Bygones

~{Chapter 8}~

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Flashback continues

Three weeks have gone by. Everyday was either being tortured or being starved. I was so thin that my pants didn't fit me as well and I could feel my ribs through my shirt. As I was taken out of the darkness for my daily routine, I was taken by two guards. Lincoln came over and said he needed me for an herbal experiment.

"Anya's orders said to prepare her for her whipping.", one guard said to him.

"Fine. She's comes to me after. And hurry, my herbs will dry up.", he said, not once looking at me.

Two hours have gone by and my daily routine was over. Lincoln came and got me, and took me to his cave. He sat me down and quickly told me the news.

"What? Are you serious?!", I laughed in excitement, ignoring the fact that my back was just branded, "When do we leave?"

"We leave tonight. It is around the time for my annual hunting trip. You will be alone down on the ground, but I will be watching you in the trees. Tonight, when they lock you back up again, this", he handed me a flashlight, "will help you find your way to the back of the cave. There is a small opening. Go through that and I will meet you on the other side."

As he got up to start packing, I stopped him and thanked him. He kept me here until dusk and he tied me up again.

"Ready?", he said as he smeared some animal blood on my forehead.

"Wow, you beat me really hard.",I said sarcastically. He kind of smiled. I put my helpless face on and we headed for my cave.

When we got there, Lincoln grabbed the collar of my jacket, apologizing in advance if he hurt me, and pushed me into the cave. I waited for people to settle down before I started to look for the exit.

"Ugh. Gross.", I said as I trudged through the animal guts.

I thought to myself, "Do they even eat this? Or did they put it here to intimidate me?"

As I got farther into the cave, it got darker. I opened the flash light and saw something that startled me. It was a person. She was just sitting there staring straight ahead. I stared at her chest to see if it was moving. Unfortunately it wasn't. I slowly approached her and closed her eyes.

Continuing my way deeper into the cave, the smell of iron was fading and the atmosphere was colder. I finally found the escape hole. I put the flashlight down and started to clear a way. I could see torch light on the other end.

"Lincoln?", I whispered and pressed my ear against the hole.

"It's safe, but hurry. We don't have much time.", he said as I started to crawl through. Once I reached the end he gave me a hand.

"Thanks", I brushed myself off. He nodded at me.

These woods were like Lincoln's home, he knew were everything was and all the shortcuts to them. We got to the yellow hatch in no time. My heart was over flowed with emotions when I saw it peering from the ground. I jogged up to it and softly knocked.

"Leyla? Leyla sweetie its Mom."

No answer.

"When was the last time you saw her?", I said in a panic and turned to him.

"Four days ago. If she's not in there they she must be out here somewhere, but not far."

My chest was now pounding with fear. Just when I my heart rate started growing faster, the hatch slowly unlocked and slightly opened.

I kneeled down slowly and cautiously.

"Leyla? It's me. I said I'd come back for you...", my voice wavered.