Whither and Decay

Chapter five: Callen

 This chapter is relatively short. Sorry guys.   

After I lead Arden to the barn, I see General Wofford in my fathers grand office. Shit. Let me get her. I walk at a fast pace to the barn. I see her hunched over a bush. "Arden? You okay?"

She nearly jumps from my voice. "Sorry I just- it's a little hot for me, as I don't normally wear a corset. But when I do it makes me feel a little suffocated and I can't breathe. Vomiting helps relieve the pressure in my body." Her face is red. She looked like she was crying.

"Do you need some water? I can grab you some. You can stay out here with the fresh air."

"Um- no I'll go with you, I think I'm done being outside." She stumbles on her words. She seems less put together than before. I want to ask her what's wrong, but I also don't want her to feel pressured.

I grab her arm and place it in the crook of my arm. I pat her hand once. We start walking to the palace. "So, what book did you choose from the library?" Maybe I can distract her mind.

"I- I don't really know which one I chose, I just chose a random one."

"You keep stumbling on your words, are you okay?"

"Yep. All good."

I take her through the dining hall and into the kitchen. "Can you get her a water please Oren?"

"Yes of course sir." He closes his book and grabs a fresh glass. "Ice?"

Arden is spaced out. "Arden? Ice?" I nudge her arm to get her back to life for a second.

"No thank you."

Oren hands Arden her glass, she picks it up and nearly chokes. "Slow down there Arden. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes. I'm fine. Just thirsty, now stop asking me that."

"You got it." We walk to an empty hallway, she grabs a hold of my collar.

"You said he was in there. You said my father was there."

"Arden. I said that's where he normally is during the day."

"Don't toy with me. Did you send Merrick down to the barn?"

"No I didn't. What happened?"

"Nothing. Forget about it." She drops my collar and walks off.

I want to know what happened to her. She seemed terrified, disgusted, and humiliated. I walk back down to the barn to figure it out. I peak my head through, I can't see enough. I need Atticus to help me. He's better at looking at finer details.