The Protectors

Chapter 10 - Hope

It had been a fortnight since Luna's capture, and she remained bound by chains, the poison coursing through them rendering her creation power useless. The toll of her captivity was evident in her appearance - she had grown thin, dehydrated, and famished. Once impeccably put together, she now wore torn clothes, her hair in disarray, and her body covered in bruises from the daily beatings she endured. Confined to the same small cell within the vast cave where she had once rescued Max and Renay, Luna struggled to understand why no one had come back for her. Had they forgotten about her? Hope began to wane, and with it, her sanity. As she lay there, gazing at the cave's ceiling, Luna pondered her plans for escape. Thoughts of her closest allies, Miguel and Pedro in Spain, flooded her mind. They had taught her everything she knew, yet she felt powerless in this predicament. Imagining what Miguel would say to her brought tears to her eyes. She also thought about her new life in the UK, surrounded by a new group of protectors. The prospect of meeting new people and embarking on a fresh chapter in her life had initially filled her with excitement. However, thus far, it had only brought her pain. Yet, Luna knew deep down that this wasn't entirely true. She had encountered Emile, witnessed the loss of his friends, and experienced his selfless act of saving her when she should have been the one rescuing him. They had formed a bond, embarking on this new journey together. So why hadn't he come to her rescue? Anger welled up within her at the thought of being abandoned, and tears streamed down her face. Just then, an ashenclaw entered the room. Luna did not fear it; instead, she seemed to smile and uttered, "You're back."

The ashenclaw that approached Luna was different from the others. Unlike the rest, it couldn't speak, but it understood English. It sat outside her cage, seemingly apologetic for her situation. Luna found solace in its presence, grateful for the company. Curiosity sparked within her when the ashenclaw gestured towards the doorway and then back to the cage. She wondered what it was trying to convey, hoping it had a plan for her escape. However, it simply pointed to the chains next to her and then towards the doorway. Luna's heart sank as she realized that someone else had been captured. The ashenclaw confirmed her suspicion with a nod before leaving the room. Over time, Luna and this unique ashenclaw had formed a bond. She quickly realized that it was different from the others. It possessed a calmness and didn't exhibit the same bloodlust. Though she couldn't fully comprehend its nature, she was grateful to have it on her side.

Moments later, two different ashenclaw entered the room, carrying an unconscious man. He was tall, with blonde hair, and dressed in unconventional attire. They threw him into the cage, cuffing him to the chains and ensuring the poison seeped into his skin. Luna approached the man, startled when he suddenly opened his eyes. "Who are you?" he asked, causing Luna to jump in surprise. "I thought you were out cold!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with frustration. The man hushed her and identified her as a protector. Luna felt insulted by his demeanour and couldn't comprehend why he seemed so unpleasant. Questions flooded her mind. Why was he here? Who was he?

"Yes, I am a protector And who might you be?" he didn't even glance at her while speaking, his attention solely focused on their surroundings, which annoyed Luna. "Hmm, you can call me L. And you, protector?" he turned to look at her. "L?" she questioned. "Just L?" He nodded, a mischievous grin on his face. "Your name, what is it?" he continued. "Luna," she replied, taking a seat across from him, leaning against the bars. "What's your deal?" she asked, referring to his arrogance. "What do you mean? Is that how protectors ask? What's your power?" he chuckled to himself. "You all are ridiculous," he stated, but Luna couldn't comprehend what his issue was. Suddenly, she wished she was alone again. Who was this guy, she wondered. "Do you possess a power?" he grinned and tapped his nose twice, as if he had no intention of revealing it. "Do you want to escape from here?" he inquired, causing Luna to roll her eyes. She couldn't understand his attitude; he was really starting to irritate her. "Of course, do you think I enjoy being chained up, unable to use my powers?" she sarcastically replied. "Give it a few days, and we'll be out in no time. My people are on their way," he closed his eyes and leaned back, appearing relaxed and unconcerned about the situation. "I don't understand. If you have powers and people, who are you? I thought-" before she could finish her sentence, he interrupted. "Listen, not everyone with powers is a guardian, alright? Some of us don't like being controlled by egotistical individuals driven by power. Some of us just want to live normal lives, not constantly protect or save those who don't deserve it in the first place," he spoke with anger, clearly hitting a nerve. "Not everyone feels the need to save the world," he looked at her intensely as he spoke, and for the first time, she felt like he wasn't being a jerk.