Another Nightmare book 2: To rescue a nightmare

Chapter 25

Hiccup was barely breathing. After all the screaming and hyperventilating his lungs didn't have the strength to do anything more. Tears were drying on his cheeks as he lay on the hard table. He couldn't rest because of the pain. He couldn't move because it only made the pain worse. He was also tied down, thick ropes pressed against his arms and legs. He couldn't look down at his feet... foot, and now he was having constant chills, a sign of rising fewer probably. He was already feeling sluggish as a sick person.

Unable to sleep Hiccup tried to distract his attention from the pains by reaching out with his mind as much as he could. It was the only thing Ryker couldn't take away from him. Unfortunately, with no one to really connect with, it was of no help to his suffering. He could feel distant minds but couldn't even tell if they noticed his. Brightscale and Windshear were at least long gone. Hiccup tried to reach further, hoping he could feel at least a glimpse of Toothless' presence, but his focus broke as he coughed, his lungs aching. It had been a hopeless attempt from the beginning. At least Toothless was with Sharpshot, Fishlegs and Ivar. If anyone could stop his rage, give him any more happiness after losing his brother, it was those three.

Otherwise Toothless might burn Fjoll to the ground.

Hiccup opened his eyes. He no longer could even hope to see black scales as he looked up, seeing only planks of the deck above filling his sight. Flames from the fireplace made shadows dance across them. Ryker never bothered to move him anywhere else after...

...

There was no roof hatch. What was the time of the day? Hiccup didn't know. He could only hear strong wind and the creaking of the ship. He turned his head to the side. Ryker's onboard blacksmith was sharpening an axe. Another hunter sat on guard by the door and noticed Hiccup's movement. The man gave him a death stare. Hiccup averted his gaze immediately. He didn't want to know what would happen if he angered these people again. He was too weak to even try. What could he do on his own? He couldn't even walk anymore. Another tear slid down his cheek.

That was how the entire day passed as far as Hiccup knew. The only sign of the fall of the night came from the words of Hiccup's guards as they changed shifts. Every one of them looked at Hiccup like they wanted to cause him more pain if that was even possible. Hiccup didn't meet their gaze, fearing the consequences. His eyes may have slipped shut at some point, but it wasn't real sleep. The shaking of the ship jolted his eyes open. Had they hit something? Many people were walking on the deck above, but the ship itself felt stable. It barely moved in the waves.

"Welcome to the camp runt," Hiccup's current guard said, speaking to Hiccup for the first time, his voice not promising anything good. "Soon you won't be our problem. I wonder if Viggo has woken up yet."

What would this Viggo really be like? Everyone acted like he was the most dangerous and fearsome person in the world. Ryker was already imposing and a monster. How could Viggo be any worse? Hiccup could only lay in place. Cold sweat joined the trails of his earlier tears. Some more hours passed in silence. Hiccup wasn't even sure anymore if he wanted Viggo to show up or not. He feared what would happen, but the wait was killing him... Or, at least it was one of the things working towards that outcome... Hiccup tried to stay still and breath calmly. Eventually, creaks of planks revealed approaching steps. Hiccup leaned his head to the side. Ryker opened the door and stepped aside. Another man stepped in. He... didn't seem any more imposing than Ryker, not in size at least. As the bearded man looked down on Hiccup their eyes met. A shiver passed through Hiccup and he wasn't sure if it was due to his wound or if it was an effect of the man standing next to him.

"So, this is your dragon expert. Doesn't look like much. Then again, these things don't show outside," the man said. His voice was calm, even eloquent, not rough like Ryker, and yet Hiccup had no problem imagining that voice ordering even worse horrors than what Ryker had done. This was the leader.