Beneath The Bad.

Chapter 8. The Dark Revelation.

Alex was exploring the gang's headquarters, searching for answers about there operation. He approached a door hidden behind a tattered curtain. Curiosity got the best of him so he pushed the door open.

Inside, he found a room field with disturbing content. There were photographs of victims, including some he recognised from the news. The room was dull because some of the lights were out so it was just one bulb left and it was fluctuating. There was blood all over the floor, with a foul smell. But it was the figure in the center of the room that made his blood run cold.

Reed, the gang's leader, was standing next to a chair, where a young girl was bound and gagged. Her eyes were wide with terror as Reed caressed her face. Alex's mind reeled as he realised the gang's true activities went far beyond extortion and violence.

Suddenly, Reed turned to face him, a twisted grin spreading across his face and a splash of blood was on his face. “Welcome Alex, I see you're curious about our... Extracurricular activities”.

He was trying to process what he was seeing but his mind was frozen in horror. He took a step back, thinking of how leave the room.

Reed chuckled, seeming to enjoy Alex's distress. “Com'on don't be surprised kid, you're one of us now, this is what we do, but for you to stay alive”, his face expression changed as he gave a killer look directly at Alex, “don't ask too much questions, do as you're told, or else, let's say you won't be leaving this place alive”.

The girl struggled, and tried to call for help but her mouth was gagged tightly. Her eyes were red as tears flowed down her cheeks. “Shhhh darling, don't worry it will be alright” . Reed said as he caressed her hair.

Knowing he had to do something, Alex thought of so many things but he was too scared of Reed to actually do anything. But he thought of something.

“What are you still doing here kid, get going or do you want to watch all the fun”.

He left with fear, but later that evening he came back. Ensuring that everyone was asleep, he tip toed to the room. He found her lying down on the floor, her dress tattered and her body bruised, her legs and hands were chained. she was sobbing.

She heard foot steps approaching and she got super scared. “Stay away from, stay away!!' she resisted. “Shhhh, its me, its me,” Alex said as he covered her mouth. She recognised him from earlier and calmed down a little bit. “What happened? what did he do to you?” Alex asked as he saw her dress tattered and there was blood between her thighs.

“H-he raped me, I-I was p-picked up on my way to school and the next thing I knew, I was here”. She couldn't hold herself again as he cried uncontrollably. Alex was speechless.

Hearing someone approaching, Alex told her to be quiet as he hid.

Alex hid behind the door, was about to hit whoever was coming with a big plank, but turns out it was Jackson. “What are you doing here? Don't tell me you're trynna let her go, Reed will definitely know it was you, you were the last person to be seen with him in here”.

“Sigh... Look I know all that but com'on look at her, she was raped and she's just a little girl, she doesn't deserve this”.

“Life isn't fair, do you think if like was fair we'd both be here?”

“So what are you saying, that we just leave her here and let Reed finish her off tomorrow?”

“Listen Alex there are so many things we need to consider if we want to let her go, one... she has seen your face and Reeds face also” , they were standing five feet away from her and were whispering plus the room was dark so she couldn't see nor hear what they were talking about.

"Two, if we let her go, definitely she's going straight to the police, and thridly which is the most important, where will she follow if she's leaving here? The front door is always locked and the back door is locked with heavy chains. There's no where else.

“That can't be right... we're all living in this big house, and you're telling me the only doors are the one in front and back, nah that's not possible, so what if one day the police raid us? We would be trapped?, Com'on think Jackson, you've been here longer than me, surely there are secret door entrances”.

“Actually yes there is, behind the kitchen cabinets there's a little door there.

“Okay its settled then...”

“How about the girl Alex? she'll definitely talk.”

“Don't worry leave that to me, but how about the chains on her what are we going to do with that?”

Chuckles, “We were taught how to pick locks remember”.

In agreement, they decided to let the girl go. As they approached her, Alex bent down and made his voice so deep and menacing, “We're gonna let you go now, but if you tell this to anyone, let alone the police, I personally will come back for you, do I make myself clear?”

She nodded. Jackson took over as he picked the lock with a little piece of iron pin, he gave it to her to make it look like she picked the lock and left it there. After that, they gave her instructions on how to find the hidden door in the kitchen. She nodded as she left..

Alex and Jackson went upstairs to see if she actually got out, and fortunately she did. She sighted them and waved at them as she ran her way to the road.