Non Player Character

Chapter 17 - Betrayed

It was Saturday, and Elena and I were both off work. During the weekend, I liked to sit around and do nothing, but my wife could never stay idle, negatively affecting my ability to relax.

She was a busybody and always maximized her time. So, instead of relaxing on this particular Saturday, we were installing some designer-brand wallpaper in our new home.

Putting up that stupid wallpaper tested our relationship in ways I never expected. We argued the entire time and said things that we probably shouldn't have all because we sucked at installing wallpaper and took out our frustration on each other.

But, just a few hours after finishing that tumultuous task, she sat beside me on the couch, rested her head on my shoulder, and we watched a true crime documentary together.

That was part of why I loved her. We didn't hold grudges over little things like wallpaper. We forgave slights spoken when we were angry. If the proper way to install wallpaper was among the worst arguments we ever had, we were set for life.

I leaned over and kissed her forehead. Life was perfect with her. I was up for a raise soon, and I planned to take her to some swanky resort in the Caribbean.

Feeling an unexplainable sense of sadness, I put my arm around her and pulled her close, not wanting to let her go.

For a moment, I couldn't comprehend this strange feeling of loss. Then I remembered. I understood that this was all just a dream. She wasn't with me anymore. She had been stolen.

This snapshot in time began to fade, but I fought to regain control. I wasn't ready to let it slip away. All I wanted was one more minute, one more chance to tell her I loved her.

My eyes fluttered open as I woke from a deep sleep. My vision was dark and unfocused, and I couldn't quite yet make out my surroundings.

"Val?" My voice was raspy.

She didn't respond. Where was I, and how the hell did I get here? I tried to recall my most recent memories. Retrace my steps.

I remembered walking to Danver with Tara. We were passing through the mountains. We had stopped. I didn't remember what for, but I recalled making a fire and eating wolf for the first time. I had drunk something wonderful. It tasted of sugar and flowers. I had fallen asleep.

Tara.

She had drugged me. That was the only explanation. But why? If she did, why didn't Val warn me?

My mind continued to clear, and I realized I was standing upright. I attempted to take a step but couldn't move. I tried to move my arms, but they were stuck tight against my sides. Looking down, I discovered I was bound to a tall wooden post, my entire body wrapped by a length of rope. A single cord started at my feet and wound its way up to my shoulders like a long, thin snake coiling around my body.

Overkill if you asked me. And way too damn tight.

My vision continued to recover, and I began to make out my surroundings.

There was only a flickering of light. The room was cold and reverberated with a quiet echo. As my vision adjusted, I could see the floor was carved and multiple pillars adorned the outskirts of the room. The far walls were uncut and rough. It looked like the inside of a cave or a chamber that had been carved from stone.

Before me rested a large stone slab. The distant pillars were adorned with sconces that held only the tiniest flicker of a flame, but their meager fire provided enough light for me to see the dark stain on the slab and the dagger resting atop it.

My adrenaline spiked as I put two and two together.

It was an altar. The sacrificial kind from the looks of it.