Heart of a rogue

* Chapter 5 - Twinkle and Ms. crazy pants

I felt drained of all my energy. My hands were tied behind my back and secured around a rough wooden pole. The coarse texture of the rope scratched against my skin, sending sharp discomfort through me every time I moved. My knees ached from being stuck in this kneeling position for what felt like hours. The gritty sand beneath me only added to the pain—burning and irritating my skin as I shifted. I could feel the heat of the day creeping up, even though the sun had only just started to rise.

The ground beneath me was sandy, and after being in this position for hours, the ache in my body intensified with each passing minute. I had managed to lose the rope around my wrist at some point, but the freedom it offered was short-lived. I quickly realized I couldn't escape. The ropes were tied too tightly. The pain in my wrists and ankles was unbearable, and every attempt to wriggle free made it worse.

The rogues I recognized tried to escape with me earlier. They helped me attack the guards, but we were too weakened and exhausted to do anything. Now, the instigators who'd been involved in the escape attempts were all bound to poles next to me. Others, looking at us with disdain and suspicion, whispered among themselves. Weren't they rogues before? Why were they following this foolish camp?

I cursed them all, beckoning to stand up for themselves. 

None did, so I screamed at them. Fucking weaklings.

Then Joshua came. He had the nerve to come up to me and gag me—tight and cruel. And as if that wasn't enough, he added tight knots around my ankles, ensuring I couldn't move. He pushed me back against the pole before he even thought about clamping a binding around my neck, securing me further.

I tried to scream at him, but the gag muffled any sound I could make. All that came out were indistinct growls.

"This is a warm welcome from your mate," he whispered in my ear after securing me, his words dripping with mock sympathy.

The anger that surged inside me was maddening. I thrashed against my restraints, desperate to break free, my skin tearing at the force of my movements. Nothing worked. 

That was a while ago. Since then, my fighting had subsided. I had no strength left to struggle against these damn bindings. The sun was rising, and I could already feel the oppressive heat settling in. Fuck. I'll be in the sun the whole day? I felt the frustration bubbling inside me. Surely they'd take me down by midday. If not, I might roast alive, just like a duck on a spit.

The rogues next to me looked at me with pity. At least they were only bound by their hands. They could still stand up or sit down, but I was stuck in the same painful position for hours. "We won't give up, yeah?" one whispered to me. Her name was Belle. I recognized her from the past. She was loud and always present at the parties. A lot of the males tried to get her attention. I knew all about that. She was a pretty female. 

Crazy too.

I nodded weakly and groaned behind the gag.

"Lucy, right?" she asked.

I nodded again.

"Lucille wasn't your style, huh?" She laughed softly, and I couldn't help but join her in the laugh. It felt nice, even if it was brief. ''My name is actually Bellarose, but fuck that.''

It was the same for me. Lucille was a mouthful, and Lucy was easier to say. I didn't get to choose my name at birth, so I never really had a say in it.

I mumbled something else, but the gag made it impossible for her to understand me. She joked that I sounded like I had a mouth full of cock. Which made me roll my eyes.

The guards, standing on alert, eyed us warily, but none of them approached the circle of sand. Our area was surrounded by sand and grass. Belle smiled at me, her face softening. "You gave me strength to oppose them. Actually, you inspired me before today. I mean, you kicked Rick's ass last night."