Divine punishment

The test part 2

The next morning, she awoke to the violent feeling of a slap on her cheek, the men in front of her clicked his tongue in slight annoyance

-Didn't i told you just last night that heavy sleeper didn't lasted long down here ?

"You also told me i should fully rest tonight" was what the kid wanted to answer at first but she really needed this men's help and so making him more annoyed didn't seemed like the greatest idea. She simply apologized and got up, wasting more time would be stupid.

-Eat this.

He said handling her a sort of "plate", it was clearly something crafted from down here but truly it was already impressive, what really worried her was what the plate contained. The memories for a few days ago wouldn't leave her alone, and the view of food only made it worst, however she truly had no other choice. If she wanted to survive and hope to see her family again, she needed to eat. A few seconds after, the men spoke again, a question, she didn't knew if it was to distract her or if it was a genuine interest

-What's your name kid, how old are you ?

For a moment, she froze, she didn't quite knew why but for a moment everything felt wrong, her name, her age. It didn't quite fitted her personality and the thing she had done down there... Was she really Charly anymore ? Was she really the same ? But those questions where left without an answer, the men was looking at her and she needed to answer.

-My name's Charlotte, but i prefer Charly, i'm ten years old... Can i ask for your name ?

He studied her for a bit, she really looked her age but he had somehow hoped he was wrong, but he didn't expressed it

-My name's Icyan

He replied, standing up as soon as she finished her food, she pondered for a while, and then looked at him, her smile not quite matching the emptiness of her eyes

-Is it okay if i call you Icy ? It's shorter, in exchange you can call me Charly too.

At first, his mind was completely against the idea, he wasn't surprised by the nickname on the contrary it was the nickname his lover once used when he was still by their side, his sister used it too and his childhood friend along with it. It was nostalgic to hear it again, maybe it was the nostalgia that made him weak enough to say yes, but he did.

-Fine, now come Charly, i won't wait for you so follow along.

He said before disappearing into the darkness quickly, at first Charly panicked a bit and immediately run after him, it was extremely dark here and at first she was deadly afraid of heading straight into a wall. But with a bit of time, her senses adapted, her eyes adjusted to the darkness and while Icy was still out of sight, she could hear his footsteps, that's exactly how she managed to follow him, but despite being adjusted, spotting his silhouette coming to a stop in the darkness was hard and she almost completely ran into him. Thankfully she managed to change direction last minute and stop right at his side, she look around but couldn't spot a thing, the only thing she felt was a sharp blade pressing gently into her hand.

-Take this, i want to see what you're capable off first. Goodluck.

He said and as soon as she gripped the blade, he made a small cut on the inside of her hand before disappearing. At first Charly was very confused, she had NO idea what was happening, she was scared, stressed and her heart was beating heavily in her chest. But before she could speak, she felt a hot breath next to her ear, goosebump spread all along her body and she immediately turned around and swinged the blade straight toward the monster, she missed. He was quick, she had no idea what kind of thing it was but it was hungry, she could feel it. She felt betrayed, he was supposed to teach her she had barely survived last time that's why she needed the help, why would he leave her like that ? Was she wrong for trusting him ? Could she not trust ANYONE in this forsaken world ?