The Outcasts

Chapter 2 continued

The man gave a gentler smile this time, compared to the one he

had given her back in the stores. "Good point. Very well, if you don't

prove a hassle and do as I say then you will not be harmed at all. I give

you my word." He said it softly, and his face was gentle. She found it

hard not to believe him. But there was still a wariness about her and

she had to be certain. This person kidnapped her, and had probably

killed a few people in his life. How was she to know whether his word

was at all trustworthy? The kidnapper didn't seem to care at all about

this line of questioning.

"How am I supposed to believe someone who took me against

my will?"

"Again, another good point, but then again do you have a choice?

Now, we will have to get moving or else we won't get back before dark."

He stood up and faced the river, looking out towards the mountains.

"I will need to carry you."

"What?!" She was shocked at the statement. "I can walk myself,

and to hell if I'm going to make this easy for you. You will have to force

me because I'm going back into the forest and there is nothing you can

do to change my mind."

At that point the thief took out a syringe and held it so she could

see it, but kept facing across the river. She knew that this was now

basically futile.

"The reason I carry you is only to get across this river – after all,

you do not want to get that pretty blue dress of yours ruined in the

water."

Sileena looked down and saw that her dress was already a bit dirty.

She knew that if she went through the water the dress would be as good

as ruined. But he said that as if she would care. She didn't care if her

dress got ruined. There were plenty of others that she could wear.

"Besides," the kidnapper continued, "I will be quite honest with

you. If you had tried to run away I would have caught up to you,

knocked you out and dragged you back anyway. I've stolen you for

the ransom, and frankly that makes you too valuable to us just to let

the wolves eat you."

"Us?" Sileena said, stunned. There must be a group of these bandits.

They probably realised that they stood a better chance in numbers.

"Not now," replied the kidnapper, still looking across the river.

"We must cross this river and keep moving right now or else we will

not make it back before nightfall. Unless you want to go hungry,

because I only have enough food for the rest of the day." There was

a bit more seriousness to his tone compared to before.

Sileena looked up at the sky and could see that the sun was