Elodie's POV
When my eyes finally fluttered open, the first thing I noticed was how cold I was. I shook off a chill that threatened to slip down my spine and rubbed my head as if to remove the growing headache in my sinuses.
For a start, I'd woken up alone and had no possible idea where my friends were. The last thing I heard being Cara crying out. I looked around, realizing I was on the opposite side of the boulder I originally was supposed to be. Narrowing my eyes and searching the darkness for a light. Finally noticing that I could most likely edge through the gap and through to the other side.
Breathing in deeply, I attempted to tuck myself round the side of the rock and succeeded, a pit of nerves filling my stomach when I couldn't see my friends. Nor anyone for that matter. Just three, long narrow tunnels sprouting off in different directions like branches on a tree.
What did Arya say? Was it left, or right? Or maybe straight through the middle?
I was panicking at this point, realising they'd left without me and I was on my own with no idea of which way I had to go or even what time of day it was. Concealing both my anger and fear, I took a deep breath in before deciding on the left tunnel. Hopefully, what I considered a lucky guess.
I wandered forwards for around five minutes, contemplating turning around every now and then but eventually giving up and forcing myself to ignore the dread and keep walking.
What I came across at the end of the tunnel was a huge door. Towering up way above my head, made out of some sort of wood, shriveled down with what I presumed was time but overall functional.
I could've been worried about getting through, but I became less and less so as I neared it, seeing that the door was ajar. Which meant somebody had been there. That partly scared me, but also filled my chest with that small glimmer of hope.
That small glimmer of hope was all I needed to slip through the gap and walk out into the empty room.
At first, I heard nothing nor saw anything, slumping my shoulders disappointedly and running a hand through my damp hair. However only seconds later hearing a small cry from just to the left of me, cautiously investigating to see where the noise came from.
"Hello?" I whispered. "Are you okay? I'm not going to hurt you."
The sobbing stopped and instead the figure of a boy moved to the front of what looked like a cell, scattered with toys and even what looked to me like educational books.
The boy turned around to face me and It felt like my entire world did a front flip and all the air retreated from my lungs.
"Hunter, oh my god." I whispered.
"Elodie?" He said, replicating the expression on my face.
For a second, he looked so happy and I was ready to run and pick him up, get him out of the cell with any method I could.
But just as soon as I'd noticed had it changed. "You're trying to hurt me. You were the one that did this to me. They told me."
I felt sick. "Hunter, what are you talking about? Don't you remember? I'm with your big brother and sister Bryony and Noah!"
At the mention of his siblings, he started screaming at the top of his lungs, sobbing to himself and crying out for help.
"Hunter, please." I said, terrified as I started to hear footsteps from the opposite direction.
But he just continued shouting, anxiety building up in my chest as it hit me that I wouldn't make it.
"Don't move." A voice said behind me, the footsteps stopping altogether.
I stopped but didn't turn around.
"Put your hands behind your head. One move and I'll put a bullet through your skull, and trust me when I say I'll do it."
I did as the man said. Panicking inwardly.
"Turn around, Elodie."
"How do you know my name?" I spat, facing him.
"We've been looking for you for quite a while, it's unfortunate you managed to disturb poor Hunter as you walked right to us." The man said with ease.
"Where are my friends?" I hissed.
"They're fine." He said calmly. "For now. As long as you decide to cooperate."
I grimaced, turning my head to look at Hunter who'd stopped crying.
"What have you done to him?"
"Nothing." The man whispered. "Just conditioning him a little so he doesn't end up with the same mindset as you and your little group."
"It was a mistake to come here, Elodie Blue." He smiled.
I lost it at the talk of Hunter. Rushing forwards and attempting to send a kick straight into his ribcage. Realising full well he definitely couldn't kill me. He was winded for a moment, doubling over in pain. But just as soon as I'd seen my opportunity had people snuck up behind me and there was a dark bag over my head, my wrists were twisted back painfully into restraint.
"Move. Let's go see your friends, shall we?"