Stormy

Chapter Six

It was cold and damp and hard and oh how my head hurt. I lay on what seemed to be a stone floor, curled up tightly for warmth. My thoughts swam in and out of consciousness but the pounding in my head soon dulled to a painful throb. Where was I? The memory of a faucet and rain, then rough arms, and large men, and Logan's yells came floating into my mind... I sat bolt upright brushing my dark hair away from my face. Logan! Was he okay? I could barely see a thing from where I sat shivering. But soon my eyes adjusted so I could faintly make out circular walls and a thick wooden door at the edge of the room I was in. A chink of moonlight was reflected on the stone floor from a window set in the wall high above me...
I was in a tower.
I got up slowly, my head throbbing and my legs trembling with weakness and cold. I walked slowly and carefully to the door, and peaked through the small grating near its top. I could make out the faint glow from a dying torch in its bracket and-my stomach flipped-two men standing with their backs turned to me, facing what looked like a staircase leading down. I backed up quietly away from the door and lay down on the bench, closing my tired eyes hoping this was a terrible dream....
CLANG!
I bolted upright for a second time, staring wildly around. I could hear a heavy thump as if something had fallen down the stairs to the bottom. My stomach twisted as I heard feet running up the steps coming closer until they were right outside the door. My heart thumped loudly and I backed away into the dark edge of the room.

Silence...

Suddenly the was another loud clang followed by the thump of a body hitting the floor. I barely held back the shriek about to escape me.

I full on jumped when I heard the rattle of the door handle. My heart was beating so unnaturally fast. I backed as far as I could against the wall. There was a jingle of metal on metal and then the door swung open....

"Rosalyn?" Said a voice.

"Logan?" I ran to the door, and was able to make out his tall form.

"Thank god you're alright!" he said relieved.

He was holding a sword in one hand, and a loop of keys in the other,
"How did you.." I began staring at the keys and then over his shoulder where I could see a form crumpled on the ground.

"I'm sorry, no time to explain, we need to get out of here. Quickly."

He lead me silently out of the cell to the base of the stairs and we stepped over the unmoving forms of the guards he must have fought.

Once we reached the bottom of the stone steps Logan stopped. In front of us was a long stone hallway with flaming brackets on the wall.
A huge man stood at the end holding a sword and grinning at us with a sickly glint in his eyes.

"And where d'you think you're goin'?" the man said, his grin widening

Logan, without taking his eyes off the man said to me, "Run."
He pushed me in the other direction as he drew his sword.
I ran to the other the other end of the stone hall and then stopped abruptly as I heard the clang of swords. Logan had blocked a deadly blow from the man and soon their swords were clashing as Logan fought him off. He seemed to have the upper hand, he blocked each attempt from the man, grunting with the effort. I gasped as a rogue swing slashed Logan's arm, his white shirt stained scarlet.
The man shoved him down while he clutched his openly bleeding wound, and came stomping towards me. Panicked, I began to run down another corridor but a hand snagged me by my hair dragging me backwards. I yelped as pain shot through my already throbbing head.

"I would've stopped runnin' if I were you." said the mans gravelly voice in my ear. My heart began to beat against my chest as he raised a dagger to my neck, chuckling menacingly,
"Now you'll have to face the punishment..." I could feel warm blood begin to trickle down my neck as he pressed the knife harder against my skin.

"Let her go." said a firm voice to my right.

The man holding me laughed as he straightened up, jerking me up with him. I groaned as more pain shot through me. I could now see Logan in front of us. He stood with his blade pointed at the man. His face was calm and his eyes seemed to dare the man to make a move.

"Give it up your majesty. You'll be next after her, don't worry."

Logan smirked, and despite the situation I couldn't help but notice the dimples that appeared,

"Excellent." he said, and with that he swung his out his leg, kicking the man's legs out from under him. He buckled, cursing in pain. Using this as a distraction, I brought my elbow back, connecting with his face and then, breaking free of his arms, tumbled forward. Logan caught me with ease and helped me up. The man was attempting to get to his feet as well.

"Come on." Logan said to me, and together we sprinted back towards the entrance where the man had original stood.
Logan raced ahead of me as a struggled to keep up.
Bloody dress I thought to myself as we ran. We sprinted out of an open door into the cool night air and towards a small barn near the edge of a forest. Logan opened the door and we slipped inside.
Looking around I saw three or four horses standing side by side in the dark barn, pawing at the ground nervously. Logan strode over to a light grey one, untied its rope, and turned to me,

"You okay?" he asked.

"Oh yes, I'm great." I replied, leaning against the wall in an attempt to catch my breath.

"You're bleeding." he said, concern etched on his face. He touched the place on my neck where the dagger had cut me causing blood to rush to my cheeks.

"I'm fine, really, it's just a cut. I'll survive." I said.

The concerned look did not leave his face but he nodded. He hopped onto the horse and held his hand out to me. I took it and he pulled me up behind him. He jabbed the horses sides and we burst through the barn doors, riding off into the dark. I held on tightly to his waist as the recent events of the night played through the my mind.

What on earth just happened?!

To be continued...