Dropping my shirt, I examined the cage. There was no door, which I thought was odd, so I began looking around for how they got me into the thing. Looking up, I saw a chain attached to the top of the cage. I followed the chain to a pulley system. It seemed they just lifted the cage up and down to capture or release their prey.
The steel surrounding me looked strong, but I knew I was stronger. I backed up and crouched, ready to lunge at the wire with all my weight. It should not have been a problem to break through. In fact, I wondered why Alex hasn’t done it yet.
“Jordan, No!”
I ignored Alex’s shout and charged. My body crashed into the metal wire, but instead of breaching the cage, an electrical charge ripped through me. My breathing halted, as I shook violently for over ten seconds, as the electricity coursed through my sore body.
Finally, I slumped to the ground, twitching uncontrollably. Spasms wracked my muscles, the pain crippling as I tried to take a breath.
“Jordan! Man, talk to me!”
I took a few deep breaths and tried to slow my erratic heartbeat, as my muscles began to relax. A metallic flavor coated my tongue. I spit out the blood and rolled over to look at Alex. His gaze was concerned and yet knowing.
“I assume you tried that as well,” I said as I sat up. I knew I wouldn’t be able to stand upright yet, so I didn’t even try.
Alex smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Oh, yeah, I tried. It was the first thing I did.”
“We have to figure a way out of here.”
“There is no way out,” a voice croaked from across the room.
I looked over at Markus and could see him curled into a ball within his cage.
“We’ll find a way,” I growled.
Mark shifted, so he could face me. “The only way out is when we’re thrown into the trench. But we won’t be free.”
“What are you talking about? What’s the trench?”
When Mark didn’t say anything, only rocked back and forth with his arms curled around his knees, I looked to Alex.
“Did you notice something strange about the jaguars?” He asked.
I remembered the way the cats’ eyes were glowing red, as repulsive pink foam filled their mouths. Their strength was so that I couldn’t fight them off.
“They weren’t strange, Alex, they were fucked up.”
“Yeah, fucked up on drugs,” he nodded.
“What?”
“Cocaine,” Mark said. “The cocaine is what caused it.”
“What’s he talking about?” I asked Alex.
“It seems cocaine has a nasty side effect for shifters. Not only does it cause their eyes to change and gives them that disgusting drool, but they also obtain immense strength.”
“Don’t forget to tell him how crazy they are,” Mark whispered.
Alex sighed, obviously irritated with the man. It looked to me like Mark was going a little crazy himself.”
“The drug also makes them volatile and on edge. While high, they can’t shift, irritating them even more.”
“Why didn’t he tell us about this before?”
Mark had been the one who called Teij for help to begin with. He became our informant, and along with our Intel, helped us get in and out unseen. He also helped by stashing stuff, like my clothes at Layla’s house.
“He was captured soon after he found out, as he was trying to contact us.”
Shit! I ran my hands over my face wearily. I was tired and wished like hell that my dream of Sam had been real. I would have given anything to have been with her right then.
“How long has he been down here?”
“Since before you went to Layla’s.”
“What?” I asked, shocked.
“Jordan, they knew you were there. Layla was murdered with you there on purpose, but they didn’t want to kill you.”
“Why?”
Alex blew out a loud breath. “That, I’m still trying to figure out.”
“What’s with Mark? He’s told you all of this, but now he wants to stay quiet?”
“I think he’s just about snapped. He’s been in here a long time, and he’s scared, but of what, I’m not sure. He won’t talk about anything else, and he hasn’t said exactly what the trench is.”
“Something’s going down, though,” Alex continued. “A guard has come in a few times a day since we got here, just to check to see if you were awake yet. This room must be sound proofed, because every time that door has opened, I’ve heard screams.”
“Like torture?”
“No,” he shook his head. “More like a lot of people having a good time. They scream, whistle and shout out names like they’re at a sporting event.”
My mind began putting the pieces together. A sporting event, shouts, drugged jaguars with vast strength… Before I could finish my thought, the heavy metal door opened with a loud groan. Immediately, I heard the cheering of a crowd, and I knew exactly what was going on, but my attention was somewhere else. It was strained on the man walking into the room.
He was tall, but shorter than I was, with wide shoulders and a lean build. His brown hair was graying at the temples and he had wrinkles at the corner of his familiar brown eyes. The cruel and satisfied expression contorted his face into an evil mask.