132 NOT AFRAID

ARIEL'S POV I slowly opened my eyes, blinking against the darkness that enveloped me. As my vision adjusted, I realized I was in a dimly lit room, with the only source of light coming from a single flickering bulb hanging above my head. Panic surged through me as I tried to move, only to discover that I was tightly bound to a chair, my wrists and ankles secured with rough rope. How in the world did I arrive here? Oh, I remembered. Those men who took me to their car had infected me with something I didn't know. But they were the ones responsible for my losing consciousness. Now I was right here and had no idea of this location or the person behind this whole sh*t. Technically, those men were following orders. There is no doubt about that. But who wants to do this now? Why can't someone live this life in peace? All these terrific situations were becoming really galling. And I hoped to never see myself in one again. That's if I get out of this one alive. Now, my heart pounded as I fran