Aslan's Whisper

Chapter 3~ Flashbacks In The Dark

A blood-curdling scream sliced through the air, sending a jolt of terror through Jessie's veins. For a split second, he couldn't move. His breath caught in his throat as a chill coiled around his spine, keeping him frozen in place. But instinct forced him into motion.

He turned toward the cell door, heart hammering, and crept forward. His fingers trembled as he curled them around the rusted bars, peering cautiously into the dimly lit corridor beyond.

His stomach twisted violently at the sight.

Blood pooled in thick, glistening puddles across the cold stone floor, weaving its way toward him in thin, crimson rivulets. A body—or what was left of one—lay sprawled just outside the adjacent cell, limbs twisted unnaturally, torn flesh revealing stark white bone beneath. The lifeless eyes stared into the void, mouth frozen in a final, silent scream.

Jessie yanked himself away, bile rising in his throat. He pressed his back against the wall, sucking in a sharp breath to steady himself. He needed to keep it together.

A groan from the corner of the cell caught his attention.

Ginny stirred, forcing herself upright with a hiss of pain. Her hands, covered in dark bruises and half-dried blood, pressed against the wall for support. The moment she straightened, she wavered, a sharp intake of breath escaping her lips. Jessie was at her side in an instant, gripping her arm before she could collapse again.

She gave him a weak, bitter smile. "I think I'll stay here for a moment," she murmured, closing her eyes as a wave of dizziness hit her.

Jessie frowned, his grip tightening slightly. Up close, he could see how pale she was, her skin ghostly beneath the grime and streaks of dried blood.

"They didn't go easy on me this time," Ginny whispered, almost to herself. She let her head rest against the damp stone. "If you hadn't been captured, I'd probably be dead already."

Jessie didn't say anything. He didn't want to think about what could have happened if they hadn't been taken.

"My father..." Ginny's voice cracked, but she forced herself to continue. "He was sent to serve the Narnian royals at court. My brother... he didn't make it. I saw it happen."

Confusion clouded Jessie's mind. He blinked, trying to piece together what she was saying. Father? Brother? Narnian royals?

He understood the concept of Narnian royals; he was a king, after all, and had served alongside his siblings in court for years. But Ginny's words didn't make sense. His heart pounded in his chest as he processed her fragmented sentences. Was her father one of the Narnian nobles? But why would he be serving the royals if she had spoken of him as if he were a mere servant? And who was this brother of hers who had died?

He opened his mouth, but the words felt stuck in his throat. "Wait... what do you mean your father was sent to the Narnian royals? And your brother... I don't understand." His confusion deepened, but he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that she was talking about something far removed from his own reality.

Ginny didn't respond right away. Her eyes seemed unfocused, drifting as if lost in memories she didn't want to revisit. Jessie's confusion only grew as he struggled to make sense of her words.

He knew the Narnian court. He had met the royal families. The idea of serving the Narnian royals was well within his understanding, but this—whatever Ginny was saying—was something entirely different. Why was she speaking like this? It didn't fit.

"My father was sent away, to the royals. My brother—he was taken. I saw it happen." Her voice faltered, and she fell silent, her body sagging with the weight of unsaid things.