Free Chained (The Siren Series #2) by L.A.Griffiths

shattering into tiny
pieces. “I don’t want this to be my life anymore; I don’t want to
keep running all the time.”
    “ We will find a way Ellie, I promise
you.” Rhea turned to me and pulled me close to her.
    “ Thank you, Rhea.”I squeezed her stone
body tight, I felt safe when I was with Rhea, but was it all a lie?
Was she the one dragging me into the danger?
    “ What’s inside that room you came out
of?”
    I pulled away from her and waited for her
response. “I was talking with Naaz, she knows everything. She has
agreed to shelter us, but I don’t think we should outstay our
welcome.”
    That was fine with me. I didn’t want to be
here anymore then I had to.
    “ Why did she hit you?” The words just fell
out of my mouth and I immediately felt awful. “Rhea, I’m sorry.” I
tried to apologize.
    “ It’s ok Ellie. We used to be sisters,
well more than that, but that was a long time ago. I was a
different person back then, not what I am now.”
    “ What happened between you?” I
asked.
    “ I felt I was going down the wrong path
and it nearly destroyed me.” Rhea eyes turned glassy, she was
reliving the memories of her haunted past.
    “ Does she hate you?” I
asked.
    “ I don’t know Ellie, but we have to be
careful around her.” Rhea warned me.
    “ Is she dangerous?” I asked.
    “ She can be, but I will be watching her
very closely.”
    Those words gave little comfort but I had no
choice but to accept them.
    “ Rhea, what happened at the underground
bunker?” I asked.
    “ I have failed them. They’ve just kept
hitting us again and again. We are not ready for them.” she
replied.
    “ That’s what scares me the most.” I
replied.
    “ Me too, Ellie.” She continued to look
out of the window as if she was watching someone’s
movements.
    “ I think I’m ready for bed now,” I
said.
    “ Yes, sleep well, and Ellie, thank you
for talking with me.” I left her in the hall as I made my way back
to the room with the spitting fire. Sophia and Marcus were still
asleep, Sophia took the other broken sofa while Marcus laid on the
floor among the many pillows. I quietly crept back to my spot and
tried to go back to sleep.

Chapter Seven

    “ Should we wake her?” someone
whispered.
    Whispers awoke me from my sleep and I tried
to block them out.
    I grunted my annoyance.
    “ No, leave her sleep, she’s been
through enough.” another voice whispered.
    “ Come on, I’m starving, hope she’s got
some decent food.”
    Ah crap. My brain was now fully awake. I
sniffed the many aromas that drifted around. It was food and it
smelled great. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and stretched my
aching muscles. Sophia and Marcus had gone and I jumped up from the
sofa panicking. My heart started to thump hard inside my chest. Had
they left me? Have they finally had enough? My tired legs rushed
out into the hall only to hear voices. I followed them to a large
kitchen, where everyone was eating and chatting away.
    “ Morning, Ellie.” said Marcus, as he
tucked in to his plate of meat.
    Sophia was also there and sitting next to her
was Rhea, but she wasn’t eating. The three of them sat around an
old wooden table that had many scuffs and dents.
    I took a spot next to Marcus who made enough
room on the bench for me. On the table was a small banquet of
meats, breads and fruits. Different kinds of jams and jugs of juice
filled the table. I helped myself to some toast and a glass of
fresh orange juice.
    “ Where did this all come from?” I
asked.
    “ Naaz.” Rhea replied.
    “ Finally, she has her uses.” added
Marcus.
    “ Did you all sleep well last night?”
asked Rhea.
    There were grumbles coming from Sophia and
Marcus, looks like they didn’t have the best night’s sleep
either.
    I remained quiet. I didn’t want to tell the
others that Rhea and I had a talk that night. I think I’d rather
keep that between us.
    “ So what is the plan then, Rhea?”
Marcus asked with a mouth full of