Hiding In Plain Sight

Chapter Twenty-Four

Unfortunately, I think we've all gotten used to the late updates. To make it up to you all, I've tried to give a bit of a lengthier chapter with hints of lore. As we get closer to the end, I'm hoping that I can reveal everything I planned without confusion or extra explanations. My recommendation is to pay attention to the new names; they might be useful in the future ;)

Enjoy the chapter!

"HEY!!" Lucy screamed. "HELLO?? ANYONE THERE?"

She was standing with her mouth next to the vent. The smell of flowers, which had become familiar to her, filled her nose as she screamed more. "I NEED TO USE THE BATHROOM!!"

Her door slammed open. "Shut up!"

Lucy shrugged innocently at the seething man. "What? I need to go."

He rolled his eyes and went over to where her chains were connected to the wall. He pulled out a key and unlocked them, then pulled her out the door. "Try anything funny and you miss dinner."

"It's dinnertime already? Wow, I didn't even realize. You know, with me being locked up in a basement without any sunlight or windows or any way to tell the time of day-"

"Shut up."

"Okay. Jeez. Sorry, didn't realize you had such sensitive ears."

The man groaned again, and Lucy smirked. If she was going to be held captive with no way to fight back, she might as well try annoying him to death.

"I am way too old for this," he muttered.

Lucy perked up at his words. "Old? But you don't look a day over 25!"

The man scoffed. "I'm older than you think."

Now we're talking, Lucy thought, pleased. "Older than me? Should I start calling you 'Gramps,' too?"

"Stop probing me for info. It's not going to work," he said, stopping at a door. "Go in and hurry up."

"Ah well, worth a shot." Lucy jangled her wrists, the chains clinking with the movement. "Aren't you gonna-"

"Like the last 50 times you asked, no. The chains stay on. Hurry up."

Lucy sighed and dropped her arms. "You're a real piece of work, you know that?"

He said nothing in response and leaned against the wall, ending the conversation. Lucy went into the bathroom, chains still uncomfortably locked around her wrists.

The man closed his eyes as he waited. Her words echoed in his mind.

***

"You're a real piece of work," the woman said, exasperated. She plopped down next to the lying figure and ripped out a few blades of grass, throwing them over his face.

The cool spring breeze carried them away before they could reach his skin. He opened an eye to look up at her. "How so?"

The woman stared at the grass flying away. "Even now, the Saintess watches over you."

"Are you going to explain anything?"

"I'm talking about the apprenticeship!" The woman flung her arms out and dove down next to him so they were level. Her curly brown hair made a cloud around her angry expression. "I mean, you have the opportunity of a lifetime sitting right there. I don't understand why you aren't taking it."