A Troll's Hunger (Dark Taste 1)

Chapter V: Humans Like Her

When I awaken, I am startled since I don't recognize this place, but it all comes back to me in vivid flashes. I grip the soft blankets and sit up quickly, first peering at the place where I had last seen him.

How could I have fallen asleep like that, especially in front of a Troll? Did I want to die? Get eaten?

I don't see anything or anyone, and I look all over the place, my breathing hastening in fear. I study the shadows in every corner, expecting something to appear, but nothing does.

That Troll, where is he?

Last night he had kidnapped and threatened me.

What if...

I then remove the blankets and begin to check my body for any missing parts. Luckily, after my assessment, I find nothing is out of place or eaten. I'm okay so far, just a slight body ache from my fall, but other than that, I am okay.

Though, where is he?

If he isn't here, has he gone back to watching the borders of his tribe? Or is he doing something else that Night Dwellers do?

But what do Night Dwellers do when they are not eating humans?

I shiver, getting grotesque images in my head, my imagination running wild. They were probably making more of themselves, more Night Dwellers.

I shake my head to dispel such awful thoughts, and it is then I am reminded of my hair. That Troll had undone a part of my braid. I feel the rest of my head. The other braid is fine, but my bangs are sticking straight up, the ones my grandfather has always called the 'cow lick' because it appeared as if a cow has licked my hair.

I must look so silly, but my looks aren't a priority now. I need to escape. Thoughts of my messy hair are the least of my worries.

I slowly get to my feet and tiptoe toward the exit, waiting for him to jump on me from the shadows the whole time.

But the clawed hands never reach out to grab me. I peel back the flap of deerskin and look outside.

I see no one but just a few fires. The rest of the village is blanketed in darkness. There is a big possibility the Trolls are roaming around, despite my eyes not seeing them.

Do they even sleep while it is night? If not, where are they?

I swallow hard. There is no noise anywhere and nothing to be seen but the orange, yellow, and reds of glowing fires. I step outside the hut cautiously, careful to avoid the light from all their fires in front of the other huts.

Are they inside? Is now the perfect time to tempt fate and attempt an escape?

I gather some courage from deep inside me and move to the edge of the cliff, where these huts are clustered. Peering down, I see a single fire at the base of the mountain. It is faint, but it must be the same one I was at not too long ago. There is also a guard there, from what I have heard the Troll who brought me here say.

How will I get past them? Then there are other Night Dwellers in the forest and also more Trolls.

The wind blows against my dress, and the sensation of falling down this cliff makes me queasy. I will not survive that fall, for sure. I back away from the edge so that I can begin my journey. Until I bump into something.

Something very hard and very big and very muscular. Something that wasn't there a moment ago.

The big thing that is behind me is very much alive and breathing.

I freeze, my heart stopping for a second, then pounding rapidly.

How did I miss someone so huge?