Chapter Three

"Who the heck do you think you are?" I asked, masking my voice with one like a disgusted police officer.

"Not who you think."

"Enlighten me- us."

"I'm one of the ones who was kidnapped as well. I've been waiting ages for you to actually wake up, but I got tired of waiting and went to find you myself." The voice was masculine, but not exactly deep, either.

"Clearly you need to learn some patience. The girl I'm laying on top of needed her beauty sleep." I smirked invisibly, which was the only good thing about the darkness surrounding me.

"I'm sorry that I need 10 hours of sleep a night, OMG," a high-pitched feminine tone responded, as if on cue. "Maybe you make such horrible perfume and moisturizer choices because you don't get enough sleep."

"Maybe," I sighed, not feeling up to arguing- despite being ready for it just a few minutes ago. "Let's just cut the crap, alright? Everyone exchange their names and ages and whatever, get along, and then we can finally all work together to turn on some A.C. and lights." Hopefully.

"Delilah Destiny, 15."

"ParkerMason Kelstof, 15."

I cleared my throat. "Carson Moyer. I'm also 15."

Finally, the new guy raised his voice and spoke. "Dakota Offlinton. 15 years of age."

So we were all 15. There was no way that was a coincidence. However, if there was any purpose behind the ages, I didn't see it. Whoever was running this experiment really needed to do their research on moody teenagers, though. We could send them running with just a few phrases.

"Alright. Let's go, I guess." I reached in a random direction and my fingers grazed someone's shoulder. Whoever it was flinched back a little bit, but I reached for them again. "Sorry if this makes all of you uncomfortable-"

"You mean y'all, right?"

Anyone could guess who said that. "No, Delilah. I don't. As I was saying, we need to lock hands. Yes, if you want to call it holding hands, that is what it is. Unfortunately, it's the only way we can all stick together."

"But what if I would rather work alone?" Dakota's voice sounded from the shoulder I was touching. I thought the fabric of his shirt felt different.

"Then you can die alone. The only way we're getting through this is if we work together. Haven't you seen any movies?"

"No. They're expensive wastes of time in which Hollywood makes up crap that will never happen. Enlighten me."

My closed fists clenched harder. I felt the nails digging into my flesh and stopped. "Grab a hand," I muttered, grabbing his and someone else's. Waiting about thirty seconds, I tugged on the hands I clasped and asked everyone if they were ready. After a brief pause of them all answering that we could start walking, we did. In no particular direction, with no real reason, we just walked with our feet kicking out before we stepped to make sure we weren't about to run into a wall.

It was only a matter of time before we did. My foot kicked something hard, and I cursed violently. "Woah, take it easy there," Parker laughed, trying desperately to lighten the mood. I couldn't see my foot to hold it, and I definitely couldn't see it to see if I had broken something or shoved my stupid freaking toe inside of my stupid freaking foot. From toddlerhood I had always been the least dainty, and that trait certainly showed in the way I had kicked the wall like a madman. Suffering for it now, I began to wish I had struck the surface with much, much less force.

"There's a wall right in front of us," I stated dryly, leaning on said wall and using it as a brace to find my foot. It was fine, but ask anyone. Stubbed toes hurt. Especially when you aren't expecting them.

"Yippee. We did it." Dakota let go of my hand like it was a burning hot pot. "...what exactly did we do, again?"

"I'd like to know as well." The sassy voice was unmistakable. "Seems like you just walked 'till you hurt yourself. Unless that's, like, normal for you, or something. Haha." She snickered.

"Wow, you're hysterical." I snorted. "Anyway, I wanted to find a wall so we could, I dunno, scoot along it or something and search for a light switch, a door, anything." I grinned, satisfied. "That reason enough for you?"

Everyone agreed except for- guess who- Delilah. "I'm not going to rub against the wall like some idiot! I'll mess up my hair, my makeup, and my... what's that "d" word again?"

"Dignity?" Dakota suggested blandly.

"Yup! That's the one!" She gave the fakest laugh I've ever heard. "But seriously. Like, no. Never."

I had a decision to make (though I wasn't honestly sure why it was me making all the decisions. We're all the same age, right?!), and I really didn't want to make it. One one hand, I could let Delilah sit back and do nothing while we worked our butts off to find some switches, doors, or windows. On the other, I could force her to work along with us, not scoring me any points with her, but maybe, possibly getting some points with the boys. I needed these people, however annoying some of them were, to trust me and to trust each other. It was the only way we'd be able to work together in the future. And the person I really needed to score some trust points with was Delilah. The girl and I hadn't exactly gotten off to a wonderful start, so I really, really needed to get on her good side. If not for my sanity or survival, for the boys'.

I made my decision.