Masked Part 2

Chapter 1

Nyoma was only faintly aware of being dragged along the ground, unable to fend off her captor. Nearby, she could hear Garrett being pulled along beside her. The gag in her mouth tasted vaguely bittersweet, but she gave it no more thought as her consciousness faded.

When she woke up, everything was pitch-black, and the air was damp and cool. The gag wasn't in her mouth anymore, but her hands were still tied, and her feet too. A scream built up in her throat, but sleepily she swallowed it again. If the kidnappers had bothered taking the gag out, there was no point in calling for help. Instead, Nyoma moaned. Her head was swimming like crazy and she couldn't figure out why. How could she have fallen asleep? She was being held prisoner! Her mind should be planning an escape, not struggling to focus and stay awake.

With another groan, Nyoma awkwardly tried to sit up, the tie around her hands limiting her movement. Gasping, she brought her knees up and lay her head on them. She felt nauseous and dizzy. An attempt to stand sent her pitching to the hard ground - back where she started.

Nyoma finally couldn't stay awake any longer, after several more tries at standing. Something had made her weak and confused, but she hoped the feeling might fade once she got more sleep.

Again, she awoke feeling confused and tired, but now she could see the faintest wisp of sunlight through a blindfold over her eyes. Voices whispered nearby, but they were muffled. The bittersweet taste still lingered in her mouth.

She was about to try wriggling put of the blindfold when a door opened and the whispers got louder. She tensed up and squeezed her eyes shut, even though there was no way for anyone to notice that they were open. Whoever was talking spoke quickly and with a bit of an accent, but Nyoma could still understand them.

"Do you really think they're spies?" a gravelly male voice asked.

"Likely," a woman replied. "Why else would they be wandering around a deserted town?"

"They were pretty conspicuous for spies. Maybe they escaped Mask's army and came here."

So they hadn't been captured by Mask. Relief flooded over Nyoma. The two strangers continued their conversation, and Nyoma listened in.

The man spoke first. "How are we doing with supplies?"

"We're running low. People keep complaining to me, always that they 'need more.' For some reason, they don't understand that we can't send hunters all the time. It's too dangerous. Beside that, if Mask does come back, we need to have enough food saved up to last a while!"

"I know, Kari, I know. They're just worried and need to take it out on someone."

"Yes, well, that someone shouldn't always have to be me. I'm the only one that does anything useful around here!" Kari was beginning to yell and sounded like she might start throwing things around.

"Aw, come on," the man said kindly. "They appreciate you. I mean, we wouldn't even be here if it weren't for you. Not many people would think of building a fortress underground, now would they? Just think of how many people you saved!"

Kari sighed. "I guess you're right."

Nyoma gasped in shock. An underground fortress? How many people were hiding here?

She suddenly realized that Kari and her companion had stopped talking and nearly gasped again. They must've heard her! She couldn't believe she had been so stupid. Panic rippled through her body as one of them approached her, and she tried to stay as still as possible. Even though they didn't sound menacing, Nyoma couldn't forget the somewhat violent way she and Garrett had been captured.