Another Nightmare book 2: To rescue a nightmare

Chapter 23

Hiccup was moving. His shirt tightened as something pulled him up. He opened his eyes, just a little bit at first. He needed to blink several times before he could see clearly. Ryker had his face almost against Hiccup's. The hunter was staring at him with an intense look on his face.

"Seems he is awake after all." Ryker's face suddenly rose above Hiccup's as he let go of Hiccup, who fell unceremoniously on his butt. Hiccup couldn't hold back a yelp, although he was already feeling horrible in so many ways that one more source of pain didn't change things much. The sudden movement made him feel dizzy again and he had to breathe in and blink several times before he could properly see Ryker again. The man sneered.

"Pitiful."

"Why... why are you doing this?" Hiccup asked in a raspy voice, his throat still dry and parched.

"Because you know something about the beasts, and I'm sure my brother would like to learn it. You'd better cooperate, too, because if you aren't useful to him..." Ryker paused for a moment and leaned over Hiccup. "I'll feed you to the dragons you seem to like so much."

The specific threat didn't really worry Hiccup, but he didn't want to find out what alternative Ryker would come up with. He also couldn't help them catch more dragons. He glanced past Ryker to catch a glimpse of Brightscale, who was keeping a close eye on what was going on. Ryker looked back towards the dragon too.

"I see you understand. Better prepare your lessons. You want them to be enlightening."

Ryker straightened and walked out. The metal door slammed closed. Hiccup held his head and got up. After a few shaky seconds he was finally able to walk without falling immediately. There was a small jug next to the raw fish and a piece of bread that wasn't there before. He supported himself against the door and settled to sit against it while he devoured the water and bread. Afterwards he held his legs against his torso, shivering. The air was cool, but even if it wasn't Hiccup didn't think he could feel warm again as long as he was alone, vulnerable. Despite the headache it caused, he stretched his mind out in useless search for Toothless' familiar presence. Hiccup rested his head against his arms. He only sensed a few foreign dragons nearby and the two who shared his predicament. Brightscale hadn't let his eyes off Hiccup.

'Vikings fighting Vikings is entertaining. You really aren't from the same nest.'

'You realized that just now?' Hiccup asked. 'Ryker knows, or at least suspects, that we sank one of his ships a while back. They had captured a dragon from my flock.'

'Flock... the one you showed us before? I still don't believe it.'

'I do,' Windshear interrupted. 'The memories felt genuine.'

'Thank you,' Hiccup said. 'By the way, what is the time? Is this even the first day since I was captured and brought here?'

'The sun has been up a long time for being this close to the winter,' Windshear answered. 'I think it was at its highest some time ago. Today is the first time the sun has been up since you were brought here.'

'Then we might have a few days.' Hiccup turned around to sit facing the door. He peaked through its gaps to observe the hold they were trapped in. 'But I'd still like to escape sooner rather than later.'

Hiccup noticed a quick movement at the edge of his vision and turned his head to find keys hanging on the wall by the entrance. Which was almost next to Windshear's cell, probably just out of her reach. A dragon had no use for keys, couldn't use them... but Hiccup, on the other hand, very much could.