Chapter 3
1119 Words
Loria
Loria froze at the sound of the scream. It came from inside the dark room she had been shoved into. She pressed herself against the wall, her heart racing, unsure if she should move closer or stay hidden.
The air was cold, and the floor felt rough under her bare feet.
“Who’s there?” The sound was an angry growl.
Had she been locked in with a beast? What human sounded like that?
Loria flinched as her eyes became used to the dark and she that a woman was chained to the wall, her face covered in dirt and bruises.
Even with her torn clothes and messy hair, she was very beautiful.
“I—I didn’t mean to disturb you,” Loria stammered, stopping in place. Her arms were still hurting from being pulled. Though there woman was partly chained, she looked like she could still move conveniently around the room.
The woman sneered, rolling her eyes. “Disturb me? You’re in my room now, girl. Who are you?”
“Loria,” she whispered, sitting on the hard floor. The room barely had any furniture.
The woman laughed, a cold sound that scared Loria. “Loria, huh? What did you do to end up here with a beast like me?”
“I...I don’t know,” Loria said honestly, her hands shaking. What had she done really? She has fed her brother that morning and gone into the woods for some herbs.
That's where the guards had found her and dragged her to Kael. What really had she done wrong?
The woman’s eyes hardened. “You don’t know? Pathetic. Weak wolves like you don’t last here.”
Loria bit her lip, fighting back tears. She dropped her eyes to the floor. “I know I’m weak, I've always been weak. I didn’t mean to intrude here either,” Loria said, her voice barely above a whisper.
The woman pulled against her chains. “You’re one of them, aren’t you?”
Loria shook her head quickly. “No! I’m not!”
The woman’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “Then what are you doing here?”
“I was thrown in,” Loria said, her voice trembling. “I... I didn’t have a choice.”
The woman laughed again. “Poor little wolf. You look like you’d break in half if someone pushed you too hard.”
Loria lowered her head, her cheeks burning. “I know.”
The woman moved closer, her chains rattling. “Why are you even alive? Is anyone coming for you? Do you have family?”
Loria’s voice broke as she spoke. “My brother. He’s all I have left. He’s sick, and I need to get back to him.”
The woman’s eyes narrowed. “Sick, huh?”
Loria nodded. “After my father died, I took care of my brother. I learned healing because it was the only thing I could do. But I can’t help him if I’m stuck here.” Her voice cracked, and she wiped at her eyes.
The woman tilted her head, studying her. “You’re pathetic. Weak.”
“I don’t know,” Loria whispered, tears pooling in her eyes. “Maybe the Moon Goddess hates me. Maybe she’s punishing me. My father used to tell me I was special, but he’s gone now. And my brother...he’s sick. He’s all I have left.”
She knew the woman was right. She had always been weak. She thought of the other kids at school laughing at her, calling her useless.
She thought of her father pulling her out of school and teaching her healing. Those days had felt safe, even happy, until he died.
“Tell me about your brother,” the woman said.
“He’s kind,” Loria said quietly. “Stronger than me. But he’s coughing up blood now, and I’m scared he’s going to die.”
The woman studied her for a long moment, then sighed. “But at least you have something to fight for. That’s more than I can say for most. Myself included.”
Loria looked up, her heart pounding. “Will you help me?”
“Help you?” the woman repeated, her lips curling into a smirk. “Why should I?”
“Please,” Loria begged, her voice cracking. “I have to get back to him. He’s all I have.”
The woman sighed again, shaking her head. “Fine. But don’t make me regret it.”
The woman stared at her for a moment, then sighed. “Fine. I’ll help you.”
Loria hesitated. “How?”
“I’ve been watching this place. I know where the guards are. You just need to follow what I say,” the woman replied.
Loria’s hands shook as she nodded. “Okay.”
The woman smiled grimly. “Good. Now listen closely.”
Minutes later after the guards had changed rotation, Lonia dropped the lock of the room to the floor and started running through the forest, her breath coming in gasps.
The woman was a rogue wolf who hunted alone. She had been caught. But she wasn't really chained. She only pretended to be as she bid her time before running away.
Loria thanked the moon goddess for helping her escape as she got closer to home. Her father’s house was just ahead. She burst through the door, her chest heaving.
She needed to find her brother, Liam. And then she needed to escape.
“Loria?” a weak voice rasped.
Her brother was lying on a thin mat, his face pale, his lips cracked. Blood stained the cloth near his mouth.
“You came back,” he whispered.
Loria knelt beside him, tears streaming down her face. “I’m here. I’m going to get you out of here.”
“You shouldn’t have come,” he said. “They told me you are Kael's mate. If he finds out you're here, he might kill you.”
Loria shuddered. She didn't doubt that at all. “I couldn’t leave you,” she said, her hands fumbling to check his pulse. It was weak.
Suddenly, howls echoed in the distance.
Her brother grabbed her wrist. “Run,” he whispered.
“No! I’m not leaving you!”
“They’re coming,” he said, his eyes wide with fear. “If they catch you, you’ll die.”
Loria shook her head, tears blurring her vision. “I can’t leave you!”
“Please,” he said, his grip tightening. “Go.”
The howls grew louder.
Loria pressed her lips to his forehead. “I’ll come back for you,” she promised.
Then she turned and ran.
- Writer
