The Storyteller

Chapter 6: Trapped

'A hunter? Get her!' cried the chief. He almost spat the words with anger.

Two men who were standing outside the hut ran inside and took hold of Meredith's arms. Roughly, they dragged her upwards and tied her hands behind her back with a strong piece of leather. She pushed her hands as far apart with all the strength she could muster. Unfortunately the two guards knew the trick and yanked the leather rope even tighter. Meredith couldn't help but give a small grunt of pain as the coarse  leather bit into her wrist. 

Next, one of the guards pulled her arms as far over her head he could with out breaking them while the other pushed a small dagger near her neck. She could feel the cold metal against her throat and her breathing came in short ragged gasps. Next she felt a dull pain in the back of her head and she fell unconscious once more. 

 *          *          *

She opened her eyes. Meredith blinked. For a moment, she wasn't sure if she had opened them at all. The absence of light engulfed her. Nervous, scared gasps filled the air. She flicked her her head all around. Focusing on a pinprick of light, she slowly controlled her breathing and regained her sanity. For the moment.  She found herself lying  on the floor and her tied up hands digging painfully into her back. The floor was hard beneath her and there was a foul smell coming from all around her. That was the worst of her problems. Meredith felt a moist droplet slide down her forehead and onto her lip. Blood. Her head ached and pounded with relentless force. 

I'm sure I have been in a worst situation than this. Meredith thought. Come to think about it, I can't remember what that worse situation was.  Her lips were cracked and dry. She licked them, only for a burning sensation to throb through her head.  Am I going mad? Where am I? How long have I been here? 

She rolled over onto her stomach. Slowly, Meredith tried to move her fingers. Panic shot through her when she realised that she couldn't feel them. She jerked to one side and her head knocked against a wall. This was when it dawned on her. She couldn't get out of this prison by herself. Hopefully it was only a matter of time before someone came. Whether it was friend or enemy, She was beyond caring.