Winter

Chapter 9: Winter

They didn't find me until an hour after I passed out. But I still saw the infiltrator in the back of my mind. What was he doing here? What business did he have in the palace? Who did he work for? Questions raced inside my head, never ending.

"Princess Winter! " A guard jostled me awake. He gripped my shoulders so tightly it started to hurt.

"I'm fine," I said, groggily. I finally opened my eyes. My vision was blurred and all I could see was a massive shadow blocking a light. But what I saw after surprised me. I wasn't in the palace anymore. I looked up and saw pipes lining along the ceiling. They continued into a tunnel that led off from this room. The walls were all stone, and it smelled of mildew and mold. I was sitting in a rickety, wooden chair. A table sat in front of me. Splinters dug into my back. I tried to move but I realized I was tied up.

A hand gripped my jaw and turned it so I was face to face with the infiltrator. He was across from me, on the other side of the table. "You," I said. He just stared. I felt like I was being searched, like he was weighing everything I've ever done against me.

"Winter, I know you might be disoriented and before you do anything crazy, I just want to let you know that we're not going to hurt you. We just want some answers." His tone was very business-like. And in a deep whisper, as if he were telling me a secret. I tried to put this together, groping for any memories before he kidnapped me. I couldn't remember anything.

"What do you mean by we?" I asked, suddenly fearful.

"Quiet," he said with authority. His voice echoed down the tunnel. "Just answer the questions." I nodded. I didn't ask for mercy, I just played along. But I was still frightened.

"I want the truth. No lies, nothing twisted, nor incomplete. I want everything." He slammed his hand down on the wooden surface of the table as he said the last word. I didn't move an inch.

"Understand?"

"Yes," I muttered.

He placed both of his hands on the table. "The first thing I want to know is the location of the missing princess."

"Why would you ask such a thing?" I was appalled by his directness and his snoopiness.

"Stars, you can't be this dumb," he groaned. For some reason, I wasn't offended. "You think that chip just magically appeared on the divan right after Levana left. As if you were just part of her game?" He seemed frustrated now. His hands were clenched, and he wore a menacing scowl. I didn't respond.

He sighed. "We've been interfering with your lives longer than you expected. Now answer my question."

"How do I know if you are just going to kidnap them? How do I even know if you're just a double agent working for Levana?" I exclaimed.

He threw his head back in irritation, and grunted. "Apparently," he breathed, "You are too stubborn to answer. Perhaps...we can make an arrangement."

"You can't persuade me," I said determinedly. He clasped his hands together and bowed his head.

"I have something that you hold dear to your heart. And then maybe you can talk."

"Whatever makes you think that I can be won over so easily?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Bring out the prisoner," he calls to no one in particular. We wait in silence. Nothing happens. The only noise is the sound of my deep breathing.

Then, I hear the patter of footsteps, echoing down tunnels. They got closer, and louder. The prisoner? Who is that? I pictured a battered-looking man, with a gruff look and tattoos snaking up his arms. They were close now. The footfalls have now turns into thuds, stomping onto the concrete floor.