Kaltain

5. Who are they?....

Everything was shrouded in darkness when Ava slipped from the depths of unconsciousness and opened her eyes. A shrill pain lanced through her mind, making her squint in an attempt to discern her surroundings, but the inky blackness thwarted her efforts. She tried to lift her hands to rub her eyes, only to discover that she couldn't move them. It felt as though something was tightly wound around her waist and arms—possibly a rope. She glanced down to verify her suspicion, but again, the darkness yielded nothing to her verdant eyes.

Panic descended upon her like a suffocating shroud, gripping her with relentless force. She realized she was immobilized, unable to move any part of her body. Something was pressed against her mouth, likely a cloth, silencing her cries for help. Her back was braced against a rough, unyielding surface. She strained to wriggle free from whatever held her, but her efforts were futile. She attempted to shout for assistance, but her voice emerged as muffled cries, barely disturbing the eerie tranquility that enveloped her.

Tears welled up, blurring her vision even further. Her memory was fragmented, pieces missing in a haze, but she could vividly recall the agony of being dragged across the rough forest floor. A harsh wind gusted against her face, tangling her hair in its icy grip. Goosebumps erupted on her skin, though she couldn't determine if it was from the cold air or the creeping fear that slithered down her spine.

She strained to turn her head, desperate to see what held her captive. Her vision, clouded by darkness and tears, only compounded her sense of helplessness. Yet, amid the oppressive gloom, she detected a faint, familiar woodsy aroma—the scent of trees she had often passed on her walks. This realization offered a glimmer of hope: she was still in the woods, and perhaps not far from home. However, the impenetrable darkness suggested she was deep within the forest, where even the moonlight struggled to penetrate the dense canopy.

A faint spark of hope ignited within her heart. Maybe she could find a way to free herself from the bindings and escape. Blinking away her tears, her vision gradually cleared, revealing the outlines of the surrounding trees. Clinging to the hope that she remained near her habitual path, Ava began to formulate a plan for her escape. The thought that she might still be within familiar territory brought a measure of relief, fueling her determination.

But just as a sense of clarity began to dawn, her fragile optimism shattered. An abrasive voice sliced through the stillness, its harsh tones grating against her ears and extinguishing the faint light of hope that had begun to flicker within her.

"She sure is getting her beauty sleep. Perhaps I should just slap her awake. That would be a lot quicker than waiting for her to wake up," a voice barks out in exasperation.

"Whose fault do you think that is? If it wasn't for you smashing her head against the fucking rock, we'd already have our answers and be on our way back home. But no! You had to drag her here until she passed out, and now we have to stand around here for God knows how long, waiting for her to wake up," another, more boyish voice grumbles.

The voices seemed to be drawing nearer. A drop of sweat glided down the side of Ava's face. The chill of the wind was a distant memory now, replaced by the heat of rising panic. She struggled against the ropes binding her, but they only seemed to tighten, biting into her skin and aggravating the scrapes she had already endured. She tried to lift her arms, to free herself from the constricting ropes, but they showed no sign of loosening.

"Oh! Looks like she's finally awake. I can hear her squirming and her frantic breathing," one voice remarked, now alarmingly close. The proximity of the voices sent a surge of fear through Ava, but they were still distant enough for her to think up an escape plan. She was torn—should I pretend to remain unconscious? Maybe if I stayed still and silent...

Ava froze, every muscle tensing as she held her breath, careful not to make a sound. How could they have heard me? Frantic breathing? How could someone hear me breathing from so far away? It made no sense. Perhaps I am already home, ensnared in yet another senseless nightmare, just like the one that haunted me last night. But no, we never realize we are dreaming when we are trapped in a nightmare, right? Then why were they doing this to me? Who were these menacing voices? What did they want?

Her mind raced, each thought more frantic than the last. She struggled to piece together her fragmented memories, to understand her captors' intentions. The oppressive darkness around her seemed to close in, amplifying her fear and confusion. Every sound, every whisper of the forest felt magnified, a cruel reminder of her helplessness. She strained her ears, trying to decipher any clues from the approaching voices, but all she could hear was the relentless pounding of her own heart.

Her mind raced, questions flooding her thoughts as the oppressive darkness closed in around her, the voices of her captors growing ever closer.

A petrified breath escaped her lips as a sense of dread washed over her. Suddenly, a harsh wind gusted in her face, and in an instant, she could make out the figure standing before her. She stared down at their feet, her heartbeat accelerating, fear coursing through her veins like wildfire. She shut her eyes tightly, mind racing with uncertainty. What should I do? She wasn't sure. Her hands clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms. Perhaps I should have accepted Kate's offer of pepper spray for situations like this. Not that it would help now—my hands were bound.

Regret gnawed at her. She should have noticed something was amiss and run when the branch had almost fallen on her. I should have run...

"Are you sure we got the right person? She hasn't defended herself even once yet," a voice spoke from right beside her, causing Ava to flinch. She squeezed her fists tighter, feeling her nails pierce her skin.

"I wouldn't mistake a person, especially her smell—it's quite distinct. And don't you recall what Emm said? He barely detected any of it on her. I doubt she could use such a minute amount to fight against us," a female voice responded astringently. Ava recognized this voice as belonging to the figure standing directly before her.

Her mind raced, trying to piece together what they were talking about. The mention of a distinct smell and a person named Emm made her anxiety spike. She struggled against her bindings once more, but they held fast, digging painfully into her wrists. The oppressive darkness around her seemed to press in, the shadows deepening her sense of isolation and vulnerability. She could feel her pulse pounding in her ears, every instinct screaming at her to find a way out of this nightmare.

Ava released a silent breath, her mind reeling with confusion. These people are talking nonsense. What are they even discussing? Defend myself? How was I supposed to defend myself against two people when I can't even look them in the eye? The girl facing me seemed even more bizarre—first claiming to hear my movements from far away, and now talking about smelling me. What on earth was going on?

Slowly, Ava raised her head and locked eyes with the girl. She was met with a pair of honey-brown eyes that shimmered unnaturally in the darkness, glistening like restless dunes under the afternoon sun. They sparkled with a strange, predatory light, even though no moonlight could penetrate the dense canopy of the deep woods. How are her eyes shining like that?

Those eyes seemed to pierce straight through Ava's soul, twinkling with a predatory gleam, ready to strike at any moment. The eyes lift at the corner as her lips stretch into a grin, the serrated canines the grin exhibited sent a shiver crawling down her spine and adrenaline rushing through her veins. Ava knew she was already standing in the palm of the predator.

"Hello, Ava," the girl enunciated, her tone dripping with smugness.

XXXXX

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