Chapter 25: Chapter 25

When I woke up, I felt a sharp pain rush through my body and it was like something I’d never felt before. I clutched the side of my head with my hand, leaned further into the wall behind me, and tried to look around and figure out where I was. There was nothing much to it other than the fact that the place was an absolute mess and the stench of dead animals was just everywhere.

The place was actually lit by bulbs and it looked like some kind of abandoned warehouse or some other shady place. If only I had a sign to know where I was and find a way to get help. I noticed some weapons littered around and I got an idea.

I tried to stand up to reach out like I wanted to but I couldn’t and not because I was bound or something. It was because my limbs felt so weak that I fell each time I tried to stand up. My captor obviously knew I would feel like that and didn’t bother tying me up. If only there was some other way out.

“Look who finally decided to wake up after sleeping for a week. The sleep dust must have been too much,” a familiar voice sneered and I looked to see that it was Avyanna. Fun fact was that her voice wasn’t like the one in my head. The difference was clear. “How is your first day being kidnapped?’

“Peachy, actually. I’m so excited to see what the future here holds for me,” I said with a forced grin that felt even more painful than when I tried to stand up.

“Please stop that. You look uglier than you do on a normal day.”

“I would call you an imbecile but that would be cruel as you wouldn’t even be able to spell it,” I said weakly attempting a comeback.

She rolled her eyes and walked closer to me. “I simply asked you to stay away from Leon and it was an honest request that wasn’t meant to cause anyone pain. I’ll let you go, because I’m feeling nice today, only if you agree to stay the hell away from Leon.”

“Over my dead body,” I spat. She smirked. “Okay, then.”

Immediately those words came out of her mouth, she threw a punch as fast as lightning that caused my head to jerk backwards with so much force that I hit the wall I was leaning on. It didn’t hurt that much but no one had ever physically hurt me so I couldn’t help the tears that flowed down my cheeks.

There was only little I could take. Sure, I didn’t let people’s words get to me but I wasn’t a fighter. I’d never believed in violence and the last thing I’d want to do is attack somebody who obviously was more advanced than I was.

“I’m feeling a little generous today,” she said as she took a step backwards. “Just agree to it and I will let you go, let your friends go, and everything will be back to normal.”

I didn’t know if it was just my ears or something but I heard her whisper, “For both of us.” I decided it was just my ears and made to answer her question.

“You already know my answer,” I said with a sigh.

She raised a brow and propped her hands on her hips. “You do realize that everything in here can kill you and I can do it most efficiently, right?”

“Who cares?” With her lightning speed, her blade pressed against my throat and I froze. That was all it took for my newly found confidence to disappear. “Go ahead. Kill me. Add another ghost to haunt your stupid self.”

She looked like she was thinking about it and did the last thing I expected. She backed away. “I would kill you but she only told me to scare you and not actually kill you. The last thing I want is my head hanging.”

“Who is she?” I asked suddenly interested and over the shock of her desire to kill me. “Who is this person that is making you hurt me?”

“None of your business,” she snapped.

“Leon is going to come and save me. You’ll see.”

“Listen to me and I’m telling you this because, like I’ve been saying, I’m feeling nice and giddy. People like Leon are of a different type from you. He will never appreciate you and when it is time, he will leave you and nothing you say or do will stop him. You know why?” I didn’t answer. “DO YOU KNOW WHY?”

“No,” I whispered.

“Because to people like him, people like us, you are nothing but dirt under our shoes. We are better than you and we will never want to be associated with crap humans especially not the ones that are like you. You need to stop thinking like a child and face reality. Know your place.”

I won’t lie and say that her words didn’t get to me because they did. They hurt me so badly and I wasn’t easily hurt but like always, I didn’t bother with showing that I was hurt and smiled instead.

“You can say all you want but I believe Leon is different.”

“You’re going to be a tough nut to crack so I’m going to find other ways to make you give in. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“Can’t promise you that.”

She assessed me and left me immediately. When she banged the door, I couldn’t help but jump slightly. I thought it was a good thing she didn’t want to kill me but I had to find a way out before she changed her mind and actually killed me.

Luckily the weary feeling was slowly leaving and I was feeling a lot stronger. I crawled up to where I saw a knife and picked it up hoping that knife would actually do damage to her. I planned to hide it until she came and I would be able to distract her then run away. It wasn’t a perfect plan but it was all I could think of at that moment.

I silently prayed to God that my body would be on my side and actually get its strength back. Luckily for me, God was actually paying attention and my strength started coming to me. It

wasn’t enough to overpower a weregriffin, but it was enough to cause momentary distraction and get me far away from her.

When she came inside, the first thing I did was to make sure she was alone and without weapons. She wasn’t. Without thinking, I tossed the knife at her since I’d always had perfect aim. What I didn’t expect or plan for, was for her to catch it like it was a pen I’d thrown.

Her eyes turned gold-ish and she shot me a glare that terrified me even more. “Okay, now I’m angry. You better have some plan or you are dead meat.”

“I can handle you. This isn’t my first time dealing with people like you,” I said shooting her a glare.

She paused and smirked. “Really? You’ve dealt with a furious weregriffin before? Please, tell me their names. Maybe we can exchange numbers and meet up for tea and biscuits.”

She was right. I was only human and there was nothing I could do to save my life if she really wanted to kill me. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take a hint and give up so I ran towards a weird sword thingy I spotted and took it in my hand hoping that my aim and the gymnastics I did in high school would save me.

“If you want me,” I panted, “come and get me.”

She paused, languidly sweeping a hand up and under her chin causing a cruel smile to grace her lips. “Want you in which way darling? Don’t get me wrong, both involve ropes, but it’s an important distinction to make before we proceed.”

I knew that was her being a Dirty Dan but what I didn’t think was that she was a lesbian. I mean, she made sure she let me know of her interest in Leon. Wasn’t that what all this was about?

I didn’t have time to dwell on the thought because something hit me and I fell to the floor. Avyanna walked up to me and tied my legs and hands with ropes that magically appeared then placed a hand on my head. Immediately, I went to sleep and I was convicted that the only reason she was doing all this was for someone else. I wished I knew who it was.

***

I woke up later that day, maybe it was the next, because of a terrifying dream I’d had. I was so scared of dying that I couldn’t sleep without having a panic attack that Avyanna would kill me. I couldn’t stop my heart from beating so fast and I couldn’t stop myself for crying.

“Shh, shh.”

Avyanna settled herself on my lap, looping her arms around me. One hand cupped the back of my head and stroked soothing fingers through my hair, guiding my head to rest on her shoulder.

“It’s alright. Calm down.”

My wrists strained against the ropes binding my limbs to a pole, heart feeling like it might jack-knife out of my chest, never ending jangling. I tried to calm down like she said but I couldn’t help it. The burning sensation in my chest was impossible to bring down.

“Just match your breathing to mine,” she continued with a hint of concern in her tone as she handed over my inhaler. I didn’t know how she was aware that I was asthmatic but I felt I would be forever indebted to her for that. “We both know I’m going to hurt you no matter what so there’s really no point having a panic attack about it. No need to cry now.”

She continued making soothing sounds, crowning my head with kisses like a mother would do to her child. I don’t know why but it calmed me down. I expected myself to be even more scared that she would do that but it was strangely calming especially when she started singing softly to help me go back to sleep.

This time I was sure it wasn’t my ears when I heard her say, “I’m sorry.”