The Silence They Feared
Jasmine's POV
With a jolt, I opened my eyes.
Pain shot through all of my body. My limbs were stiff, my back hurt like it had been hit by a huge mountain, and my right leg was aching so much it must mean I'd really hurt myself. Twisted? Broken? I couldn't tell. But every time I took a breath it felt like it wasn't enough and I was barely able to pull in air.
A thick fog covered how I was thinking, but one name managed to make its way in.
Scarlett.
Where was she? Was she safe? Had she made it out?
I blinked quickly, trying to get past my light-headed feeling. The world around me looked blurry and seemed kind of dim. Cold air was hitting my skin, and I realized I wasn't inside the house. The sky was a darkish-blue, mostly gray, and I could watch streaks of light as the sun started to rise. I could hear murmurs. Voices. Men. Somewhere close.
I tried to lift my head, and sharp pain went down my back, almost feeling like I was hit by a sharp whip.
Don't move. Just don't move.
The voices got nearer, the leaves crunching as someone walked on them. Before I could make sense of anything, strong hands grabbed my arms and pulled me up in the air. My legs gave way right away, and I let out a yell as a strong jab of pain went through me once more.
"She's awake," someone muttered. "Good. The alpha has been waiting."
I couldn't tell who they were or what they looked like. Everything around me suddenly looked fuzzy, going in and out of sharp. Two of them pulled me along as if I was stronger than they were and took me to a big stone platform in the middle of a wooded area. They dropped me right in front of someone who didn't talk.
He just sat there.
Tall. Broad shoulders. A mask over his face. His presence was calm, but still made my skin feel heavy. Like standing next to a wild animal that hadn't eaten for a while.
"Is this the girl?" someone said in a low grumble right behind me.
"Yeah. Caught her just as she was about to leave the main part of the town and head into the woods.
"She's bleeding."
"She fell in the trap."
"Of course she did."
A boot nudged my side.
"Hey. Look at him."
I slowly lifted up my eyes. The man—clearly their leader—hadn't moved. Not a twitch. He seemed like a king, sitting on a rock throne with his elbows resting on his knees. His silence was scary, but his stillness sent even greater fear. It felt like he understood every emotion and thought I felt.
A woman stepped forward. She had her hair braided firmly and had drawn war paint across her face. She moved next to me, held my face with her hands, and turned it so I was looking at the masked man.
She said, "Let us know who you are."
My throat burned. All I could do was breathe air when I tried to talk. My speech was gone due to how much my body had suffered.
"She's silent?" the other one laughed.
The woman simply said, "She's worn out." "Give her a minute."
They waited. The silence grew heavier. I looked at the masked chief again. Still not a word. Still no motion.
"Tell me," the woman said once more, sounding even more stern. "Who sent you? Why were you running?"
My mind swirled. Could I trust them? No. They were hunters. Trappers. Maybe even assassins. These people were not within our team. I wouldn't say a word.
I had a question: Did Scarlett manage to escape?
I stayed quiet.
The woman sighed and said, "She isn't saying anything." "She's stubborn. I like that."
"She won't be able to keep it up much longer."
Someone snuck up on me and drenched me with iced water.
I screamed and jumped back in shock. My entire system went into spasms at the news. I felt water entering the cuts on my feet and ankles. I was almost literally being burned.
"We will try one more time," the woman said with a frosty tone.
She came beside me and whispered into my ear. "You've been caught, girl. You're hurt with plenty of your people around us. No one's coming for you. Not the guards. Not the palace. Not your little friend."
Scarlett.
State who you are and why you came here, right now.
I shook my head.
The woman narrowed her eyes. "You think you're tough?"
I gritted my teeth. It was not possible for me to let them know who I really was. If they learned I was the princess, everything would end for me.
Another man scoffed beside her, saying she wasn't saying anything. "You want me to kick her hard enough to break her leg?"
"No." The leader finally spoke.
Just one word. All conversation in the camp stopped at that moment.
The others backed away as if there was a line of fire in front of them. The woman took a deep breath and dipped her head down.
He stood from his statue and walked over to me. He walked softly and gently, his mask picking up the dim lighting from the morning. He came to me and knelt, so I couldn't see his eyes, yet I was sure they were burning on me.
The next thing I knew, he gently touched my neck with the two tips of his fingers. Checking my pulse.
I watched him, not knowing what action he would take next.
He whispered something. It was barely detectable as I heard it.
"You're dying."
His voice was calm. Not cruel.
He got to his feet once more and looked at the others. There is only a short amount of time left for her if she doesn't receive needed care.
"Then what?" the woman asked.
We cheer her up and motivate her to feel better.
The men moved forward quickly in response to what he nodded for before I knew what was happening. The first person put their hands under my arms, and the second one pulled on my leg until I was standing up straight. The pain was unbearable.
I let out a scream that was rough and torn from how I felt inside.
"She won't talk if she's unconscious," the woman argued.
"She will," the leader replied. "Eventually."
But I was already fading. The pain, the cold, the fear—it was too much.
My vision tunneled. The last thing I saw was the leader walking away, his figure swallowed by the shadows of the trees.
Then everything went dark again.