The Marí

Part.9

Darkness wrapped around me heavy and suffocating as I clawed through the haze of pain that clouded my mind my limbs throbbed with exhaustion, muscles stiff and leaden the cold bite of iron chains pressing into my wrists. Panic surged in me as I struggled to remember—how did I get here? The fog in my mind cleared just enough to register the muted groans and soft broken sobs surrounding me, an orchestra of suffering that made the silence even more oppressive. The cell was vast and suffocating with walls of jagged stone that gleamed wetly in the dim glow of distant torches a dank rotting stench hung in the air thick and fetid crawling into my lungs with every ragged breath. The floor beneath me was unforgiving and icy pressing hard against my knees and palms as I shifted, chains clanked in the shadows their metallic echo reverberating like a cruel laugh. I forced my eyes open the world spinning and blurring before settling into a bleak focus my pulse quickened when I saw them—other women, scattered like fallen leaves. Some whimpered quietly their bodies curled in protective huddles while others lay eerily still, eyes vacant or swollen shut. The flickering torchlight cast ghostly writhing shapes across their faces, shadows that whispered of nightmares and despair.
And then I saw her—Regina. My heart clenched, a cold sharp twist that stole the breath from my lungs. I dragged myself forward instinctively only to be wrenched back by the unforgiving pull of the chains, the metal cut into my skin leaving angry red marks but the pain was nothing compared to the sight before me. Regina's form lay crumpled on the damp filthy ground, her dress torn and stained, strands of her hair matted to her pale sweat-slicked skin she looked so small, so defeated a pang of guilt stabbed through me so deep it felt like it would cleave me in two. If only I'd heeded her warnings, if only I hadn't been so reckless maybe we wouldn't be here—trapped, broken, on the edge of oblivion. Around us the other prisoners' eyes were hollow their gazes vacant as if they had already surrendered to whatever fate awaited them the torches' sputtering flames cast a cruel, flickering light, mocking us with the illusion of warmth. The rhythmic drip of water echoed in the silence, each drop a heartbeat that marked time slipping away each second another lost chance.
The metallic tang of blood stung my tongue sharp and bitter mingling with the despair that thickened the air, memories of the forest came rushing back—the vail water, the shadows moving too fast, the hands that had grabbed me, a shiver of realization raced down my spine and a soft helpless whimper escaped my cracked lips.
We were lost and hope felt further away than ever.

Flashback
"Well, well, what do we have here?" The voice slithered through the trees, dark and mocking my breath hitched as I spun around, my pulse thundering in my ears. The shadows shifted revealing them—thugs, their faces twisted with menace. I cursed under my breath, my fingers fumbling as I reached for my bow and arrow. Every heartbeat felt like a countdown "One step closer," I warned my voice steady despite the storm within "and I'll make sure you never draw breath again."
The leader's lips twisted into a smirk, eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. He unsheathed a rusted sword, the metal catching a sliver of the first light "Feisty, I like that," he taunted before lunging toward me his muscles coiled and deadly.
I didn't wait. Adrenaline surged as I darted deeper into the forest, weaving through the ancient trees that loomed like silent sentinels. The undergrowth clawed at my legs and my chest heaved as I searched for a vantage point, the air grew colder as I pressed my back against the gnarled bark of an enormous tree my fingers trembled as I nocked an arrow my breath shallow and quick.
A shadow passed across the clearing and I saw him—sniffing the air like a predator on the scent, now I drew the bowstring back, muscles straining and released. The arrow flew true, piercing his left eye with a sickening thud he staggered bellowing in pain. Triumph sparked through my veins as I watched him clutch his face blood seeping through his fingers but there was no time to celebrate. I turned and sprinted my feet pounding against the uneven forest floor, the stories of the unbarred lands whispered in the back of my mind—tales of monsters and guardians of the damned a thrill of fear crept down my spine urging me to move faster I felt untouchable, powerful, until—
A sharp branch snagged my arm, sending me sprawling to the ground. The impact stole the air from my lungs pain exploding through my body as I hit the cold hard earth, I stifled a scream biting down on my hand as I lay motionless listening. The forest seemed to hold its breath.
Then a rustle followed by the snap of twigs.
"Not so fast, you little witch," snarled a voice harsh and breathless, he burst from the shadows a grin splitting his bloodied face as he raised a club. The world spun as the wood connected with my temple a burst of light flaring behind my eyes, darkness pulled me under his last words ringing in my ears: "Lore, Butch, take her away."
End of Flashback