The Annex

Chapter 28

The fear based adrenaline pumping through my veins had vanquished any restful sleep I had in the past two days. I had spent all of my time devising failed plan after failed plan. A young girl had come to feed and water me here and there during the duration of my stay. Today, as I had heard from the gossiping soldiers that passed by the tent, Angus would be arriving. Fear took grip over my heart, an icy hand that constricted tighter and tighter with each passing moment. Every passing sound made my heart leap into my throat until he finally came.

"I heard I had a present," a man's voice bellowed as he threw open the tent flap. I swallowed as I looked at the beast of a man. He had a massive build, and the tattoos that ran up his arms continued up his neck and to his bare scalp. His eyebrows seemed to be permanently furrowed in a menacing grimace. I could feel my palms begin to prickle with sweat as he took a lumbering step toward me. I could smell the alcohol on him as he grabbed my chin, turning my face so he could inspect me better.

"You're a pretty one, I'll give you that," he muttered. "But you're not going to be as much fun to break. The easy ones never are." He dropped his belongings at the corner of the tent and began to unpack. A series of unidentifiable tools appeared and then a chair with restraints.

"I've had a rough few days, I think you'll just be the vent I need," he said as he came toward me. He grabbed me by the neck after he untied me from the post and forced me into the chair before binding each wrist to the arms of the chairs. I had tried to fight him, but he was much too strong.

"Stop it," he growled at me and I stilled as he finished tying my legs to the chair.

"I was told by the Captain to extract any information you have," he said between a swig from a bottle. "Are you listening to me girl?" He smashed the bottle onto the back of the chair, just inches from my face. I felt the glass shards scatter, some raining onto my shoulder and my lap. I nodded, frightfully.

"So where are you from?"

"I'm from Rivell," I answered meekly.

"What are you doing in Windfall?"

"My uncle is a trade merchant. I came to pick up a package for him."

"Is that so," he squatted down to look me in the eyes. I nodded my head up and down.

"Do you know of children of the Goddess," Angus mused. "Do you know about magic?" His eyes narrowed as he stood up. He slowly paced in front of me before slowly spinning on his heel to turn back towards me.

"You see girl, some of us are children of High Priests and Priestesses. Some of us were gifted with the Old Magic. And you, my girl, are short on luck. Because my magic tells me that you are lying." He grinned. "But that's okay. It just means you're going to be more fun than I anticipated." He stuck a metal bar into the kerosene lamp that was lighting the ten. He came back to me and grabbed my chin forcefully.

"I'm going to ask you again. Why are you here?"

"I told you. My uncle is a merchant. I'm here to pick up a package." A sharp blow met the side of my face and the entire world melted into inky darkness for a moment. When my vision cane back, Angus had grabbed my chin again.

"Why are you here," he hissed.

"My uncle is a merchant. I'm here to pick up a package," I said coughing as the coppery taste of blood filled my mouth.

"Wrong answer," Angus said as he shoved a cloth into my mouth. I didn't understand why until he grabbed the metal bar and laid it against my forearm. I let out a cry of pain that was muffled by the gag as tears began to stream down my face.

"Try again."

"I'm running for my life," I cried out in sobs.

"That's the first truth," Angus patted my head softly as he ran his fingers through my hair. "Good girl." I shrank from his touch. I could feel his breath on my neck as he inhaled the scent of my hair. I tried to strain away from him.