Renegade

6

A loud howl permeated the quiet darkness and Winter gasped as she opened her eyes and jolted upright. She did not know how long she had been unconscious but basing it on how wet her clothes are, she guessed she had been lying on the cold ground long enough to start worrying, She gave an involuntary shiver.

She blinked and felt a little disoriented. She did not know where she was. It looked like she was inside a shed. It wasn’t huge but enough to fit probably 4 or 5 adults. There was only one window and it looked sealed shut.

Winter noticed that she was on the floor, on some blankets that smelled like some animal had rolled into it. She tried not to gag at the raw animal smell surrounding her,

She kept looking around trying to see what else was in there but the rest of the space is engulfed by darkness.

She groaned as her head began to pound. As she reached out to rub her temple, she heard the sound of chains clinking and finally noticed that she was tethered to the ground, a shackle on her wrist connected to a chain skewered to the floor.

What the f**k? She tugged at her bonds, panic starting to bubble rapidly unto the surface. She pulled, shook and tried to pry the shackle on her wrist but it was useless.

“HELP!” Winter cried out against the cold, damp room. “SOMEBODY! HELP!”

She shook the chain again in hopes of making enough noise to be noticed. She whimpered as the iron scraped her wrist. She shouted again but the only response she got was the cold air blowing through the pine trees.

I must be in the woods. She thought to herself, trying her best to keep calm. She growled and pulled on her restraints again before groaning with pain.

Tears start to form in the corner of her eyes as bad thoughts start creeping into her mind. Who kidnapped her? Why? Is she going to be murdered? Tortured? r***d? Sold?

“Stop it, Winter!” She snapped at herself but tears started to fall down her face. She closed her eyes and breathed through her nose slowly. No, she was not going to die alone and cold in this dark, smelly shed!

“HELP! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!” She screamed until her throat felt hoarse. She sniffed, the damp clothes making her shiver against the cold.

A sound alerted her as the door of the shed started to open. She bit her lip to keep from whimpering as she scrambled backwards, pressing her back against the wall.

She watched warily as a man stepped into the shed and hurriedly shut the door. He dusted off the snow from his coat before lighting an oil lamp by the corner.

Winter blinked against the soft glow and gasped when she realized who the person is. It was the guy in the restaurant only this time, he isn’t wearing glasses and he seemed less friendly.

“You’re awake.”

Winter started to struggle against her restraints and called out for help once more. She kept looking at the man as he moved towards her, his face decorated with that same friendly, innocent smile. He still looked like a trusted shcool professor but he seemed bulkier, a bit menacing and darker.

“Stop shouting. Nobody will hear you, trust me!” He said while putting down the brown paper bag he was carrying on the small crate by the window. “We are deep in the woods and the wind is high.”

“Who are you? What do you want from me? I don’t have any money!” She muttered unable to disguise the panic in her voice.

He chuckled as he continued to pull the stuff from the inside of the paper bag. He pulled out a couple of water bottles, a bag of trail mix and some other things Winter could not easily identify.

“Please, let me go. I-I have nothing of value...” she stammered, her body beginning to shake involuntarily.

“On the contrary,” he replied, shooting her a sideways glance “You are the most valuable thing in this forest right now.”

Winter frowned, unable to stop herself from gaping at him like he is some deranged, disfigured clown. What is this guy high on?

She watched as he walked towards the end of the room. He pulled a duffel bag from the corner and unzipped it. She saw him pull out some thick, winter clothes.

“You have to change clothes before we leave. I don’t want anyone catching your scent.” He explained as he carried the fresh new clothing towards her.

Winter glared at him. “I am not going anywhere with you! Let. Me. Go!”

He sighed and crouched down so that they were at eye level. He smiled kindly at her, his eyes almost apologetic.

“I’m sorry I have to treat you this way, princess. I promise you that when we get out of here, things will be different. We have been searching for you for a long time ever since your mother gave birth to you and ran away-“

“You know my mother?” Winter interjected, her current situation forgotten.

The man hesitated but nodded. He smiled again before placing the clothes by her feet. He did not say anything else so Winter prodded him with more questions.

“How do you know my mom? Where is she? Who is she?”

He shook his head, “All will be revealed in time, princess. Please, I will give you some privacy to change your clothes. I don’t want you to catch cold or die of hypothermia.”

“I am not your princess! I want to go home! Take this chain off me!” Winter snapped, rising on her knees. She watched helplessly as the guy began opening the door.

“Wait! How am I supposed to fit the clothes when my arm is shackled?”

The guy stopped mid-stride and shook his head. He turned around and marched back towards her. He groped inside his pocket and produced a key.

“Don’t even try to run away. You’ll get lost in the woods or worst, get eaten! I’ll be outside the door, it’s the only way in and out of this cabin.” He warned her.

Winter waited while he unlocked the shackle around her wrist. She quickly spied the window but noticed the black, caulk-like substance surrounding its edges. Yep, the window is sealed shut so she can’t get out through that.

“I told you, there’s no other way out.” He said as his hand replaced the manacle on her wrist. “It would be best if you changed clothes and cooperate. I don’t want to have to use extreme methods to make you willing.”

Winter started to struggle but the guy simply chuckled with amusement. He tightened his grip and pushed her back down on the ground. She was about to fight against him when something in his eyes made her freeze.

She gulped as the man’s eyes turned a flash of electric blue. She watched as the color faded quickly as if it had been nothing but a reflection of light and held her breath as his eyes pierced through hers.

“I wonder why you have not shifted yet. I was truly half-expecting you to be out of the shackle by the time I got back. Surely, someone with your lineage and power can easily break free.” He murmured, leaning closer to her.

Winter did not know if she was going delirious because of the cold or the incessant panic in her but she could swear that the guy actually began sniffing her. The action reminded her of a dog trying to investigate a new toy or food.

“Get away from me!” She managed to croak out. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You have the wrong person.”

He smirked and straightened up. “Best get a move on with those clothes, I smell a cold coming!”

Winter frowned while he strode out of the shed and closed the door then, she let out a loud sneeze.

Sighing with defeat, she realized that she badly needed to change. She would try to pry the window open or find some weak spot on the wooden walls in order to escape after she gets dressed.

She quickly discarded her clothes and put on the new, dry ones complete with a pair of gloves and a thermal jacket. In spite the situation, she is glad that she was no longer in those wet garments.

She tried to be as quiet as she could and tip toed towards the window. She checked the latch and tried to push but it was sealed shut. She looked down and tried to pull out the metal spike used to keep the chain tethered to the ground but it would not budge.

She picked up the chain and with all her might, tried to smash it against the window. She did not care if it made a loud crash but was disappointed when it had no effect on the glass.

She continued banging though, in hopes that the sound would be heard by anyone. It was a long shot to expect anybody in the woods at this ungodly hour but she was not going to be a wimp and not try anything.

“I told you, there’s no point in trying to escape or cry for help.”

Winter jumped and gripped the chain tightly in her hands. She would use it as a weapon, she thought as the man approached her once more:

“Please, I don’t want to have to hurt you and knock you out. If circumstances were differenr, I would never sibject you to such dire straits.” He said as he stretched his hand out to ask for the chain.

Winter glared and took a step back. “Don’t come any closer or I will bash your head with this!”

He laughed.

“Give me the chain, princess.”

Winter pulled back and tried to strike him with the chain as he advanced. He easily caught it with one hand and tugged it out of her hands as if it were mere thread.

“You should start listening to me. It will save us both the time and trouble.”

“Whoever you are, you’re not going to get away with this!” She snarled.

He let out another laugh before gathering her discarded clothes and placing them in the duffel bag. He then grabbed a water bottle and tossed it to Winter.

“Better keep that from freezing. We’re leaving in half an hour. It’s up to you if you want to rest up or continue trying to figure out how to escape. Frankly, sleeping would do you more good.” He suggested as he walked towards the door and sat in front of it.

He leaned back and closed his eyes. Winter thought that he seemed so accustomed to the cold despite just wearing a heavy trench coat.

“Aren’t you going to chain me up again?” She snapped, unable to stop being sarcastic. It was either remain angry or burst out crying.

“I only chained you up as a precaution. I was not sure of your capabilities. I’m sorry.” He replied.

“What do you mean?” She asked unable to help herself.

He smirked again and then shook his head as if in disbelief as well as pity.

“You might be Oleana’s daughter but, you have no magic.”