The Rouge Angel (Book 1) - HTTYD

8| Scars

|ASTRID|

I hear the smallest sound of water, dripping in the distance. I groan, my head feeling fuzzy and clouded, and quite frankly, sore.

"Gods...what happened?"

I groan again, slowly opening my eyes. My vision, at first, is fuzzy, like I'm looking through a wall of water. Everything is disorientated, and I find  myself getting dizzy. I groan again, clenching my eyes closed.

Come on Astrid. Get yourself together.

I slowly open my eyes, and everything comes into focus. For a moment, I stare, confused, seeing that I'm in a large cave, up against the wall. I peer around, gulping as I don't see anyone, or any signs of life.

I curse under my breath, and I move to stand up, but my arms don't move. Confused, I tug at them, and then I hear the rattle of chains.

Oh gods..

I slowly turn my head, staring at the shackles around my wrists, and the rusted chains that keep my wrists to the wall.

I gasp, everything slowly piecing together.

I've been kidnapped.

I gasp again, looking around wildly, trying to see if there are any weapons, or worse, torture devices.

A chill runs down my spine, and I feel my blood turn ice cold at the thought of what this kidnapper plans to do with me. What would a crazy, kidnapper do with a young, nice looking girl like me?

I shudder.

I clench my eyes closed, trying to imagine that I'm somewhere else. On a nice, peaceful island with a nice beach; it's sand a beautiful yellow that is warm I touch. Or back at Berk, doing chief duties and sorting out my people. Or maybe I'm flying, through the air, the thrill of it exciting my senses. The feeling of my hands skimming through the soft, white clouds. The breeze; smell of freedom.

A large bang snaps me out of my daydreams, and I gasp, looking around the cave. I don't see anything for a moment, and my panic starts to die down, but then I see a shadow move from the entrance of the cave, growing bigger as the person, or thing gets closer,

I hold my breath.

The figure gets close enough for me to able to see him. Yes, him.

At first, I am blown away.

Not big and muscular; lean with a substantial amount of muscle. Broad shoulders, slim thighs and big hands, that look used and worn, yet soft and gentle. Every second step he takes, makes a chink, because of his metal peg leg. His green eyes bore into mine through his mask, and something about the intensity of them makes déjà vu softly tinge at the back of my brain.

He wears a full, brown, black and green leather suit, shaping his body well.

He removes his mask as he gets closer, tucking it under his arm, and I can't help but have my mouth agape as I see his face.

Strong, square jaw, with a sprinkle of stubble. A round, yet perfectly fitting nose, and large, devilish, green eyes. Thick, neat eyebrows, and a head full of messy, auburn brown hair, a fringe covering his forehead. The smallest sprinkle of freckles across his face.

I can't look away.

He stops in front of me, his eyes boring in to mine, like he's already digging my own grave.

"Hofferson..." He growls.

I don't know what surprises me more; when he says my last name, or the sound of his nasal and husky voice, which I find, surprisingly attractive.