Fifty-one

After waiting hours for Marin, he finally came and led me further into his home. I was anxious to know just what he was keeping me for and how I could be freed from doing it. But as we got closer to a building that was bigger than the rest, my anxiety turned into fear. Something was nearby that made me want to run. I didn't know what, but I began to shake.

Marin stopped by the building and turned to me. He smiled. "I hope you rested, Zahra."

I nod. "As much as I could."

"Good." He clasped his hands in front of him and looked directly into my eyes. "Inside is something terrible. You are to tame it. I don't care how. Use whatever methods you can create."

I blink. "What?"

"You will be let out of the building when it is tamed and you can sober it with only a look."

I begin to shake my head. "I don't understand. I can't tame anything."

He smiled. "You have powers to help you. I'm sure you'll find a way."

"What is it?"

"I don't know," he said, but I sensed he lied. "You'll have to learn that and control it."

I take a step back. "Marin, I have never tamed anything before. I can't even get Lucas to do what I want!"

Marin shrugged. "It's either that, or you can be like the rest of the people here. Stuck in an endless depression with nowhere to go."

I gulp the fear in my throat. "Why can't you? You can control minds."

"Clever girl," he said with a smirk. "If I could, I would have by now. But it's immune to my power." He smiled and stepped aside, holding a hand out to the door, gesturing me to go through. "Don't be weak now, Zahra."

Once I entered the house, the door immediately slammed shut. I spun and tugged at it, but it was locked.

A low growl made me turn back to the inside of the house and search the darkness. It was musty. There were dust bunnies everywhere. And on one wall, were weapons of all kinds. I ran for the wall and grabbed a knife, but it didn't come off. I cried, trying to wrench the blade off whatever held it in place. To no avail.

"A new friend," said a feminine voice from somewhere in the dark. "Want to play?"

I closed my eyes and breathed. "Who are you?"

"My name is Leilani. Who are you?"

"Zahra."

A hum. "What a pretty name. Does the pretty name have a pretty face?"

I swallowed the lump clogging my throat and press my forehead to the wall. "I'm not pretty. I'm not anything."

There was a scrape of something that sounded like chains. "But every pretty name has a pretty face or maybe a pretty body?"

I shuddered. "No."

A hand moved my hair and I jumped, running to another wall and pressing my back to it. Leilani giggled. "Zahra is a pretty, scared thing."

I said nothing as it stepped into a shaft of light. What appeared was a gorgeous woman of brunette hair, green eyes, oval face, and lean body. She had the grace of a cat and the strength of a wolf. She seemed familiar to me though. But I know I have never seen this woman before.

Leilani smiled. "Don't be scared, pretty Zahra. I just want to play."

"What do you want to play?" I ask, though I feared knowing the answer.

"The Bravery Game," she whispered.

I blinked. "What is that?"

She giggled some more. "The rules are simple. I can turn into anyone or anything. All you have to do is not scream or run. If you can do that for seven days, you win!"

"What do I get if I win?"

"Whatever you want."

"And if I lose?"

Her smile turned feral. "You have to do whatever I want."

"For how long?"

"As long as I want!"

I shake my head. "I don't want to play."

Leilani frowned. "You don't?"

I shook my head.

Leilani began to cry, sobbing quietly. Then she turned furious eyes on me and began to roar. I covered my ears, however, my eyes watched as she melted-melted-into a slimy creature with huge teeth.

I sat down and huddled into a ball, shaking in terror. The creature slithered forward, leaving a residue on the ground. When she was close, she put her teeth near my head.

It's been five days since I was put into this house and made to endure a creature who loved to terrorize me by turning into monsters. I was able to stay sane and not scream the whole time. But I haven't gotten sleep, food, or a moment of peace. It seemed Leilani didn't need any sustenance because she kept going. She didn't slow down at all.

I wanted to go home. I wanted to see Roan again. I wanted to see Aspen. I wanted to find happiness in my surroundings. But I was in a constant stare of fear. I wasn't sure if last much longer.

I am huddled in a corner when I hear footsteps outside the room. I curl into a tighter ball, steeling myself against whatever horror to walk in next. Would it fly? Would it breathe fire? Would it eat me this time?"

But what I saw was worse.

A man walked in. He looked like Roan, but much older. He had scars on his face and arms from fights I never got to see. He also had a whip.

"Hello, Zahra."

"Father?"

He smiled. "So, you remember me?"

I didn't move from my spot. "Why are you here?"

"To take you with me. Don't you want to be on the move again, seeing the world and all its wonders?"

"I want Roan."

"But Roan abandoned you, Zahra. He gave up."

I shake my head. "No! He wouldn't!"

Father smiled and knelt a few feet away. "Have I ever lied to you, Daughter?"

"No!" I cried and leaped up and ran out the room. I was angry at him for suggesting such a thing, scared he was telling the truth, and confused as to how my father came to be here.

"Zahra…!"

I stop running.

"Zahra…!"

It was a beautiful voice. One similar to mine if I were to sing.

"Zahra, where are you?"

I couldn't breathe.

"Zahra, don't be afraid. Don't run from me."

I think my heart has stopped.

"Come here, Zahra. Come see your mother."