The Storyteller

Chapter 9

Melanie's eyes watered a little. She focused outwardly, her mind searching the area around her. She could sense the pulse of the earth and the flowing of the river. She pushed her mind further and further out, brushing the minds of every living thing around her. She felt herself growing distant from her body, her legs trembled and she felt weak. With one last desperate effort, she dug further and further outwards. She felt her knees give way and her breathing grow quiet. At the last possible moment, eyes shut, she felt something very faint at the back of her mind. It was like a heartbeat but it flickered stronger and then drifted away again. And then it was too late. She slipped out of consciousness, fading into a world of darkness.

*       *       *

Meredith woke up. She had no idea how long she had been here for and no idea how long she would be kept there. It was still pitch black but something was different. She held her breath. Somewhere close by, she heard someone breathing very lightly. She reached out her hand, surprised to find it untied only recently as she could still feel the sensation of rope, digging into her skin. She flinched as she felt someones skin. It was covered with goose bumps and felt icy cold. From what she could tell, it was an arm or leg. She felt slightly further along. It was now more evident that it was a feminine arm. 

She felt the woman's wrist. Tied around it was a leather strap with a long metal pendant. She touched her own leather bracelet. It was identical to the first one. 

Melanie.