Chapter Two

Alex

I am in pain. The back of my head thunders with a brain crushing headache; my hands and feet are numb. I feel that one of my eyes is swollen shut. It hurts. A groan escapes my lips and -

I bolt upright, where am I? I am in a small room with whitish grey walls, the color hurts my eyes. Why is everything so bright?

I realize that I am in a bed, or something close to a bed. It is more like a mattress with blankets; it's very uncomfortable. On a mattress beside me is someone else, I feel their eyes on me. Slowly and painfully I turn my head . . . it's me. No, not me. Only someone that looks like me, my mind begins to flash, who is this person? Then a name pops into my mind; Alia, she's my sister, my twin sister. I give a sigh of relief as her eyes slowly begin to focus and recognize me. I am about to speak when a strange woman who I do not know walks into our room, she is smiling. Strange. Her smile is fake. She messes with the mass of technical equipment on the wall. Pictures flash through my head and a word emerges, sedatives. Why is this happening? Who is she? There is no more thought, I feel a needle pierce my skin and I fall into another sleep . . .

I wake up again. Alia is still beside me but she is moving. She is thrashing around on her mattress. She is in pain. I think. My body is numb with pain. I can't feel anything. I look around and realize that I am in a different room than before. The walls are painted an ugly warn blue that makes me feel sick.

Where am I?

The hairs on the back of my neck prick up. Someone is staring at me. I look over. It's her. The woman from before but this time she is not smiling, she is staring.

Anger rises up within me. I am in the dark, the one place I hate to be. I do not know where I am or why I am beaten and cut. I need to know.

I feel myself getting up, my sister has already been put back to sleep, I will get answers.

Headache. Black.

Once again I wake up but this time I am sitting in a chair. My hands are strapped to the arm rests and there is a tube in my arm. The room is dark and only a small lamp allows me to see. I look over. Alia is still by my side, she is in a similar situation.

"I hope you won't take your bonds personally, girls." a woman's voice said behind us.

My sister and I turn our heads together.

Behind us is the woman. She is surrounded by two guards, both carrying guns.

"We have to take certain precautions with -" she paused, choosing her words carefully, "certain people."

"Where are we?" I heard my sister say. Her voice is dry and raspy.

The woman smiles "You are in La Caixa Forta."

My mind instantly translates the words.

The Safe.

I look over at my sister. She understands too.

How do we know this language?

"You have both been in a tragic battle." the woman continues, "But do not worry, we won. You are safe."

"Then let us go." I say, my voice sounds more courageous than I feel.

"Girls," she says, walking in front of us, " This is no prison, you are safe."

I try to laugh, "Then why are we tied up?"

The woman bends down and puts her hands on each of our shoulders.

"You are tied up because we want you to be safe, and you are."

I look into her eyes and one word emerges in the darkness my mind.

Lies.