Once again, I was left alone with my thoughts and cramped body. I wiggle occasionally to prevent further muscle and joint damage from my body being inactive for days. Being tied up for a long period has taken a toll on my body. The ropes are now looser and gave me more space to bend my joints a little.
To add more pain and discomfort, I also have a clogged nose. The restraints, cold weather, stress, and starvation weakened my immune system. Every minute movement I do made it a little hard for my brain to catch up. The world spinned as soon as I move my head.
Don’t even get me started with how I pee. The urge to be swallowed by the ground every night whenever Vaughn rescues me from marinating myself in pee.
I closed my eyes and diverted my thoughts from my struggles. Listing them down won’t do me any good. But… I have to endure 3 more days to be free? IF they were to let me go.
On a more pressing thought, I still don’t know that guy’s name.
‘It’s not like I’ll remember it, even if he told me.’
I’m bad with names. I can only remember what I felt with our encounters, which was awkwardness with him.
I tried to nap for a little before the mean prince will come back. They repair the palace early in the morning, then train in the afternoon. I still have a period of tranquility, and I will cherish that.
༻❁༺
The moment of tranquility was gone. Their voices from a distance jolt me awake.
I stretched my neck and rolled my shoulders to relieve the soreness of letting my head hang for a long while. Their chatters are slowly getting louder, and I can also hear the sound of metal clanging. Their training has officially begun.
A group of men already started their laps while the others are setting up their training fields. As usual, the mean prince appeared in his messy uniform, bed hair, and scrunched-up face. Despite the sloppy appearance, he exuded confidence and authority.
Our eyes connected, and my heart beat faster. I can feel my face heat with the swelling feelings inside. Butterflies filled my stomach and I feel like throwing up. I bit my lip hoping to tone my feelings down.
However, it’s hard to fight the burning urge to embrace him on his neck…
and choke him to death.
Butterflies? Nope. It’s more like cockroaches and moths filled my stomach. I never knew I could hate someone with passion that I want to vomit just by the sight of them.
I looked away and glared somewhere else while still biting my lower lip. The rope I’m bound in can’t stop the pent-up rage I’ve collected since meeting him. I can still feel his glare, but I refused to look back. Instead, I observed the other soldiers’ training.
It seems that no one is practicing their weapons since it only divided the field by two. The soldiers are already sparring with each other on the left side of the field while the rest spectated on the side. The men that were running laps a while ago are now doing pushups on the right field.
I watched the left field as two men fighting interested me more. However, I felt something off while observing these soldiers. I thought that my hatred caused the rumbling of my stomach towards the mean prince, but the back of my head said otherwise.
Something feels wrong. The soldiers looked like the usual, but there’s something different.
I ended up looking like the mean prince as I observed the soldiers harder. My frown deepens when the mean prince blocked my view. I clicked my tongue and craned my neck to the other side. All my efforts were futile because, one, I can’t pinpoint what exactly was different with the soldiers and, two, the mean prince flicked my forehead.
“AH!” Now it was inevitable to look at him. I scrunched and raised my eyebrows to relieve the pain he inflicted on my forehead. It actually hurts.
If I didn’t glare at his face, I would’ve missed the slight widening of his eyes.
I narrowed my eyes at him before looking away. It’s hard to tolerate his presence. He scoffed before I felt his hand snaked its way from my neck to the back of my head. He grabbed my hair and turned my head to face him. His actions were with force, and yet it baffled me how I still felt that slight gentleness.
Now, I’m left with more confusion. But I didn’t let this confusion overpower my hatred for this guy.
I narrowed my eyes at him once again as it forced me to look at him. He proceeded to lean our faces inches apart. The proximity let me see his eyes clearer. A newly polished sword would be the first thing you’ll think of when you look at his eyes. Other than their similarity in silver color, his eyes can also stab you.
My hyper awareness of my current looks and insecurity overpowered my anger. He smirked when I flinched, mistaking my self-consciousness to submission.
As much as I’m really conscious of my smell right now, nothing beats his morning breath. My nose twitched when I felt the sewage air hit my face.
“No one disrespects me, especially a lowly peasant like you.” He drawled in a low voice. “If I demand attention, you do NOT ignore me and look away. My patience is running out. Are we clear?” I held my breath and nodded. I really wish he’ll distance himself soon.
Though I’m glad that his rotten breath distracted me from basking in my insecurities.
He narrowed his eyes once more before he let me go. I didn’t mean to, but I heaved a deep breath as soon as he moved away. I was planning on letting little breath at a time to not make my dislike of his breath obvious.
His reaction told me he took it differently. He only snickered and left.
I sighed while my eyes focused on the grass as I replayed the events in my mind. I stopped zoning out after I remembered why I feel jittery.
I observed the soldiers again, but the unnerving feeling intensified when I locked eyes with one of the soldiers, watching the sparring. The hairs on my nape and arms lifted, and my shoulders tightened. He looked away first, and yet the uneasiness never left.
The day passed by in a blink. It ended faster than I would like. This would be the first time that I wished the mean prince and his soldiers didn’t leave. Where is Vaughn anyway?
Everything is dark once again, especially when the moon is somewhere not in where I am. I tried not thinking of ghosts, but, right now, humans scare me more.
I started singing to myself with ‘lalala’ as the only lyrics. My voice gets louder the more I felt someone’s presence getting nearer. I strayed off from the ‘lala’ lyrics and shouted incoherent words.
The pull in my gut became stronger the moment I felt my entire back run cold. I immediately crouched and frantically escaped the ropes. I didn’t have the time to look back or process the violent shake of the pole as soon as I crouched. Right now, I know I’m in danger.
I ran towards the spot in the woods where Vaughn usually rests. I lost all hope when he was not there. Scanning my surroundings, I picked up a rock and a sturdy-looking twig to defend myself with before running again. I don’t know exactly where I’m going, but I’m sure this is where Vaughn always goes to with his wheelbarrow.
I yelped as soon as I heard his footsteps speed up.
I almost cried when I finally saw a familiar silhouette dragging a wheelbarrow. I threw the rock behind me, hoping that it will hit him or at least slow him down, and it did when I heard the rock hit a fabric.
Grasping for breath, I made it to a stunned Vaughn’s side safely. I snatched the wheelbarrow from him and charged at the guy chasing me.
‘YOU LITTLE SHIT, YOU MADE ME RUN IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER!” I screamed angrily as I rammed the wheelbarrow into him twice. Once to make him fall, and the second time to hit him in his most fragile spot.
I stumbled backwards while I watched him squirm on the ground. Vaughn took it upon himself to inspect the guy. Everything happened in a blur, and now we’re walking back to the field with Vaughn carrying the unconscious attacker in his wheelbarrow.
My situation looks comical. I just escaped being tied down to that pole, and yet we’re walking back to tie me back there again. Vaughn tied loops around my wrists so I can control the tightness of the rope without being noticed. He gave me a once over before giving me a curt nod and left with my attacker.