A Strange Tale (multiverse fanfiction) (On Hold)

Chapter 20: Lost In A World That Is Not My Home

I lay quietly in the cot. I was wide awake, but I wanted to fall asleep. I wanted to escape.

Geralt had taken me to an encampment not too far away, hidden in the thrush and bushes of the forest. Apparently they found Rachel after me, who was evidently more traumatized than I was. She had been sobbing all the way to the camp and carried on even afterwards. I could hear her from my tent. I don't know what Valentine told her, but considering she was holding on so tightly to Derek for dear life, she was not told the same things I was. I turned around to stare at the tent flap. Someone was sitting outside. I could make out a figure. The rest of the tent was also intricately designed, and I wondered if I was in the tent of a royal.

I closed my eyes as I heard the tent flap open. Relaxing my arms and legs, and I took deep...relaxed breaths. The person retreated.

"How long has she been like this?" Dean's voice whispered outside of the tent.

"Just a few hours," Arthur spoke. So he was the one sitting outside of the tent. "I was a fool to let her out of my sight."

"All of us were fools to believe we were safe in King Wesley's kingdom," Dean spoke. "At least we got them back. How broken is the question."

"Rachel is easy. She only bawled about how she was tied to a chair and Valentine telling her that her gift would make him rich...she's scared out of her wits, but she's ok..."

"And Sandy?"

"That's the thing...according to Derek she had a massive breakdown on her rescue trip...and Geralt mentioned that she did not say a word or shed a single tear after that..."

"That's good, isn't it?" Dean asked.

Arthur gave a long sigh. "Have you met a woman? They're more dangerous when they are quiet." 

I swallowed as Arthur said it. He knew something was up. That prince was far more perceptive than I had given him credit for. 

"Maybe when she's awake, I could talk to her..." Dean spoke. "I have my experience to deal with...well, ladies."

"You have your experience, but Merlin is closer to her than all of us. That idiot is actually likeable by the girls and guys. Apparently, most of the students like him the most..."

I swallowed hard. They really thought Merlin would get me to open up? They had no idea...

"Maybe because he isn't a pompous arse,"

"Geralt," Arthur spoke, his voice stiff. "Aren't you supposed to be guarding some tree or something?"

"I came for her..."

"Still asleep," Dean responded. "You know what? I think Geralt can maybe guard this tent...King Wesley has some concerns to voice for you, Prince Arthur...something that needs to be discussed in private."

"Fine," Arthur spoke. He walked away, and I heard Geralt sit down. I took a deep breath and sighed. I waited a few minutes, staring up at the roof of the tent.  I wasn't going to get any sleep, but I wasn't just about to...

"You're awake..."

Crap.

I looked towards the flap to see Derek standing there. My heart skipped a beat, and my cheeks flushed. My behaviour was beyond embarrassing, and now I had to contend with the very guy I punched several times. Into his rock-solid chest, but nevertheless, I was pathetic. I never saw a lot of girls in movies do that to guys who were coming to their rescue. Suddenly I wished it was Merlin who was here. Derek took me by complete surprise.

"Yeah," I muttered and sat up. My eyes widened as Derek came and sat next to me in the cot. My heart was now pounding with nervousness. I knew the truth behind the guardians, but surely Derek didn't know? 

I softly reprimanded myself. I kept making this personal, but these guardians were only doing it to make sure we would want to help. To make sure we'd willingly waltz into our deaths with a love-sick hearts, and after my dying breath, they would not spare a second thought for me...or would they?

"How are you?" Derek's voice interrupted my dark train of thoughts and my eyes shot up to meet his.

"I don't know..." I responded truthfully. I saw his face contorted in a frown, but remained soft. He looked out then back at me. "Are you scared of me, Sandy?"

I looked at him and shook my head. "I don't know what came over me..."

"What did Valentine do?" Derek asked, anger filling in his tone. I opened my mouth, then closed it.

"You can trust me, Sandy..."

I looked at him, bile rising up in my throat. I wanted to trust him...him, Merlin, Geralt, Arthur, Dean. I wanted to trust all of them. But even if what Valentine said was partially true...they held a lot of information back.

It meant they didn't trust us.

"He...he..." I stammered. "They, tied me to a chair, left me in the dark for hours. Then when he came...he told me how I was going to die...He described it to me. Gave me every detail. I think I was...just so rattled."

Derek nodded, willing for me to continue.

"I'm not a hero. I'm not a warrior...I'm just...scared," I still couldn't stop those damn tears. Derek placed his hand on my shoulder and pulled me in. I crouched closer, letting his heat radiate to my face and shoulders. I took a deep breath as Derek placed his hand on my hair. I loved this...so much...but I must not get too carried away...I couldn't. 

"You don't have to be brave to be a hero, Sandy..." Derek spoke. "I am a werewolf...a monster...I create fear...if you were anything close to me..."

I looked up to Derek, his face was monotonous. He was reeling it in. Everything he was feeling inside. I returned to staring outside, watching the wind moving the flap up and down. 

Then I frowned. Something had just occurred to me. Something Valentine had said.  As Derek was stroking my hair and I could see Geralt sitting outside, guarding the tent, a sense of hope ensued. I may just be able to find a way back home.

All in one little thing that Valentine slipped out. A smile formed on my lips. I may have just found a way home.