Noir
Chapter 5

My stubbornness continued and Kung-Fu Master heaved a sigh, then twisted my arm up further, causing me to give a small yelp when my hand became balled between my shoulder-blades. In pain, I had no choice but to follow the woman's instruction and open the door. Afterward, she murmured, "Now, stop being so damn mulish!"

As we stepped into the room, I took in the multitude of faces turned in our direction. Seeing a chance for a form of help, I cried, "Help me!" However, as my gaze bounced from one face to another, my hopes plummeted. I could read many emotions in their expressions, but sympathy wasn't one of them. With a heavy sigh, I reluctantly continued forward when the woman urged me to keep moving.

Seconds later, we entered a vacant room. Our footsteps were silent as our shoes sank into the plush carpeting as we crossed the room before exiting and entering a hallway. As we followed the hallway's length, passing several doors on either side, we finally came to a stop before a door. At that point, the woman finally dropped my arm, and I couldn't contain the small utterance of pain that escaped my mouth. With my shoulder on fire for having been in such an unnatural position for so long, I peered at the woman, as coming up beside me, she pushed the door open. The action revealed to my widening eyes a set of stairs that led downward.

As I hung back, the woman offered an irritated grunt before gesturing toward the stairs, she stated "You're expected." Afterward, turning, she left me standing alone before the stairs, however, my feet planted, I remained unmoving. *Uh, nope. Not going down those fucking stairs. Whoever was down there could just kiss my ass*! Then, with a shake of my head, I gave the stairs another uneasy glance. God, what was I thinking? Chewing on my inner cheek, I took a step toward them, then paused. Was I really considering this? Was I really considering going down those damn stairs? Blowing out a breath, I took the plunge and stepped onto the first step. Then, throwing caution to the wind, I gave a shrug and began making my way the rest of the way down them, all the while softly mumbling to myself, "You're an idiot," even as curiosity perched on my shoulder like a parrot.

When I finally reached the last step and hesitantly stepped off, I jumped when I heard someone call my name. Swinging around, I stared at Noir. What the ever loving fuck? The last person I had expected to see was him. With joy shooting through me at seeing he was alive and well, I ran to him and wrapped my arms around his waist. But when he stood stock still, offering no return hug, I pushed away from him. Afterward, looking up into his face, I saw the impassive expression on his features.

"What the hell is this, Noir?" I questioned, more confused than I'd ever been in my life. "Do you have something to do with me being kept here?" At his silence, I cried, "Is this some kind of game? Why am I here? Why can't I leave?" With a shake of his head, Noir muttered, "I don't play games, you know that. And right now, I don't care to tell you my reasons."

At his words, I teetered on the edge of losing it. However, I refused to give into the yawning cavity awaiting my mind, and digging deep inside, I found my strength, and bringing it forth, I hissed, "Oh, really? Then when the hell do you plan to?" Noir's eyes narrowed, but he remained silent. His face, illuminated by the dimly lit room, was a canvas of mystery and guarded emotion. I had always been drawn to his enigmatic nature, but tonight, something felt different. There was an unsettling tension in the air, and I couldn't suppress my curiosity any longer. "So, you are not going to explain what this is all about, and when I can leave?" I questioned, my voice laced with frustration. When he still didn't say anything, I shook my head and glared at him. "You're a beast, you know that?" I spat, the words dripping with equal parts anger and hurt.

Lips twisting wryly, Noir muttered, "Never claimed different." His tone wasn't remorseful.

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At his words, a rueful laugh escaped my lips. "Oh, really? Well, for some odd reason, I'd always thought different. I had always thought you gave two shits about me. My mistake," I told him, then turning, I ran back up the stairs, anguish chasing my every step as tears flowed down my cheeks.

~~

Fifteen minutes later, my tears had dried, determination having replaced them. I'd been prowling the house, hunting for a way out of this insane asylum, and I suspected even the damn walls had eyes in them, for though I saw no one, I knew I was being watched. I could feel it! Why? What the hell was so important about me, that I was under lock and key? I didn't get it!

As I came to the opening of another room, I stepped inside and gave a decisive snort. All the rooms I'd entered were the same-they led to nothing; I was a damn mouse in a maze. Was that what this was... An experiment? Was I the test- monkey? Give her an apple, a banana, and let's see what she does! God help me, I never thought I'd feel the emotion toward Noir I was, but right now, I hated him: truly hated him.

Dejection digging deep into my psyche, I almost jumped out of my skin, giving a startled screech when, from behind me, I heard Noir's smooth, deep voice murmur, "Lyra... just... stop."

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I refused his request, and turning, I stepped around him toward the door, at the same time asking, "You going to tell me what the hell is going on?"

"No," he replied, then before I could react, he was standing in front of me, blocking my way from the room again. Reaching out, he placed his fingers under my chin as, pulling my face up to where he could peer down into my eyes, he murmured, "But believe me, I'll explain it all, just not tight now."

I remained mute, staring up at him, my eyes hard and bitter. Then, finally, unable to stop myself, I snapped, "Believe you? BELIEVE YOU? You're nothing but a walking sack of lies! Fuck Noir, from where I stand, a dirty, rotten smelling, ass-eating opossum is better than you!" Afterward, I once again stepped around him. However, before I could reach the door, Noir was wrapping his arms around my waist and locking my arms tight against my sides. Following the action, he picked me up and held me against his chest.

With my feet now a good eight inches off the ground, I began kicking backward, trying to make contact with his shins, only to have him wrap a leg around my own, and as he locked me in place, I threw my head back, trying to break his nose as I screamed, "I hate you!" My action must have caught him off guard, for as the back of my head slammed into his face, he gave a low curse and dropped me. Afterward, turning, he jerked the door back open and exited out of it. Noir had barely left the room before I was up and stomping to the door, surprise shooting through me at replaceing it unlocked. With a full stream of anger behind me, I charged into the hallway, then came to a stumbling halt, unhappy about replaceing myself greeted by Kung-Fu Master again. Well, shit! I thought, then slunk back into my room as if I were a naughty child.