FLAMES

5. Adrianne~ V

I watched Kelarie ruffle herself up by the mirror. She had changed into a very dirty and tattered gown. She resembled a slave child in those clothes, with her unkept thick hair. I was still so confused. I couldn't understand a thing of what was going on or why she was making herself look so dirty.

"K? Who are these Thellars?" I asked.

She stopped ruffling up her hair and looked at me intensely. When I thought she wasn't going to say a word after all, she began.

"The Thellars. . . They're monsters. They found a way to Adrianne, six months ago. Since then, they have been terrorising us, since they know we have no form of defense."

"Why don't you ask for help from the neighboring villages? Or Towns?" I asked.

"We can't. The rest of the world hardly know we exist. Adrianne is cut out from the rest of the world by a very large waterfall some miles away from the outskirts. Only merchants journey to and fro through their secret passage", she paused and looked up in defeat then continued, "even if we wanted to ask for help, The Thellars have camped right out there. The three of them will kill us before we even get to the waterfall."

"This is really bad," I said in a low tone.

"They come mostly twice a month and take whatever they please. Even our women," her voice broke at that last statement.

"What?" I asked shocked.

"They don't care if the woman is old or just a child. They. . .they take them back to their camp and abuse them. . . until. . . until we find their bodies in. . . in a. . ." She couldn't continue. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

I immediately closed the distance between us and wrapped her in a hug as she sobbed. I didn't say a word, I just hugged her and let her cry.

A few minutes passed before she stopped crying. She let go and mouthed a "thank you."

She smiled at me before starting to leave the room. I started following her too and she abruptly stopped.

"It's not a good idea for you to come. You need to stay hidden in this room. Your hair will draw attention to you and they might take you. I have disguised myself in this way so I don't get picked", she explained.

"But I can't let you face those monsters alone. I need to be there with you," I protested.

"No, you can't be seen there today or they'll take you Hay. Please, for my sake. Stay hidden in this room. I've faced them countless times and I've never been taken. Please, I'm begging you. Stay hidden or you'll make matters worse," she pleaded.

I gritted my teeth and sat angrily on the bed.

"Thank you for understanding," she managed to say and left without another word.

I stared at nothing in particular as I sat. Then I threw myself backwards to sleep on the bed and stared at the ceiling instead.

"What if things go terribly wrong today?" I asked out loud.

"What if they do something more inhumane than everything they have done?"

I turned to rest on my side and stared at the dresser before me. The satchel I had carried was resting on it along with Kelarie's.

I turned to the other side and stared at the pillow. I was getting restless.

I know in my guts that something is going to go terribly wrong today.

I can't sit here and do nothing.

But Kelarie said to stay here.

I turned and faced the ceiling again.