Raw Winter

Chapter 39: Hostage Taking

Rawintr knew there was nothing keeping the girl from running away. She could have gone for the exit, but Rawintr could imagine it wasn't easy to move without a good deal of effort. It was likely she wouldn't be able to get there and get it open without Rawintr catching up.

One thing she could consider was it wouldn't be so easy for Rawintr. She would have to figure out how to keep the man she held at knifepoint from getting away or attacking her if he had the nerve to, and she doubted he did. The only knife he had on him wouldn't do anything against her if he tried.

It would be enough to squeeze through to escape before Rawintr could properly act, and Rawintr knew it. She just didn't know if she would try. Rawintr would not be merciful just because the other person was a woman. She might spare a child.

Rawintr felt relieved when she did none of those things and instead nodded and said, "What do you want me to do?"

"Go ahead into the hole," Rawintr growled, pushing Varnett along. "It opens up more than you think. It isn't hard to figure out after. You can try to run away, but I can't promise what my boys are going to do to you on the other side. They're watching and waiting for someone like you to show up."

She let out a noise as she made her way over, though it wasn't easy to see. It was just beyond the light of the torch. Rawintr had considered going over to put it out, but figured it wouldn't matter. It wouldn't be noticed any more than if they had come and gone as they intended and would go out on its own before long. It would be hard enough taking her current hostage back while making sure the girl didn't escape. She considered leaving him here and tying him up, but the risk was too great and she didn't know if it got colder at night.

If he escaped, it was all over. She was sure of that, even if he waited to alarm anyone. Having his girlfriend didn't matter. It was pessimistic, but it wouldn't be hard for him to replace her. Rawintr could probably cut her throat here and now, and he wouldn't care other than from the gore of it.

She sniffed. She wouldn't do it that way. She shoved him roughly to get him walking and towered over the girl as she struggled to figure out how to get down the hole for the first time. Rawintr was menacing, but wasn't outright rushing her. She seemed to have a hard time of it, trying to find places to place her feet.

"Leave a little room," Rawintr snapped, not caring about being harsh, but wanting to make sure she was clear so she wouldn't end up getting hurt. She could hear her scamper out of the way as Rawintr did her best to place her hand on the top of Varnett's head and push him under so she could make her way in with him. She was careful, not wanting him to have time to turn on her in the tight space. He didn't seem likely to. He was limp, complacent, and whimpering. She still couldn't guess if he had been through here before or not by the way he climbed down. He seemed capable enough, but she thought that might have been because he was young and not because he knew what he was doing.

"Get going," Rawintr told the girl as she felt her ahead of them. She considered being aggressive and being purposely impatient and scaring her, but she knew there was no reason to. She told herself it wasn't because she was practically the same age as her and she wanted to be nicer to her.

She kept up a low growl she was sure she must have heard. It wasn't intentional, but she had to admit there was some satisfaction in feeling the man tremble each time he heard it. She figured stopping would be the same as holding her breath and she wasn't about to.

They emerged on the other side, and Whistle leaped down to meet her and her prisoners, looking between them curiously. "What do you have there, captain?"

"You're a captain?" The girl asked louder than she intended and the two glanced at her.

Rawintr said, "I found a way out of the wall, and as far as I know no one else knows about it. If they do, it should be as easy to catch them as it was to catch these two."