Empty as my Heart

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

A small, stout woman led me to a dark tunnel.  She had taken my hand swiftly after the commotion I'd made, pulling me along with her.  We'd been walking for what seemed like hours.

"I'm deeply sorry, child,"  she told me, splotchy face weathered and kind.  I was terrified.  What could possibly be going on inside the minds of the others?  All of them...watching me.  Seeing my defenslessness.  James, aswell, with his lame leg and walking staff.  But...otherwise, he was pretty strong, right?  I'd seen him help out with many harsh tasks, that involved lifting and building.  He would be fine. 

But what about me?

Would I be fine?  I was small, barely an inch shorter than this woman.  She couldn't possibly stretch over 5'3.

And I was a considerable amount thinner than her, my hands tiny.  My arms skin and bones.  How could I possibly protect myself against all of these burly peasents.  All of which had worked all of their lives, wrestling unwilling cattle and wielding large axes.

My breathing picked up, making me sway dangerously, but I kept pace with the lady.  She scurried like a fox, bringing me swiftly along with her. 

"What's your name, sweetheart?"  she finally asked, realizing how faint I was.

"Mae..."  I whispered, trying to clear my head.  She grinned at me, "And mine is Zinnia, based on the flower.  A beauty is it not?"

I nodded, recognizing it easily.  She seemed smarter, more civilized than the rest of them.  I almost relaxed, but decided against it.  This could all be a trap.  Any kind of trust could be shattered at moments notice, so none could be shared.  I did hold my head higher, though, feeling a bit less vulnerable. 

Finally we halted, stopping at a peculiar wooden door.  Its hinges were rusted metal, yet strong.  A thick, brass lock latched across it. 

My expression must have given my thoughts away, because Zinnia laughed. 

"I don't wish to lock you in a dungeon, young Mae!" she piped.  I noticed how weak she looked when she laughed, easily able to be taken.  Yet, I knew she'd take me easily, too.  She outweighed me by at least a hundred and ten pounds.

"Silly girl, this is your dormitrory.  You will stay here to sleep, to be safe."

Now I knew why it was heavily locked.

I gave a gruff nod, following the woman inside.  She stopped just inside the entrance, leaving me to look around.  The room was considerably small, nothing special.  It looked like a small cavern, yet the floor was padded and tiny shelves protruded from an opposite wall.

Someone else looked at me, wide eyes the size of a raccoon's.

The girl was kneeling on the floor, face gaunt and colorless.  If she'd been motionless, I'd have called her a ghost.  Her thick black hair floated around her in fraying braids. 

I knew this child.

"...A...Ariana.." I choked out, lips unable to speak from fear of what they would say next.  She turned, shock filling her face with tears.  I didn't stop moving, feet numb with light-weighted misery.

"Mae.." she cried, filling the last few steps, embracing me with her tiny embrace.  I held her closely, crying my heart out, hearing her do the same.  When did our world find kindness enough to leave us all alone?  How could anyone possibly kill an inocent?

That's right, I'm already given up.  Life seemed too far a stretch, and pinprick of light in the fallen slide of rocks in a tavern.  My senses were up, and fatigue set.  We wept until our eyes could no longer open, tears slowly dripping away as sleep overcame us.

But arms would bring us comfort, cold air would be warmed by each other.

Crying helped no one.