The Countdown

Chapter Four

Sorry for the late update! I was at a festival all day yesterday and when I got home I had a raging migraine so I went straight to bed.

    I felt numb. I couldn't move my muscles, couldn't feel them really. Voices floated around my mind but my eyes wouldn't open to look at who they belonged to.

    I fought to wake up. I used every thought I possibly could to open my eyes, twitch a finger, anything.

    After what felt like hours, my eyes finally pulled apart. They were stiff and it seemed they had been glued together.

    The room was dark, taking my eyes a moment to adjust. There were no windows, only empty white beds adjacent to mine and a light hanging above. It wasn't lit.

    A sigh captured my attention. I jerked my head to the right. A brown haired boy laid his head on the bed. His eyes were closed and his mouth open, soft puffs of air coming from it.

    I scanned his features. They looked familiar but I struggled to place his face.

    My gaze traveled from his head and up to my hand where an I.V. was inserted. Am I in a ward?

    Thick linen wrapped my elbow tightly. Small petechiae danced from under the bandage.

    I flashed my eyes back to the boy. No, not a boy. Prince Victor. The same man who watched as I was beaten and thrown in jail. My entire body winced as I recalled the evil kicks given to me for what was called entertainment. He was probably amongst the crowd, delighting in the torture.

    Why was he here? Had he come back to kill me off completely? He could have done that while I was sleeping. Maybe that would be too merciful for him, though.

    Glancing around the room once more to check it was indeed empty, I slid up the bed slowly. My entire body ached and moaned. It was as if I hadn't used my muscles in weeks.

    As silently as I could, I slipped the bedsheet off of me. I knew I needed to get out of here. If they were keeping me alive it was for one reason only: to furthur torture me. This must be what happens in the village. They are tortured, healed, tortured, then healed again. When their body finally gives out or they give up, they are killed off and thrown into the streets.

    We are the entertainment and entertainment is no fun when it's dead inside.

My right thigh had a thick bandage around it. Although I couldn't see it, I assumed that was what was also wrapped around my ribs. The material prevented my movement from being unbearably painful.

    I slid off the bed. My legs gave out immediately as nausea grew in my stomach. How long had I been laying here, dead to the world? Were they poisoning me with the I.V.?

    I took a cautious step, my hand resting on the mattress just in case. It was wobbly and painful but I knew I could manage. If I didn't leave now I never would. Not alive, anyway.

    The door opened from behind me, the light above flickering to life. I squeaked as I was blinded.

    "Shit, you're awake."

    I whirled around to find a colorful boy. He had on bright colors matching his unique hair. Something told me his eyes usually held more happiness than they did right now.

    A chair scooted back from behind me, "You're awake."

    My eyes met his. They were just as dim as the day they were when he watched my hand banging into the ground and my elbow snapping in half. I tripped back in attempt to get away from him. I knew it was stupid as the boy behind me was likely on the Prince's side but I didn't care. A hiss left my mouth as a sting slithered up my tailbone.