Our Time Bomb

Chapter Eight ~ Trial And Terror

So Jefferson and I won the Blakesbog Competition that year. We had the most points. Afterwards, we went for a walk in the forest. I had recovered my strength by then.

Once we were alone, I brought up what we were both thinking about. "So, that kiss... Was it intended?"

He made a funny face, "Of course it was. I had to get you to hold on somehow. Whatever it took to win. It wasn't an ideal first kiss I know."

I laughed, "first kiss? It was hardly that."

He had a warm tone in his eyes as he held my gaze, "Well I could do better. Just not when there are a lot of people watching and we're suspended in the air."
I remembered the touch of his body against mine for so long. It was rather pleasant in a very painful straining way. But still, I would not do that again, even with him. "Yeah, that wasn't very romantic."

His hand rested on the tree above my head, "No it wasn't, but if you want... we could try again."

He leaned in and kissed me, I didn't object. I didn't think at all actually. I just let him. I would never do this, it wasn't like me, but somehow, Jefferson was different. It's almost as if part of me knew that I belonged with this man.

Jefferson told me later that he had never kissed a girl before me. That was a shocker to me. He is so handsome, if he'd never kissed anyone before, it wouldn't have been the girl's fault.

Back to reality, I tear my thoughts from Jefferson, I think about him too much. It'll only make things harder. I pace back and forth in my cell, it has been two weeks. Why haven't the Shadow Nation come searching for me yet? They know I got captured, I don't understand.

I cannot keep calm, I think I am losing my sanity, bit by bit. That's why I am trying to distract myself with times of the past... Times when I wasn't kept in this disgusting cage. Every so often, I hear people screaming or wailing from somewhere in the dungeon.

Later...
I wake up to someone's hand on my arm.
My eyes flick open and see a figure hovering over me. "Erika..." Jefferson whispers, "Get up, it's time."

I groan and sit up, he gives me his hand. "Are you gonna be there? In court?" I ask.

"Of course I am. I'm the Captain of the Guard, and I happen to be married to you." He says quietly as he guides me out of the cell. Stepping out of my cage seems surreal, after being inches away from the outside, yet unable to get out for so long.

My legs feel numb and I'm lightheaded as we walk down the dim hall. I pass some people in their cells, recognizing them as Shadow Nation. I know them too. My steps slow as I don't want to pass by them too quick.

A woman I know as Ciara sees me and races to the bars of her cell, a look of shock on her face, "Heira?!"

My heart squeezes in my chest.

Jefferson's hand touches the small of my back, firmly moving me ahead.

"Please Jefferson..." I turn my head and look at him, "Let me talk to her?"

"Certainly not." He says.

I roll my eyes, "Do you want me to go mentally insane? Because I am already not myself."

He waved his hand to a guard watching the dungeon door, but continued to speak to me, "It will not be like this forever..."

"Hell right it won't."

He raised a brow, "You still think you're going to get out of here?"

I rip away and plant my feet directly in front of him, "If you care about yourself or this wimpy little Guild, you will let me go before the Shadow Nation attack it and kill you all."