commander

sewing shop

Nala

My entire body ached, my skin definitely covered in bruises, my ankle done for. I couldn't win now.

I crawled into an alleyway next to the house, nursing myself from a concussion I knew I had. I breathed in and out, counted my fingers, and made sure I wasn't bleeding anywhere. It was difficult. I was covered in blood.

A bell chimed.

An hour.

Another bell.

And another.

And another.

It was four in the morning.

How long had I been out? How had someone not seen me?

I pressed myself between the two walls so that I could stand, slowly putting weight on my foot. It didn't hurt as bad as I expected, but I also thought it was broken.

It stung, the ache sending pain through my entire body. I listened for anything, just like I had before. Blood dripping? Breathing. A lot of it. Foot steps, no more than four, most likely less.

I peaked as little as I could, seeing three people walking. Perhaps they had a truce to fight to the death when they were the last standing. I watched as the girl walked in the middle, a bloody axe in one hand, two necklaces in the other. These were the last people I had to kill.

I breathed hard, hoping to stay concealed. I couldn't fight them right now. I need to makeshift a splint. I watched their moves. The girl tightened her grip on the axe. Oh, God.

She swung up, hitting the man on the left in the neck. She pulled the axe out with her entire body weight, making herself fall. The remaining man swung down with a spear, hoping to his her chest. She dodged with a clever roll, causing his knee to snap backward. He roared in agony before she did the other. He fell onto his ass as she stood and swung the axe into his head. He is deformed.

I bit back tears as I watched the mangled scene. She retrieved the pendant and put them around her own neck, five now decorating her collar. She ran away from were I stood, looking for any sign of life.

I got up and walked to a sewing shop. They had boning for corsets. Enough would make the base for a good splint. Enough lace tram would make a decent bandage.

I sat on a cushions and took the boning, already concealing any evidence I was here. I scrambled for boning and trim, finding them on opposite sides of the shop. My shit ankle and hand didn't help.

I pulled my foot from the boot, placing the boning on the inside of my sock. It couldn't matter that much. I tightly wrapped the strip of fabric I found, tying it uncomfortably tight. It couldn't be much longer I was stuck here. I breathed in and out, tempering Elena and Diana and Kai. I thought of Torra, the reminder I was to marry him. I wanted it so badly.

I looked at the ring, the hem definitely to catch the light at some point. I must conceal it somehow.

I stood up, the splint helping stabilize my ankle. I looked through boxes, hoping for any gloves. For a lady's ball gowns. Or a lumberjack chopping wood. Or a prostitute giving a hand job. Anything.

When I finally felt something, I took a breathe of relief. They were maroon red and velvety, a bit small for my hands, but still fitting nonetheless. My ring made a bulge and tightened the fabric, but it would be over soon. Yes. It would.

I forced the words more than I should.

I peered out of the sewing shop. I was near city limits. Had I been dragged from the house after my fall? I wasn't here before. The stable wasn't far, and I could take a horse, attack the girl, and leave.