A Series Of Compilations: Contest Entries Edition

The Light Bearer (Ravus Nox Fleuret)

"I'm not a spy," Adri's voice cracked, her tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth, revealing the extent of her thirst.

How many days at it been? Two? Three? A week? She didn't know...she didn't know anything anymore. She didn't know where she was, much less how she got here. And then there were the people...their uniforms were alien at best.

The zip lock that bound her hands together dug into the tender flesh of her wrists. The chair she currently sat upon offered no support for her ass, the mere thought making her wiggle, hoping to alleviate the pain. It hadn't helped her for the past hour or so, so it came as no surprise when nothing changed.

A door to her left suddenly opened, the sound reverberating off the sterile walls, startling her. The same man from before entered, his imposing frame slowly walked around her, placing a cigarette and glass of water on the table before her. Gooseflesh speckled her skin at the sudden breeze as he walked around her. There was a tug on her wrists, and like that, her hands were free.

Surprised by the act, she hesitantly rubbed at a particularly sore spot, shoulders protesting at the stiff movements. The man, who had yet to give her his name, took a seat in the opposite chair, his long legs crossing casually. He picked up the cigarette, hands producing a lighter from a hidden pocket before lightening it up and offering it to her.

Adri shook her head, eyes of hazel darting towards the full glass of water. Her throat constricted, feeling like sandpaper. The man shrugged, suit yourself." His gruff voice sounded before sticking the butt between his lips. "State your name for the record."

She swallowed forcefully, "Adrianna Grace Kingston."

He hummed, taking a drag, "how old are you?"

She licked her lips, unsuccessfully producing saliva. The glass of water began to sweat, a bead of perspiration slithered down the glass...as if mocking her. "Twenty-five."

The man stopped his writing, the clipboard lowering slightly as he extended his free hand towards the glass, "by all means."

That was all the encouragement she needed. Adri surpassed a sigh as she took greedy mouthfuls, the cool liquid slid down her parched throat. When the cup was empty, her gaze rotated to the left, taking in the tall tinted window. She felt multiple eyes watching her from the other side. She's seen enough spy movies to understand the concept of a double mirrored window. Slight embarrassment ghosted her cheeks as she sat the empty glass down, arms folding protectively across her middle.

If the man noticed her discomfort, he made no show of it as he asked, "Where are you from?"

Adri cleared her throat, feeling somewhat better now that the dry ache was gone, "Austin, Texas."

Taking another puff, the man sighed, a cloud of white smoke momentarily filling the space between them when he does something she least expected. He laughed.

Why did he laugh?

"You said that last time."

She blanched, "because it's the truth." Why did that sound like a question?

Evidentially he caught onto that as well, "you don't sound too sure this time. Rethinking your story?"

Her story?

Adri shuffled, legs going numb from sitting for so long, "I don't understand...why am I being detained? I haven't done anything wrong."

The look of ire across his face suddenly had her squirming. "What I don't understand," he flicked the ashes into a nearby bin, eyes hardening, "is why Niflheim would send the worst possible assassin into the most secure facility in all of Lucis."