The Reaper's Curse

Won't You Devote Your All to Me?

She feels weak. So weak. Her lips are flaking, her throat is swollen and sore, and her stomach is eating away at her flesh. Her whole body is failing.

It's been three days. She's surprised she's even managed to last this long. Over the past few days, she's just been drifting in and out of consciousness, but never into actual sleep.  

Lilith opens her eyes. The hunger won't let her sleep. 

Perhaps a breath of fresh air would help.

She pushes herself up onto an elbow and slowly moves her legs over the side of the bed, her head spinning from the mere movement. 

The front of her gown sticks to her skin from the sweat and unwashed blood. She had realised days ago that the water to her chambers had been cut off. Another means of coercion.

She needs food and water, and soon, but her pride and anger won't ever allow her to give in to the reaper.

Inch by inch, she climbs off the bed and her feet take her towards the balcony. Outside, the moon still hangs in the sky, its silver glow dimmed by silk curtains. No sign of morning.

Lilith throws open the balcony doors, and a gush of ice-kissed wind slices into her arms and face. Gazing at the grinning roses in the garden beneath her, a frightening idea flashes across her mind.

Gripping the railings tightly, she leans over the side and peers down. Two floors above ground, the drop isn't too great either.

If she were to try to escape...

The translucent white curtains flapping in the wind suddenly catch her attention through the corners of her eyes.

She has no choice. It's now or never.

Trembling, she grips the silk in her hands. It takes her several tries, but eventually, she manages to rip them from their frames. Adrenaline has driven her hunger to a corner of her mind.

She glances back towards the chamber doors, as if expecting the reaper to burst in at any moment. The prospect of being caught and killed looms over her. 

Working quickly, Lilith ties the two pieces of silk together before wrapping the makeshift rope around the stone railing. It hangs over the side, ten feet away from the ground. She'd have to let herself fall for those last few feet. 

Fear. It's the only thing coursing through her.

But she's desperate. There's no going back. 

Slowly, Lilith climbs over the railing and positions herself on it so that both her legs dangle over the side, with one hand clenching tightly onto the rope, the other onto the stone. 

Her only comfort is in knowing that at least the fall won't kill her. 

Taking a deep breath, Lilith flips herself over so that she's facing her chambers, and moves her left hand onto the rope. 

A heartbeat later, she begins to descend. 

Her hands and legs immediately start to burn as her skin rubs against the silk. She winces, tears of frustration welling in her eyes. But at least the pain is holding her fear at bay.

Bit by bit, she edges down the rope. Bit by bit, the ground comes nearer and nearer. She breaks into a smile, a small tinkling laugh escaping her lips. 

She's close...so close...just a little more, and she'll be free. She'll be free⎯⎯⎯⎯

A huge gust of wind is the only thing she feels before the rope sways, twists, crashing her into the side of the castle. Skin scrapes against stone, limbs tangle in limbs, hands slipping and slipping and then all she hears is the tearing of silk.