CHAPTER 19:Attack

It had been 4 days since I had jumped into that hole and found myself in a creepy sort of dungeon at the end. I was kept in a cage like a dog and only had water to survive on. I Was starting to smell since there hadn't been any chance to bathe.

There were other cages too and each contained kids, teenagers and some adults, all women. It seems my captors have been searching for me for a long time and didn't have a clue so they brought any female who they thought would be me and locked them up.

Others were fed daily except me and my stomach was starting to revolt. However, it seemed that the cramps coming today weren't just due to hunger but something I hoped wasn't the reason my stomach twisted and turned. I mentally calculated my last period to date and groaned. I was in big trouble.

I needed a bath and a pad, food forgotten. I patiently waited for one of the figures who attended to us to show up so I could explain my predicament because there was no way I was going to soil myself and still wear the clothes for days till they decided what they would do to me.

The door opened and I was immediately alert and ready to shout my request if I had to. The man who entered wasn't wearing the hooded cloak I had gotten used to seeing, he looked neatly trimmed from hair to toe even his clothes were spotless.

He approached my cage briskly, unlocked it and peered into it, "Follow me" he said tonelessly pointing at me before heading for the door. I didn't wait to be told twice before leaping out of the cage eagerly. I felt a hot flush down there and flinched, a trickle crawled down my thighs and I groaned in frustration. I followed the man out the door, walking twice as fast to catch up lest my back earned another stroke.

He stopped before a door and I stood behind him. A knock, then two knocks followed and the door swung open, he stood aside and gestured for me to walk in leaving me gaping at the interior as my legs moved their own accord. It was a bathroom, not just some random excuse of a bathroom but the real deal.

Every toiletry known to women was lined up and I realized that it was meant for me, Relief danced through my body and I smiled feeling better. I was about to run a shower and start washing when it occurred to me that they had known I was on my period. The thought creeped me out, though now wasn't the time to start regretting or agonizing over anything.

I hurriedly freshened up and wore a shapeless dress that had been folded and placed alongside the toiletries. My spirit was high and the thought that something I had always done unconsciously at home without dwelling on it seemed like a luxury here humbled me.

The man waited for me outside and as soon as I closed the door, he began walking but this time in a different direction. I followed him, walking as fast as I could while he led me through different paths till we stepped into the light. My first instinct was to close my eyes since they had gotten accustomed to the darkness and the sudden brightness made them sting.

My heart swelled with happiness at the thought of freedom. I opened my eyes and looked around, taking in the surroundings, we stood in front of a cave which was probably another opening just like the hole from before or an outlet. There was a stream flowing in front, however nothing about this place seemed familiar or gave a hint of a way home. I heaved a sigh, feeling depressed at my discovery, where the hell were we and why were they still keeping captive?

There was a loud screech which startled me, it came from above and when I looked up to see, I almost screamed in terror. A large birdlike creature was lowering itself to the ground right beside the man who grabbed its reins. He beckoned on me to come closer but I couldn't move, the bird creature was grey and its hideous face had horns protruding from its skull.

"Make haste, I have other things to do young lady," the man said angrily and I hurried over afraid of a whip appearing and punishing me as usual, my back still bore fresh scars which had hurt like hell when I was bathing. He flung me onto the bird creature and slapped its side making it buck slightly before taking flight, "Don't let go if you love your life!" He shouted and I shuddered. I clung to it for my dear life as we rose into the sky before flying at breakneck speeds, my fear palpable as the bird glided through the air.

I hid my face between the feathers, trying to calm down and distract myself from the height we were towering over. Acrophobia wasn't a joke because my body started to paralyze with fear and I forgot to breathe, despite my inner chanting that it would be alright, yet nothing changed.

My grip on the bird creature started loosening, cold sweat broke out and I began imagining what a fall from this height would be like. No! I needed to Brave this and try to find an escape. Suddenly a random memory cloaked my thoughts with comfort, long black hair, red eyes and a tender hug.

Igris! I had totally forgotten about him since all these happened, he had comforted me that night when he had lifted me into the air, his tender comfort calming me as he promised not to let me go. I felt a renewed strength and determination to survive, my body was still failing me, but I had started to breathe slowly while focusing on keeping my fingers wrapped around the reins.

I decided to keep my eyes closed to avoid losing my nerve while focusing on breathing. However, something unexpected happened. There was a loud bang and the next thing I knew, the bird creature was falling to the ground at an alarming speed, we were crashing and I was going to die. I screamed as my nightmare started turning to reality, I saw the tops of trees drawing near and my vision started going black.

"Somebody catch the girl!" A voice shouted urgently, " We can't go closer" Another shouted, "The boss would kill us, catch her at all cost!" The first voice shouted again and that was the last thing I heard before I passed out.