Fifty-five

I was numb.

I had cuts everywhere from Leilani's large blade.

I had eaten the heart.

I had drank the blood.

I had watched while she brought another child in and tortured them.

I had screamed.

I had begged.

I had pleaded.

Now, I was done.

Leilani clicked her tongue as she looked at my slumped form hanging from the chains. "Pretty Zahra give up so soon?"

I didn't answer.

There was a long silence, then a hand lifted my chin. I saw my mother again. "Don't give up, Zahra. We're only just starting. Don't you want to see more fun?"

I didn't answer.

She slapped me. Hard. I groan.

"Maybe you didn't have fun with the children," she muses. "Maybe we should try something else."

Another silence.

After a long moment, I feel the point of a blade at my chest. I don't move. The blade jerks down, cutting my shirt, and my flesh. A new cut.

The shirt is cut all the way down the middle until I'm left vulnerable. My front on display.

"Maybe I should give you more attention," said a male voice.

I whimper.

Lucas laughs.

"Finally, a reaction!" The blade disappears and is replaced by his hands. His nails dig into my already burning flesh, scraping across my chest and breasts, and down my stomach. "Say something Zahra. Come on! I want you to tell me how you feel!"

I just whimper.

He goes for my trousers.

"No!" I whimper.

His hand stops. "Ah! There you are!" But he rips my pants down and kneels in front of me. "Is this fun, Zahra?"

I begin to shake in terror. I try to free my wrists, only for pain to flare.

Lucas laughs. He stands up again, and to my surprise, releases me from the chains above. I fall to the ground in a heap, groaning. He comes over me and flips me so I'm on my back. "What a delicious sight, indeed!"

He takes his own pants down. I try to move away, but my ankles are still chained. "No!"

He grins. "Yes!" And he falls onto me.

I scream.

An eternity later, I'm alone. I had just woken up from a restless sleep. My whole body was sore. I couldn't move. I almost couldn't breathe. I wondered why I wasn't dead yet.

I heard footsteps from behind me and tense, fearing what would occur next. Hating that I was so scared.

Gentle hands turned me over and a feminine face looked down at me. I thought it was Leilani's face, but then realize it was someone else's.

"Zahra?"

I close my eyes against the familiar voice and turn away. I didn't care if I got another cut for it.

"Zahra, can you hear me?"

Why was Leilani using a gentle voice? Why did she even dare try to sooth my nerves when she would torture me in moments?

"Here," she said, and I saw a water skin.

I jerked back. No more! No more blood and organs! I couldn't take it!

"Zahra, it's just water. See?" She tips it and I see clear liquid splash onto the ground. But could I trust it? "Please Zahra. Take a drink?"

Reluctantly, I obeyed. To my surprise, it was water. I drank greedily. Almost throwing myself at the person when they pulled it away.

"Hold on." This woman, Leilani possibly, sat down fully and cradled my head in their lap. She gave me more. "There you go. Take as much as you want."

I did. I didn't care what consequences went with it. I drank.

Some time later, I drained the whole thing and whimpered. I wanted more. I needed more.

"Let's get you out of here," she told me, and laid my head down on the ground. She went to my feet and took one of my ankles. I kicked out reflexively, not wanting her anywhere near my lower half. "I'm not going to hurt you, Zahra. I just want to take these off."

I continue to kick out, but she catches my ankles and holds them still. I begin to cry.

I don't for long though. I'm shocked when the chains fall from my ankles and a blanket is put around me. The woman, maybe it wasn't Leilani after all, caressed my face. "I know you hurt, Zahra. I know everything hurts, but I can't carry you."

She holds out an arm that was wrapped. Wounded. I blink. "Cat?" I croak.

She smiles. "That's right, Zahra."

I moan, now knowing this wasn't Leilani after all. "Roan?"

"He's outside. Waiting for us." She looks around then back down at me. "Can you help me? We need to get out of here."

I reach up and she catches my arm. Slowly, painfully, I sit up. She lets me rest then we start getting me to my feet. Cat keeps the blanket around me while I stumble up and into her. I cry out in pain.

"Go behind me, and get on my back," she instructs.

I shake my head. "I'll fall."

"You have to try to hold on, Zahra. I need you to try."

"I can't."

She cups my face with her good hand. "I know it'll hurt. I know you are exhausted. But I can't run unless you hold on. If I run, we can get you out of this shithole quickly, then you can rest. Willow is waiting to heal you."

I can't argue with her because I know we have to hurry, but I also know I won't be able to hold on for long. "Fast, Cat. I can't keep going."

"I'll be fast."

I make my way to her back, wrapping my arms around her neck. With a deep breath, I jump. My front hits her back and I almost faint from the agony it brings me, but I force my legs to wrap around her middle and hold on.

"Ready?"

I nod, and hide my face in her hair. The next thing I know, there is wind whipping against us. I hear fighting momentarily, then more wind. Suddenly, we stop. I don't want to let go though.

"Zahra?"

"I'm scared," I confess.

"Do you want to be in a tent with me alone?"

I nod. She begins walking, I hear voices, the flapping of fabric, then feel warmth.

"I'm going to sit down now," she announces. I feel her do so, then the ground under me. Slowly, I let go. Looking around, I see tent walls that were green. I see a warm fire in the middle. I see a cot with clean blankets to one side and a pile of clothes on the other. Carefully, I move away from Cat so she could turn around. Then, I bring my knees up and hugged them under the blanket.

Cat grabs a plate and sets it before me. It had meat. "No!" I cry. "Please no!"

She takes it away immediately. Then, she brings out some fruit. She sets that down in front of me and moves back a little.

I hesitantly take a piece and bite into it. It was real. It was sweet and pungent. It was like a burst of light to my senses.

I slowly eat more and more until I couldn't take another bite. Then, I look to Cat. "What did I ask you when we first met?"

She smiles. "You asked why I had holes in my shirt. And then, I took you into the sky!"

"Can I see? Just for a minute?"

Abruptly, her wings burst out and about, filling the small space with their brilliance. I smile, knowing they were real. "Can Willow come in?"

"I want Roan," I say, still gazing at the wings. "Then, I will see Willow."

Cat nods. A moment later, a figure is standing outside the tent, seeming huge. I cringe. Cat spins around. "Finx?"

"I heard what she wants. They're almost back."

"Thank you."

The huge shadow moves away and I relax. Cat turns back to me. I say, "Finx?" She nods. "He can hear everything, right?"

"Exactly," she says with a smile.

"Was he talking about Roan?"

"Yes. They're coming back."

I nod. Cat puts her wings away and grabs some clothes. I shake my head. "Not yet, please?"

"Okay." She puts them back, then holds her hands out. "Will you let me hug you?"

I hesitate, but give a nod. She leans forward and gives me a gentle hug. I melt into the embrace, finally giving into the acceptance of being safe.

Cat doesn't move. I don't want her to move. She doesn't say anything. I like the silence. She shoos away anyone who isn't my brother. I am grateful.