The Alpha's Saviour

Chapter 49 - A Sweet Taste of Hope

Jaycee's POV:

The memory around me faded bringing with it a cold shiver that racked my entire body. Peeling my eyes open, I turned to see Layla and Stuart still fast asleep. The urge to pee had me begrudgingly removing the warm covers from my icy skin. 
Taking small quiet steps towards the bucket we use to relieve ourselves at night, I froze. The air whooshed out from my lungs as my eyes landed on a bag in the bucket. I reached down gently picking it up. Carefully I unwrapped the bag trying to keep quiet. A container of something orange was inside, with a plastic spoon. 
It looked familiar though I couldn't remember why. I opened the lid, the sound making Layla stir. Luckily Stuart was still snoring, in too much of a deep sleep to notice. 
Taking the spoon I scooped up a slice of caramelised mango. The second it touched my tongue, flavours and memories exploded. Mango and other fruit trees grew for miles, and the aroma of various flowers wrapped me in a comforting cacoon. This place was my home, a garden my mother created that surrounded a small steam that branched off into different directions. It was a place Layla, Sadie and I would spend hours talking and playing by the shallow waters edge. 
"Jaycee." Layla's voice startled me from the memory I become lost in. Looking over she had moved to sit beside me, intrigued by what I held in my hand. She took the spoon and brought a mouthful to her lips eagerly. A quiet moan escaped her, as tears formed in her eyes making them glassy. She had a far away look on her face. Comfort, safety, joy and longing, were the emotions I could feel from her. 
"How on earth did you get a hold of your mothers famous mango crumble?" Layla asked.

I went to shrug before I remebered something. I gasped grabbing hold of Layla's arm. "My first dream!"

"Your first dream?" She repeated looking at me as though I had grown two heads. 
"The man in red leather appeared to me again. He said he was coming for us in two days. I didn't believe he was even real, so he told me he left me something in the bucket in my cell. I hadn't even remebered it until now."

Layla gasped her eyes wide and teary. "You mean..."

"Don't get your hopes up Layla, we need to help ourselves and stop expecting others to save us."

"Jaycee, If this mystery dream guy, managed to sneak this container into Jeff's heavily guarded fortress, how can you not have hope?"
I knew Layla had a point but my heart had been shattered. The last thing I needed was hope, only for it to be taken away destroying the small shards left of my heart entirely. We shared the sweet treat hiding the empty container between our blankets when it was finished. 
The chill in my body had been slowly fading, and was gone by the time Stuart woke up. I told Layla about some of my memories returning, and told her what I had dreamed about. It put a small smile on her face which warmed me. We made our way to the cold showers making sure to dry and dress quickly. 
Breakfast went by surprisingly fast as there were no altercations between us prisoners and the guards. Most of the them avoided Sadie which the rest of us found amusing. 
"I need your help." It was Stuart who had approached me pulling my arm towards a isolated corridor. "I'm ready to break the bond with Rachel." His voice cracked and held pain, as his eyes flickered to a table where she sat on Fin's lap.

My heart clenched at his pain. I was so focused on mine that I forgot I had offered to help him. "Alright, I need access to Renalda's room. 
"What?" Stuart hissed. "Are you crazy what if we get caught?"

"I need the book she has. It should have a spell in it that can help us break it."

Stuart looked over his shoulder seeing Renalda eating by herself at one of her dining tables. "Okay lets go now."

"Now?" I squeak not expecting it so suddenly. 
"Yes I can't take this for another second!"

"What's going on here?" Layla whispered noticing our absence. We both jump in surprise clutching our chest in relief, when we see it was only Layla. Before Stuart could answer, I reply. "I need you to delay Renalda from leaving the dinning hall for as long as possible.