Mine to Protect Chapter 48: QUESTIONING

*Hazel*

They leave quickly shutting the door behind them. I am left alone, in this brightly illuminated room, with the only company of my multiple reflections, gazing grimly at me from different angles. I look pale and disheveled, I wonder how long I have been out for, and what they have done to me while I was unconscious.

All of a sudden, a female voice starts echoing in the room, probably from hidden speakers; the voice is sweet and melodic.

“Hello, Hazel. It’s an honor to finally have you here, I hope our guards haven’t treated you too roughly. Now, I thought you might want to enjoy a refreshing shower, before I take you to see your mom.”

I don’t move; I don’t know what game she is playing at, but I know I can’t trust anything that comes out of her mouth.

“You can take your clothes off; we’ll provide you clean ones after the shower.” The voice continues.

I keep my stance, ignoring her completely, not even acknowledging that I have heard her.

“Feeling self-conscious? Aren’t you werewolves used to being naked all the time? Like animals,” she pauses for a second, then adds sounding bored, “well, have it your way.”

Warm water starts spraying from the sprinklers, and I feel my body relax a little, even though I know I should stay alert, this looks too good to be true, too suspicious.

“Is the temperature to your liking?” the sickling sweet voice asks.

I still haven’t replied, don’t move a muscle.

“Now, I need to bother you with a couple of questions. I hope you can answer truthfully. Are you a white wolf?”

How does she know I am a white wolf? Only my family, Derek and Damon knows about it, and I am sure no one of them would betray me. They must have found out somehow, but the most important question is, why are they looking for white wolves? What do they want to do with them?

I don’t answer.

“Hazel, you must reply to my questions. Are you a white wolf?”

I still don’t comply, and the water suddenly turns icy cold, I try to avoid the jets, but they are positioned everywhere, making it impossible to dodge them. Soon, I am freezing to my bones, trembling like a leaf, crouched down in a ball, trying to minimize the impact of the glacial sprays.

“I am sorry for this, but as I said, I need you to cooperate and reply to my questions. Are you a white wolf, Hazel?”

Silence.

The water suddenly changes again, from ice cold to scorching hot. The heat feels soothing at first, my body frigid from the cold, but after a few moments, the heat becomes painful, and my skin becomes an angry red from being scalded; if this continues, I will soon have blisters all over my body. I cover my face with my hands, trying to protect my eyes; I can’t avoid the damage to my body, but at least I can avoid becoming blind.

The water abruptly stops; relief immediately settles on my sensitive skin, I don’t even dare move, dreading the pain that will accompany it.

“Now, now, aren’t you a tough cookie? I really hoped you would cooperate, Hazel. But I see, we’ll have to do it the hard way.”

Her words send a chill down my spine; I don’t even have the time to ponder what they are going to do to me next, when the door opens, two guards enter the room fast and grab me by both arms, dragging me outside and down the narrow corridor. I look left and right trying not to attract too much attention, trying to find a way out, but there is nothing apart from windowless white flat walls and anonymous metal doors with electronic locking systems.

Finally, we reached our destination, another spotless white room, completely empty apart from two sturdy wooden chairs, and my mom sitting on one of the chairs! Obviously chained to it with what I believe are silver chains, to weaken her wolf.

“Mom!” I shouted in relief, managing to get out of the guards’ grasp and to throw my arms around her, hugging her tightly. It doesn’t last long, as the guards quickly pull me back and chain me to the chair opposite her.

Now that I take a careful look at her, mom doesn’t look good; she’s as pale as a ghost, deep dark circles rim her eyes, which are spent, like their light is gone, snuffed out. It’s the bond, dad’s death is taking a toll on her. I have heard of mates dying when their counterpart is gone, but she needs to stay strong, she still has me, I can’t lose her too.

She gazes at me with terror in her eyes, is she scared for me? I am starting to feel uneasy too, all bundled up in silver, unable to move; but I don’t let it show on my face, instead I smile brightly at her, letting her know that we will make it, we will get out of here together.

“What a sweet reunion, mother and daughter in the same room. How charming!” The irking sweet voice starts speaking again.

I roll my eyes annoyed; she’s like a poltergeist, you hear it, but you don’t see it, and she seems to be glued to my ass, watching my every move. Where are the ghostbusters when you need them?

“Seen that you both don’t seem interested in cooperating, same mother same daughter, we have decided to let you help each other out. I will ask a question to Hazel, and if she does not answer, her mommy will persuade her to. And the other way around. Now that the rules are clear, let’s not waste any more time. Hazel, are you a white wolf?”

What kind of sick game is this? Why would my mom try to persuade me? And how?

I don’t reply. She should be used to it by now; she is delusional if she expected anything different.

“Bring the electrodes in.” The voice commands, and two guards enter the room, bringing a bucket of water and a number of cables with clips attached at their extremities.

They position the clips on mom’s arms and legs and then empty the bucket of water on her head, splashing her from head to toe. Then the guards leave, and a few moments later electrical current starts zapping through the cables and clips, electrocuting my mom, every inch of her. I can’t divert my gaze from her writhing figure, I am screaming my heart out, pleading with the voice to stop this torture, while my mom is crying for me not to reveal anything. The torture goes on for what seems like forever, until the electricity stops, and my mom slumps forward nearly unconscious, her silver bindings keeping her from falling face down on the wet floor. The smell of burnt meat fills the room, making me want to gag, and I cry harder, wandering if my mom will ever recover from this. Why are they doing this to us? It’s just sick!

“Hazel, do you see what happens when you don’t answer? It’s your fault. Everything that is going to happen to your mom in this room is your fault.”

I know that she is trying to manipulate me, but I can’t help the feeling of guilt that slithers in my heart at the sight of my mom hurt and in pain, on a certain twisted level, my silence did that to her.

“Now, let’s try with another question. What are your powers?”