Sianna and the Soulweaver

Chapter 7- The Others

"Come, I'll lead you by your arm. Don't look at anyone." I do as he says and willingly give him my elbow, staring at my horrendously grimy feet and saying a silent prayer for divine mercy.

What do they have waiting for me?

••••••••

One moment I am staring at my feet walk on the floor...and the next, I am watching the grass poke up between my toes.

How did we end up outside? This is impossible.

I keep my eyes down as ordered, too scared and confused to disobey. I am encumbered with the weight of what has happened to me and what I fear is to come, this entire experience ripping through my sense of stability. I just want to be around someone I know, someone I love, someone who doesn't want to hurt me and doesn't want anything from me-

A growl to my left snaps me back to where I am; but this growl did not come from Alistar. I force my eyes to stay down as we walk along the grass, a cool breeze blowing strands of my dark brown hair around my face. It feels so comforting and familiar that I could cry, although I am still so flabbergasted that I cannot fully appreciate it. We are INSIDE a building, I am confident of that fact. Why does it feel like I'm walking through the park on a sunny day? I was so desperate to just find a window and now here I am, being escorted to my goal by one of the people who was trying to keep me from it.

If he's taken me outside, this might be my only chance to run and yell for help. He said we'd be passing others; it's possible that he just told me to keep my eyes down so that no one would notice my distress and rat them out to the police. Or maybe everything he said was just an elaborate ruse so that I wouldn't see that he and that Vianah lady are just completely full of shit?

He's lying to me, obviously. They both are.

"Serafina, good day." Alistar speaks to someone passing by as we continue walking, the woman responding back with the highest-pitched voice I have ever heard.

"Al-ah-stah! Been needing to have chat with ya', if you can spare a moment." Alistar stops walking and squeezes my elbow, a silent reminder of our deal.

Although, to be fair, can someone please explain to me what I'm getting out of this "don't look at anyone" arrangement? Because I'll admit I'm not super eager to go get locked up in my "temporary chambers," a phrase that is probably code for "pit of death."

Alistar speaks to the woman he calls Serafina, releasing my elbow to slyly move me a little more behind instead of next to him. "Only a moment to spare, I regret. We have a schedule to keep."

"A moment is all I need! Is this Lira's latest find?" Lira...that name sounds familiar. The men who took me, they mentioned that name; I try hard but can't recall exactly what they had said.

"Yes, no one of consequence. What did you need to discuss?" It is clear that Alistar is cutting straight to the point, skirting around Serafina's question with one of his own.

"The boys in Sector Rose have been giving me quite a bit of trouble." He sighs when he hears this, his body becoming rigid.

"Again?" Alistar sounds annoyed, whether it be at Serafina or the boys she's referring to, I'm not sure.

"Yes, I'm afraid so. Hegar and I have been doing our best to keep them in check, but I fear your absence has led them a bit astray." There is no judgment in her voice, only concern; it is clear these boys have been stressing her out.

"I've been assisting Vianah with a delicate matter. I'll see to it personally that they're handled by day's end."

"Oh thank Abyssin for you, my friend. I'll let you be on your way then." She sounds more than grateful, gushing profusely over this act of kindness. Her fairy-like voice trills even higher than before, a symphony of words that string together like a song. "Lovely day to you both."