WARNING: SPOILERS!!! ~A Watty's 2019 Submission!

Saved for Journey to Scarheart

I don't know how long I've been trapped in this cell. I don't know how long its been since Aikan caught me and is now plotting my demise. And I don't know how long its been since I've seen my friends. I hadn't seen anyone in what felt like days, which meant I hadn't eaten in what felt like weeks. There was nothing that I wanted more right then than a cheeseburger with a side of fries and a milkshake. Okay, maybe I would rather my friends were safe than a cheeseburger, but that burger came in close second!

Finally, I heard footsteps, and the door opened, letting in a harsh light with a shadow looming over me.

"Let's go, Blood." Growled a deep voice. I turned my head to look at him, feeling weak, but trying to look strong.

"Where are we going?" The man said nothing, but he grabbed me roughly by the arm and yanked me to my feet, pulling me along. As we walked, I noticed the lack of Mutants in our path. I wondered where they were as he dragged me behind a curtain and forced me to my knees.

"Stay here." He demanded. "Aikan will be here shortly." Then he vanished, and I looked around for an escape. There was only one door out of this room, and that guy had just gone through it. No doubt he was still out there, waiting for me to walk out. I was trapped.

That was about when Aikan came in, and he stood next to me as the curtain rose. "Be sure to smile." He teased softly, and I merely blinked as bright lights blinded me, and as my eyes adjusted, I could see where all the Mutants had gone. They were in an auditorium, facing Aikan and I on a stage. They were cheering loudly, and I could see off to the sides that there were four other Mutants, including Decker. I looked down at the ground, unable to bear the bright lights and seeing one of my friends, someone I trusted with every fiber of my being, standing with these creeps.

"Friends!" Aikan called, and the cheers silenced. "Welcome! Today, I have a special performance set for you!" Who knew Aikan had a thing for putting on productions? He seemed accustomed to being on stage. "How many times have we had run ins with the Heathens? And how many times have we destroyed their power?" The Mutants roared with cheers again, some calling out large and larger numbers.

"Hundreds!"

"Thousands!"

"A lot!"

"Well, today is different. We have a rather special Heathen among us." He came closer to me and grabbed me by the hair, forcing me to look into the crowd and the bright lights. "This, is the girl who tried to steal my serum. Amber Blood." More roars erupted from the crowd, most of the angry.

"Toss her out!"

"Kill her!"

"String her up!" Aikan held up his other hand, and the crowd was silent yet again.

"Hush. Amber Blood has learned her lesson in meddling with things she shouldn't. And she shall receive her punishment swiftly." He then forced my head forward, I wincing in pain, and I felt his thumb press against my neck, just above where my spine stopped, and everything was dark. I could only feel, and I felt everything. I felt my blood coursing through my veins to where his thumb was. I felt my heart pounding harder and faster than it ever had before. I felt wetness come from behind me and create a puddle around my feet. I felt a pinprick on my neck, and I felt my blood drain from there. I thought I was dying. I might have been, had Aikan not stopped when he did.