Loyalty Divided

Chapter Eight

Evangeline was back in the dark, damp cell that had been her prison for the past three months. The walls were cold and unforgiving, covered in a thin layer of grime that seemed to seep into her very soul. The only light came from a small, barred window high up on one wall, casting long shadows that twisted and danced around her.

She was chained to the wall, her wrists raw and bleeding from the rough iron shackles. The sound of dripping water echoed through the small space, a constant reminder of her isolation. She could hear distant voices, the guards talking and laughing, their words a cruel mockery of her suffering.

Her body ached from the beatings and the endless days of hunger. She could see the outline of her captors outside the door, their laughter sending chills down her spine. They would come in, demand answers she didn't have, and punish her for her silence.

She heard footsteps approaching, the sound growing louder with each step. The door creaked open, and a man she had come to know all too well stepped inside. His cold, unfeeling eyes bore into hers as he approached, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

"Still not ready to talk, are we?" he said, his voice dripping with contempt. He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "You know what happens to those who defy us."

He let go, and she fell back against the wall, her body trembling with fear and exhaustion. The man turned and left, the door slamming shut behind him. The darkness closed in around her, and she was alone once more.

Time became fluid. Days and nights blurred together as she lay in the cell, the relentless cycle of torment continuing without end. She felt herself growing weaker, the hope that had once sustained her slowly slipping away.

The scene shifted, and she saw a vision of herself, standing outside the cell. She was gaunt, her eyes hollow and filled with a sadness that seemed to reach into her very soul. She watched herself, unable to move or speak, as the other Evangeline sank to the floor, defeated and broken.

The dream shifted once more, and she was back in the cell, the darkness pressing in on all sides. The chains weighed heavily on her wrists, and she felt the crushing weight of despair settling over her. The sound of distant voices grew louder, but this time they were not the cruel laughter of her captors. They were the voices of her family, calling out to her, urging her to hold on, to stay strong.

But their voices faded into the darkness, leaving her alone once more. She closed her eyes, the tears streaming down her face, and surrendered to the hopelessness that consumed her.

Evangeline awoke with a start, her heart pounding in her chest. The familiar sense of dread and panic clawed at her as the remnants of the nightmare clung to her mind. She lay still for a moment, staring at the canvas ceiling of the tent, trying to calm her racing thoughts.

She felt the ground next to her. Colten was gone. She sat up and looked around for any signs of him. The only things missing were his bag he carried with him and his hat. He's probably just out doing something, she thought to herself.

Still, a nagging sense of worry gnawed at her. She couldn't shake the feeling of unease, the echoes of her nightmare still vivid in her mind. She pushed the thin blanket aside and got to her feet, her legs feeling shaky beneath her. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

Evangeline stepped out of the tent into the early morning light. The camp was beginning to stir, the smell of coffee and breakfast wafting through the air. She scanned the area, hoping to catch a glimpse of Colten.

As she walked towards the center of the camp, she spotted Dutch and Hosea talking. They looked up as she approached, a slight frown creasing Dutch's brow.