CHAPTER FIVE
1203 Words
“Arrrgghhh!”
I screamed in pure agony as the whip landed on my back. The cloth I had been asked to change into was light. It was easy for the whip to penetrate and sting my skin.
“Make it harder.”
The next whip caused pain to blind me momentarily. I couldn’t even wail. My back was on fire, I could literally feel the heat and pain.
“Alpha, please. I didn’t kill Zephne. Please, have mercy.”
“Whip her harder.”
I heard him say.
The next few moments were filled with my screams and cries. My whole body shook and I was sweaty.
“That is enough for now. Take her to the fifth cell.”
I couldn’t walk neither could I talk. I was untied and pulled roughly by the same guard who had brought me here. I raised teary eyes to the Alpha’s, he was not looking at my face. He had this unflinching stoicism blanketing his expression.
“Alpha.”
I softly called to him, pain searing through my whole being. He kept his expression as it was and his gaze firmly fixed above my head. I was dragged away and taken to a lone cell. It was lonelier and more depressing than the first. I was the only occupant of this cell. The Alpha had chosen this cell on purpose. He wanted to see me suffer. When the guard left, I crumpled to the ground and cried my eyes out. I was hurting all over. I had some whip marks on my arms too. I was in a terrible condition and there was no one to help me. I remained in that position for a long while, uncaring and broken.
“Miss Thaleia?”
A soft voice called. I hurt all over so I was unable to raise myself properly to see who had called my name.
“Don’t worry, remain where you are, Miss. I’m coming.”
She gently unlocked the cell, and entered.
“How did you get the key?”
I managed to ask in low, defeated tone. My voice was hoarse from too much crying.
“I stole it.”
She smiled at me in a very sweet, kind way that for some strange reason made me start bawling again.
“Hush now, Miss. It’s okay. Please stop crying.”
The girl gently soothed and comforted. Her voice had a calming effect and would naturally make any fussy child to relax under her. But this was too heavy for her voice to make go away.
“How did you steal it? And-and who are you?”
I stopped crying long enough to inquire from her.
“Should that matter, Miss?”
“The Alpha must not see you here, you know?”
“Yes, I know. I’ll be extra careful, don’t worry.”
“But how did you get the key? Isn’t that risk too much to take?”
“Not for you, Miss. You’re innocent.”
“You believe me?”
“Yes, I believe you. I know you’re not a bad person. Although, the same can not be said for your twin sister, Paleia. Everyone knows she’s the trouble between you both. I wonder why the Alpha is suddenly choosing to believe her over you. You would have made the best Luna West Moon pack ever had.”
Her words touched me and my broken heart jigged in pain.
“Unfortunately, he doesn’t.”
The sadness and betrayal when I spoke was conspicuous.
“You look very hurt.”
She was checking me out.
I sniffled.
“Well, I feel very hurt.”
“Your back is a mess. What can I get you to eat? I want to go get a bowl of warm water and towel to clean up the blood and tend your wounds. If I can lay my hand on any, an ointment would be fine too.”
But I didn’t reply her. I just remained as I was, feeling like death itself had been visited upon me. She had stood before but she came back down again to my level.
“I know how you feel, Miss. But the Moon Goddess always has a reason for letting things happen.”
“But I’ve never hurt anyone in my life before. I know Zephne and I didn’t really get along well and we were in no way friends. But that doesn’t mean I killed her. Do you know how she died? You’re a maid, aren’t you?”
I gripped her hand and stared pointedly at her, I wanted her to tell me she knew how Zephne died, maybe that would help to rid me of this misery.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know too. It came as a shock to me when I heard she was dead. No one expected that news.”
Hope deflated and despair increased. So no one knew how Zephne had died. And if no one could say something to prove how she had died, then means I’d remain guilty. Fresh tears sprung. My eyes were tired of crying but at the moment, I couldn’t help the self-pity I was pathetically wallowing in.
“I’m sorry, Miss. But the truth will come up one day. I know that. Nothing stays hidden forever.”
“Is it when I’m dead? You know the punishment for murder. They are either given instant death sentence or a life imprisonment verdict.”
“You won’t die. The Moon Goddess will vindicate you before then. Just have faith.”
“Faith.”
I mumbled the word like it was something foreign and incomprehensible.
“And hope.”
She added.
“There’s no faith or hope for me. I don’t think so.”
“There is. You just need to be strong.”
“There is no strength left in me.”
“Then you need food to give you some strength. You’ll feel so powerful after eating a good meal.”
She uttered, making a stab at joke but I wasn’t finding anything funny.
“I’m not hungry.”
“You have to eat.”
“I don’t have to. I don’t want to. I could probably start my death sentence already.”
I uttered in total dreariness.
“I’ll bring food, anyhow. You might at you’re not hungry but I don’t have to take your word for it. I’ll get you something.”
She made to stand up and leave. Then she turned to me.
“I’ll have to lock you in again, I hope you understand why.”
I did understand why, so I nodded.
“But there’s something I am not understanding.”
“What is it, Miss?”
“Why are you helping me? It’s like we’re friends. I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”
Her lips spread in a calm, gentle way.
“Do we have to be friends before I can help you?”
“Surely you’re not doing this all by yourself. I mean, how were you able to get the key?”
“You’re right. Though, I love helping you but someone pleaded with me to do it.”
“Who?”
“Your mother.”
- Writer
