Demons of Abyss - Retribution

Chapter 10

Elea



The impact on the sandy ground presses the air out of my lungs. I groan and give a pain-filled gasp from me. I want to stand up, but I can already feel two rough hands grabbing me and holding me. The voice of another man sounds next to me.

"We got the b***h!"

Even though it annoys me, I let it wash over me. I groan as if I am a defenseless girl, who has just signed her death warrant. Which I might have, only I'm still hoping for the chance to knock Charly out cold, before I die. The guy's grip on my upper arms tightens and I gasp playfully. I know pain, and this is nothing in comparison.

A truck pulls up and headlights illuminate the lot. A squad of several men marches toward me. They all have something scary about them and are wearing the robes of the Demons. My fingers tingle at the sight and I really feel like venting my frustration on them. But I hold back. I am now what they think I am. I am ONLY a woman. ONLY a girl looking for trouble and deserves to be treated like a piece of meat.

"Where is that beast?"

I hear the deep voice before I see the limping guy. The bald guy from earlier is coming toward me. Bull, as the guy called him. His expression looks distorted in the headlights. I don't know if it's the hatred or the pain in his leg. Bawling can be heard from the men. The one still holding me pushes me to the ground again. I land on my knees and my fingers claw into the sand. I know what's coming now as I look up. The back of his hand, hitting my cheek with full force. I don't feel the stinging pain until a second later. My body tilts to the side as I resolve not to tense any of my muscles. What's a few bruises for a chance at revenge?

"You're saying She shot you in the leg? You moron must have shot yourself."

A stocky older guy makes fun of this Bull right after, making him even angrier judging by the look on his face.

The other guys laugh restrained, which prompts Bull to lunge with his foot, which has on it the ugliest cowboy boots I've ever seen. Who wears snakeskin looking cowboy boots? I see it coming and tense my abs this time after all. The pain is muted, but still I can't suppress a gasp as the air is forced from my lungs. I cough and spit blood that has collected in my mouth from the first blow. It leaves a dark stain on the sandy ground. Bull gives a grunt that I'm sure is supposed to be a laugh. I hate these guys. All of them. They're demons, and I'm going to wipe them out. I owe it to Mom and Dad.

"Levi, take that b***h to the clubhouse. Let Booze know, I got an extra delivery and take two prospects with you, she's a beast."

Damn. I thought I was going to the bunker, so I could free Kilian first. But I might run into Charly in the clubhouse. All I have to do is hang in there. I just have to hold out for a few days. Then I'll kill Charly and somehow I'll free Kilian. He just has to hang on. Kilian is strong. He's going to make it. Right after that, arms reach under my body and hoist me up. I could stand myself, but I want him to think I'm too weak. So I more or less let myself be dragged along. The men's voices fade away, and I can still hear Bull explaining to them, that I was lucky, and the gun flew out of his hand when he was trying to teach me manners. Inwardly, I shake my head at this statement. Demons: the term for scum.

I look to my left and spot two big guys who, unlike the other members, still look green behind the ears. Not that they don't look dangerous, but you can tell they're not that depraved yet. I guess those are the two prospects, the errand-boys of the club. This Levi, who is still dragging me after him, I can't make out. All I know is that he's got a grip like a vice. He doesn't loosen it a millimeter. We head for another car parked down the street. A gray SUV. The two prospects get in the front and Levi pushes me into the back seat and follows. Vanilla smell of a cheap scented-tree enters my nose. It was probably meant to mask the stale cigarette smoke still hanging in the air.

The leather seats crunch under my body and this Levi still holds my upper arm. Only when he closes the door behind us, does he let go. Maybe I could break free, but I don't try. Not even when the car drives off, and he pulls a large hunting knife from the holder on his lower leg and places it on his lap. A silent warning to me. So far I haven't really looked at him, I've only noticed that he's taller by at least a head and athletically built. He might actually be a serious opponent. I feel his gaze on me and try to avoid it, but something about him makes me wonder. He doesn't look at me, like he wants to kill me. He doesn't look at me, like he's about to jump me, either. At a cursory glance, I notice that he has long blond hair, that he wears loose and that reaches down over his shoulders. I estimate him to be about thirty, although the shadow of his beard makes him look older. I can't make out much more than that in the darkness of the interior of the car and with a cursory glance. To satisfy my curiosity, I look him in the dark eyes. Joe once said to me: "Look a person in the eye. Look at him properly and if you allow the person yourself a glimpse into your soul, you can see behind those eyes and recognize the true character. I don't recognize in them a coldness or this ruthlessness that I have seen in the eyes of the other Demons, I recognize in them something like compassion? Puzzled, I draw my brows together and earn the hint of a smile from him in return. I quickly turn away and stare out the window. What was that just now? I must have been mistaken. Demons are everything I hate. I detest them. I probably didn't open my soul, like Joe said. Why should he have any compassion? How would any of them even begin to feel guilt? Especially Levi, he just takes me to Booze, that sleazy guy, who breaks women and treats them like s**t. Would anyone, who has compassion support do something like that? I don't think so. So I block out the look in his eyes and mentally prepare myself for what's about to happen to me.

They turned on the radio and one of my favorite songs is destroyed with this moment. Brother Dege with Crazy Motherfucker is blaring from the speakers. The guy on the handlebars complains to the other guy.

"Hey man, I can't listen to this country s**t anymore."

"What's your problem? It's a brilliant song, isn't it? You want me to play Beyonce for you instead?"

The guy in the passenger seat gives an amused grunt and the other only manages a few expletives from his lips. While the two in front get into a heated discussion about their taste in music, I feel Levi's gaze on me again.

"Girl, girl." A reprimanding snap comes across his lips. "What were you thinking?" As if he knows I won't answer him, he continues speaking. "Do you actually know what you're in for?"

Although I have sworn to myself that I will endure anything, really ANYTHING, to be able to avenge my parents, the idea of what they will do to me makes me sick. Not wanting to show Levi my displeasure at his words, I stare impassively out the window. The only thing I can still perceive from him, is the tapping of his index finger on the blade of the knife. Normally this would annoy me, but right now it has a calming effect on me. At some point we stop, and my heart beats faster, as we do so. It is getting closer and closer, the time of torment and the time of my revenge. Something so far apart and yet belonging together.

We drive into a hall whose gates open automatically. Inside, more cars are parked, and halogen spotlights hang from the ceilings, bathing everything in a harsh light. I'm about to put my hand on the door handle when I feel Levi's firm grip. He pulls me over the back seat so that I get out on his side. He doesn't let go of me until we walk through a door that leads into the courtyard of their headquarters. It's where I screwed up and messed with Booze. The thought of that greasy Booze makes me sick. I let my eyes wander unobtrusively over the walls, the windows, all the escape routes. It wouldn't be easy, but I could do it with a little preparation. But I have to stay here, otherwise I'll never get to Charly.

Levi leads me to one of the doors leading into the buildings from the courtyard. The two prospects follow us, until Levi stops and looks at them both dismissively.

"Get that other s**t done and let Booze know. I can handle that bitch."

The compassion I thought I saw earlier is gone entirely. It's like the words in the car never existed. I couldn't believe it anyway. There is no compassion from a Demon. Never. I was definitely wrong.

One of the prospects is almost about to disagree, when the other pokes him in the shoulder. A silent hint that he shouldn't mess with Levi. Something that tells me, this Levi has some standing. No wonder with his appearance. So the two of them follow his words and disappear into the bar, I was on my last visit. I, on the other hand, am grabbed even tighter by Levi. He opens the steel door in front of us with a key and not a second later I am pushed inside, so that I fall over my own legs. It wouldn't have happened to me if I had been prepared for it, but Levi is damn unpredictable and fast. Hastily, I straighten up and stare into the darkness of the room. The smell of urine and sweat hits my nose. Then I look up again and stare at Levi, who is now standing in the doorway like a demon waiting for his feast. He approaches me and I involuntarily slide back a bit. I want him to think that I'm afraid of him, which isn't even a lie, because he seems even scarier now, than he did earlier. But what he does then, makes me hold my breath. He kneels in front of me, comes closer to my ear with his head. My heart beats up to my throat and I feel his breath on my temple. Then he speaks so softly, that I can hardly hear what he is saying. But I feel this something he puts in my hand.

"If they try to give you something, take it. It'll help you stay clear-headed."

I stare at the chain with a small vial hanging from the end. He lets go of my hand and turns to leave. I hear what sounds like an "I'm sorry for you," but I'm not sure. Confused, I stay behind and am immediately completely enveloped by darkness. I feel the cold, elongated thing in my hand. I have no idea what its words mean. But then I think of Kilian's words: they drug them and f**k them, until they forget who they are. Suddenly, I become even more aware of these words, and they pull heavenly on my limbs. But why should this Levi help me? Why would he give me something, that would keep me from sinking into a drug frenzy? What would he get out of it? I don't understand, and I'm sure, it's a sick game. They are all Demons. All evil. All depraved. All willing to do anything, just to protect the club. Still, I stuff that necklace into my back pocket, noticing that I still have my throwing knives with me. On the one hand, I'm glad because I could fight back, but on the other hand, it would be fatal if they discovered my knives. I look for the fastener of the belt, that is attached to my lower leg and already want to open it. But a noise stops me. A soft sobbing. My instincts are immediately ready for action and can make out the noise to my left. I bring a quiet "Who's there?" past my lips and get an answer after another sob.

"No one."