What you don't know can kill you...
It's just a pretty pendant. A harmless necklace. Everyone wears them, like a talisman.
At least that's what sixteen year old Shai Eli has always believed. But why does her community enforce a law that keeps people...
Aliah's footsteps thundered down the hall then faded. Shai's stomach churned and her head ached. She pulled on the door handle, twisting it back and forth then kicked the door. Burning pain seared her throat from screaming his name over and over.
After several attempts to break open the door, she looked around the room at its sparse furnishings: a large bed near the door, a low wooden table beside it, the lantern Aliah had carried in, a metal bucket near the bed, and a willow rocking chair tucked into a corner by the fireplace at the opposite end of the room.
The long, narrow room felt more like a meeting hall, not a bedroom, which made the furnishings seem out of place.
Tremors seized her and made the room tilt and spin, so Shai made her way to the bed to sit down. She shivered as cold waves of fear washed over her. Thoughts of Eliana and Sileas crowded into her mind, but she pushed them away. Eliana was right. Strong emotions led to dangerous behavior.
Her stomach cramped and rumbled violently. What if Aliah left her here for good? She'd die all alone. She could almost feel the icy kiss of Death on her skin. Its poison oozing into her bloodstream and taking over every cell, every organ. Crushing the life out of her.
Fear robbed her of breath. She slid off the bed and dropped to her knees then retched into the metal bucket until her stomach emptied. She shook and shivered, weakness stealing strength from every limb until she slumped into a heap on the cold floor.
A soft knock on the door startled her and she nearly tipped the bucket. Zev entered without waiting for her invitation. He carried a small plate and a pitcher, which he put on the low table near her. She sat up as he began to back out of the room. Her eyes met his. He stopped and crouched next to her. His fine-featured face held no expression. Large grey eyes flecked with the same color as his hair, looked steadily at her. He was thin and wiry but she could make out the bulge of his muscles beneath his tunic. He looked similar in age as her.
She touched his hand. "Please, let me go. Aliah never meant to lock me in here. He hasn't been acting right. It's a mistake."
Zev stood and narrowed his eyes. "My assignment is to watch you."
She threw herself towards him as he backed out the door, but he slammed it before she reached him. No! Please!When the sound of his boots on the stone floor could no longer be heard, loneliness crawled up her stomach and into her throat. She was sick again in the bucket, the bitter taste of bile burned her mouth and throat.
She pushed the vile bucket away then eased herself up onto the bed again. A shiver prickled her skin. She looked around for something to start a fire. A scratchy brown blanket from the foot of the bed would keep her warm for now. She wrapped it around herself before making her way to the fireplace.
This end of the room was similar to the other side with its high ceilings and smooth, stone floors. A small mantel protruded over the arched fireplace on one wall. The hearth and mantel were a darker, smoother stone than the walls and the fireplace. Using the lantern light she inspected the area for kindling and matches, but came up empty-handed. The fireplace was empty too except for a metal grate; even the ashes had been swept up.
She sat down cross-legged in front of the fireplace with the lantern in front of her. Now what? It really seemed she would be stuck in this room. She wished she had her pendant right now; she'd empty it herself and let Death come for her. In a way she envied Sileas.
The lantern's flame flickered and danced, casting its lazy light into the dark recesses of the fireplace.
Suddenly the lantern sputtered, scattering the shadows. Plunging the room into total darkness.
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