Chapter 11: Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

ROXANNE

Tomorrow, my fate will be decided.

His words lingered on my mind as I was being hauled to a room by the guards. They had exchanged worried glances when the Alpha asked them to take me. I overhead one saying to the Alpha, “what If she kills one of us again?”

“Pee in your pants,” He had said. “She's only but a woman!”

They were quiet as they dragged me but from time to time they exchanged glances. Worry was evident on their faces and frustration lurked in their eyes.

I couldn't protest. I was weak and they could hurt me. Even when their nails dug deep into my skin I bit my bottom lip, afraid to utter a sound. They were still furious I killed one of their own.

I was still perturbed. I knew nothing about weapons. How did I make one of a spoon? How did I kill him? I had killed someone! It was sick but for the first time I had actually done something that made people wonder.

Oh Zane! Your weak sister took the life of a hefty man.

He would never have believed though. I still couldn't. I was scared of my hands now. It had a connection with my brain. One that made me have my guards up against people.

When Ryker’s men found me I knew I was as good as dead. I had taken a life in his domain and death was the answer to such transgressions for he was a man of war.

I had expected his wrath but rather he had spared me from the blade. For now. I was bewildered as to why he had opted to ask me questions instead. No one cared to know anything about me. What left me terrified and on my toes was his undecided judgement.

Would he kill me?

I was scared of dying. I didn't want to die but still I didn't want to live by scurrying away from people.

I didn't like people. They always had something under their sleeves. Something about their presence made the hairs on my neck stand.

Ryker could have me killed because keeping me was useless. Something about me triggered anger and irked him.

The abrupt halt distracted me from my thoughts and I realised we were in front of a cell. Unlike the dungeon I was put, this one was away from the world and had a bed with a weak light bulb that blinked every now and then. The door was forced open and I was thrown in.

“Not a word from you or you will be killed,” the guard warned.

I nodded even if a part of me wanted to spit in his face.

A sigh escaped my lips as I watched them put chains and a heavy padlock around the door. The light went off and I whimpered. I didn't like the dark.

“Please,” I called, “Can you turn on the light?”

“No,” a guard said frowning hard. “Alpha’s order.”

Grief weighed heavily on my chest but I put it behind me. At least, I had a bed to sleep on tonight.

***

Nightfall came with no warning and it brought no solace with it. I lay on the bed with eyes wide open, as my mind raced with conflicted thoughts.

Why wasn't I taken to my dungeon? What if I got killed in my sleep?

Being awake didn't stop me from being killed either but I would rather have death sing to me in a mocking tone than be lulled to death by heaven's cold arms.

Every rustle, every whisper threatened to be my last. I stayed up counting the hours that felt like forever and listened to the guards as they spoke in hushed tones that sent chills down my spine. Sleep seemed like a curse that I didn't dare close my heavy eyelids.

Or maybe I did.

***

Something rough fell on my face. I slapped it off and slowly opened my eyes. I saw pitch black. I may have drifted into slumber from playing the game of ‘don't fall asleep’

I couldn't tell the time it was for the cell had no window but I was sure it was still midnight. I heard the sound of crickets. I forced myself to sit up and that's when I felt it crawling up my leg again. Something rough. It was dark so I couldn't tell what it was but I was certain it was a creature.

Suddenly the light blinked and it came on. I shrieked when I saw what it was— what they were!

Spiders.

They were everywhere, on the walls, floor and bed. They were everywhere. How I hated those eight legged things. My heart throbbed in palpitation ad I thought of what to do. I trembled in fear, cold sweat broke on my forehead as I stood on the bed screaming like a maniac at the top of my lungs.

I yelled and kicked, trying to shove them off me but they wouldn't stop. Something trickled down my cheeks— tears. I hadn't even realised I was crying.

“Calm down,” I whispered as I tried to pacify myself.

“What do I do?” I cried nervously. “How did this happen?” I asked myself.

I sucked in my breath, placed an unsteady leg on the ground and ran for the cell gate. I climbed it and cried for help. The guards were around. I could hear them talking. They sounded merry. I glanced down and saw the spiders climbing my body again.

“Help me please,” I called out and paused.

There was a long silence. All the guards went quiet.

“Please anyone. Guards? There are spiders everywhere,” I cried in an urgent tone.

Suddenly the light went off. As if that would help the situation. There was an invasion of spiders in the cell I was placed. How was I supposed to stay put?

“Get away,” I shrieked as a spider crawled onto my face.

In an attempt to get it off, I lost my footing and fell hard on the ground, twisting my ankle in the process. I sobbed as I pulled the leg closely to me.

With all the strength I could muster I cried, “Somebody helppppppppppppp.”

I cried for help but the guards who kept watch outside made fun of me and laughed hysterically.

“Listen ma'am. If you don't keep it down I'll use this to silence you,” a guard said as he came into view. He jingled keys before my eyes. “Since you know a lot about stabbing, these keys are as good as spoons and really effective.”

“There are spiders,” I sobbed. “Please get them away.”

He grinned impishly.

“Is this another craft of yours?”

“I'm hurt,” I said and groaned out in pain, “My ankle is twisted. Please do something.”

“You are a very crafty woman. I won't fall for your tactics,” He spat. “You're trying to lure me in aren't you? So you can do what? Kill me like you did to him? I'm no fool!”

“You're going to let me stay in pain?”

He smirked as he jingled the keys again. “Why? You want me to let you out? You are not a damsel in distress.”

Another guard poked his head and scoffed at me. “I agree. You killed X. He's one of the strongest. If you could snuff him out with just a spoon then you're capable of so much more, woman.”

I turned away from them, screeching at the slightest inconvenience.

Retards! They believed I killed him but wouldn't believe he attempted to rape me.

If this was the Alpha’s way of torturing me, he had won. Probably that was why he separated me. I had wondered why he kept me here but now I knew. The question that bugged me most was how did he know?

No one knew one of my fears was spiders. How did he figure it out? I dragged myself to a corner of the cell, swatting away spiders as they fell on my skin. I was Irritated, frustrated and angry. It was overwhelming and it unnerved me.

I missed home.

I longed to be back in white moon. I wasn't loved but I was comfortable. I had a cosy room and I wasn't deprived of food except when I did something wrong. I would choose anything even if it was to be out in the woods.

Anything, just to be out of this place.

I cried till I couldn't cry anymore. I cried till I was weak. I cried till I realised how hungry I was. I cried till I accepted my fate.

This wasn't the life I chose but I guess this life found me. I couldn't get away from Ryker, ever. I would be found. My conspicuous hair would sell me out.

I ignored the creatures and thought about how blissful it was to be asleep. Away from reality. I closed my eyes, letting myself drift into the place where I had no worries.

I couldn't tell between my reality or my dreams. I had no idea if I had slept or I had closed my eyes for a long time. But I heard the sound of keys jingling and it stirred me from my trance.

It went on for a while and I heard a loud thud before the door of the cell was pushed open. I ignored it. It would be none other than those cruel guards.

I turned on my side and closed my eyes to proceed with sleeping when I heard his voice.

“Now what's all that noise about?”