the man up and down like he may just eat him. His thick muscles rippled beneath his black shirt, pushing against the thin fabric to break free. His legs waved with each indent of muscle that curved along his thighs and calves. Tobias was a big man, a very big man that could probably snap me in half now that we were older. He was carved from a marbled statue with his beauty.

“I trust that you wouldn’t lie to me,” he tilted his head to the side eyeing the poor man that looked as if he was starting to sweat.

I took another step out to get a better look from behind the tree, stepping on a pile of leaves that crushed loudly beneath my feet in the very quiet atmosphere. I scrunched my face hiding away back behind the tree. My chest puffed up and down with anxiety that he may have heard me, even if I was far away from him. I barely peeked around the side to him looking in my direction, but not making eye contract with me. I stepped back leaning my head against the tree with loud breathes of air pushing through my closed jaw.

“Hit the showers boys,” he calls out with the response of everyone at once.

Feet trampled through the field in the opposite direction of where I was. Silence echoed through out the trees with sounds of birds chirps softly in the wind. I peeked back out from the side of the trees seeing Tobias walking slightly off to the side of where I was standing. He had heard me, he just didn’t know where I was, but he was close, too close. I sunk down to the ground holding my head in my hands with the feeling that I’ve been caught.

“Tobias,” I heard a familiar voice cut through the ragged breathing.

“Journee,” I looked around the bottom of the trees trying to catch a glimpse of the two brothers talking with one another.

“I have prepared an outfit for tonight’s dinner,” Journee wrapped an arm around Tobias’ shoulders.

They were close in size, but as the war leader, Tobias had topped Journee’s muscle mass. They were complete opposites of each other, one having dark features of black curly hair and green eyes. While the other had straight platinum blond hair and blue eyes. They complimented each other perfectly when they stood side by side.

“Of course you have brother,” Tobias shook his head with a soft smile playing on his light pink lips. “Are you nervous for the dinner?”

“A pretty girl sitting at the dining table? Why wouldn’t I be?” Journee chuckled pulling away to rub his hands together.

“Tyra?” Tobias c****d a brow at his brother with a teasing grin. “You can’t even see the girl with all those clothes she had on.”

“Don’t you remember her from school? She was the prettiest girl there,” Journee quirked his own grin.

“I do remember, I also remember her being aggressive,” Tobias nodded his head while rubbing his chin.

“She has changed, I’m sure of it,” Journee patted Tobias on the back once more.

“How could you be sure of it when she hasn’t even been here for more than two hours? She hasn’t been able to show any change yet,” Tobias rolled his eyes.

“I think you are just jealous that she can kick your butt,” Journee’s laugh rumbled in the space between them as they started walking towards the castle.

“Woah!” I heard Tobias call as he jogged up next to his brother. “I let her win, I can’t hit a girl.”

“Oh please, brother,” Journee’s head tossed back. “I think she’ll give you a run for your money with how skilled she is,” Tobias stopped in his steps with a face of disbelief.

I covered my mouth trying to hide my own giggles at the conversations the brothers had. I hadn’t known that this dinner was so important to the Volkov family, nor had I thought that Journee would be excited for us to come back. I watched as the boys disappeared into the distance wishing that I had a sibling to be close with. I looked to the sky to see that the sun was starting to set and surely dinner would be done soon.

I dusted myself off before crossing the lawn to the castle. It was almost as if it had a force field with the way it waved in the distance, almost like a painting. It seemed like something was off the closer I got to the doors, I could feel something stirring inside. There was something bad that was going to happen, I just knew it.