Ch. 39: Stand-Still

Sam

I dose in and out of dreams and reality, time seems to be at a stand-still. Having no light to tell me the time that's past makes my brain fuzzy. I hear footsteps, and the gate squeals a couple of times during my daze. No one woke me though. Only one pair of footsteps sharpened my mind enough to become aware of my surroundings, with my Mark growing hot. These footsteps become quiet but not silent as the squeak of my cell gate interrupts the silence. My body won't cooperate, my mind is aware but on the edge of consciousness and sleep. The heat from my Mark is not helping either, it seeps into my muscles, relaxing my body practically becoming a ragdoll. Subconsciously mimicking sleep, escaping the crude remarks from him. Something scrapes near my side, causing me to jump slightly, giving me away. 

Too late to keep pretending now. 

I open my eyes and see nothing. Literally nothing, just the dark shadows of the cave… and a random plate of assorted fruits and what looks like a freshly baked pot pie with gravy on top. My stomach creates an echo in the small cave. 

I hear a quiet snicker, and movement to my left, I sit up, my stomach using my hand to reach for the plate as I look around into the darkness. With my energy low, I silently thank "whoever" gave me this food and slowly start with the fruits.

"You're welcome." His voice slithers into my mind. My Mark growing warmer, I look around to find Kai materializing,  literally manifesting from the darkness, is that his ability? He nods, looking to the ground. I look back at my plate, 

"What's this? Your apology?" I pop a slice of banana in my mouth, looking away. My hunger is not helping my anger towards him. He crouches near me and scoffs.

"You wish. No, I'm here because I was… requested to find and lead you to the  "all mighty and glorious one." There's sarcasm in his voice as he does air quotes, my heart drops to my feet as my stomach loses its appetite. Is he talking about the king? I haven't made the… best first impression with him. My stomach knots up, why would he want to talk to me?

Kai shrugs, 

"Well, you did destroy more than half of his coliseum."  I shrug and wince from the tearing sensation I feel, I forgot the snake bite I got from Em getting bit. I hide my pain from eating a piece of strawberry. 

"It's not like I had any choice, I didn't know what was happening, I just wanted to protect Emberlynn." A draft gives me shivers, I realize that Kai had moved closer to look at me, my face heats up. Why is he looking at me that way? Did I say something wrong?

"As you should…" He says slowly. I look away from him, too embarrassed that I'm being analyzed like a critique with a brand new art piece.

He sighs, and moves my shirt off my shoulder, I scoots closer to the wall.

"What do you think you're doing?!" I hastily try to fix it back over the bite, trying not to wince. Kai sees right through it and grabs my hand gently, 

"You're bleeding again. I'm just gonna fix it unless you want it to continue." I become surprised by this, so I stop struggling. He reveals my bandages, the hot pain gets extinguished by something cool. I look over to find water, coming from my cup set beside me, is floating up into the air and setting again my wound, extinguishing the flames of. agony that were swimming in my veins.

It's actually quite soothing, I can't help but relax. The pain is almost non-existent now. I hear him chuckle under his breath and I look at him, my face heats up a blush red noticing he's been looking at me this entire time, I instinctively inhale a damp lungful of cave air. I want to look away but… something keeps me from it. I start drowning into those ocean blue eyes, my mind goes silent, becoming more aware of his heartbeat, his mind, everything about him. Then he's gone. Kai is suddenly standing with his back towards me, the very thing that encaged me, releases me with a blast of cold air, evaporating Kai's body heat like it wasn't even there. My shirt is already placed back to where it was before, I hear him clear his throat.

"Make sure you rest and not reopen your wound again. If I feel that you've listened to what I say, then I'll see If I can get Lyra to get you some food and get you to visit Emberlynn." After said that he closes the gate with a bang, disappearing down the hall. His steps echoing into nothing.

Without his presence my mind becomes clearer, sharper. What just happened? Were we just about to kiss?? I think with a hand flying to my mouth in shock. Chills make themselves known in my arms, I wiggle my fingers and create small flame and hold it with my hands near my body to try and keep me warm.

"Em..? Can you hear me? Can you help me get out of here?" I plead through out mind link. Hoping that she hears, I fall into another dreamless sleep.