VICIOUS (II) : peter pan ouat

How to Mess Up

Chapter 15

Aching, sore, and numb. The world around me is fuzzy, and as I lift my head I still can't tell where I am. It's dark, and there's brown beneath me. Dirt, which explains why my face feels sore. Why my head aches, and why I feel numb would best be explained by alcohol, but I haven't quite come across that while I've been here so I doubt that's the answer I'm looking for.

It's difficult to sit up, but I manage to get myself on my knees. Both my hands are tied behind my back, and my feet are tied together too.

Right, I was kidnapped by the Natives. They drugged me, so I guess alcohol was a close enough explanation. Everything begins to come into focus, and I notice something.

I'm in a tent. It's empty for the most part, with logs and branches tugged away into the corner. This is probably a storage room converted into a hostage center, for whatever reason.

There's an exit off in one end, but I'm not dumb enough to leave. They probably think I'm still unconscious, a little piece of information I can use for my own benefit.

Heading over to the logs, I wrap my hands around a branch. My dagger isn't on me anymore, they must've taken it. Why it has yet to reappear in my pocket is not only a mystery, but frustrating.

I rip the branch off, and begin to saw it against the rope. This is no use. My hands are tied at an angle that renders this essentially useless. It's like trying to saw through chainmail with a feather.

Now, I'm not that familiar with medieval history, but I'm pretty sure they wore chainmail because it was hard to break.

The tent is made out of some sort of leather, and a crappy one at that. Using the stick, I puncture a hole through the tent. Lowering myself to the ground, I rip a long line in the side. As I turn around, I admire my own handy work.

I slip out of the hole, looking back at the tent. To my disappointment, the tent I was in is in the middle of their camp. A few people stand around, stunned.

Great, there goes my escape plan. I can't outrun all these people, not when my hands are tied behind my back. I don't even have a weapon to fight my way out. Not that I could, seeing as I'm tied up! Magic probably won't even help me if I can't use my fingers.

This is not only frustrating, but completely embarrassing.

The man, their leader, exits a tent staring me down. He begins to screech at me in a language I do not understand. His tongue lashes out violently, as everybody else just glares at me. Inali stands beside him, and just stares between us in a stunned silence, unsure of what to make of it all.

This is more confusing and annoying then anything. I'm stuck here, for who knows how long, and I'm being yelled at and can't understand why.

The man steps closer to me, before grabbing me by the elbow, leering over top of me.

Now I'm pissed.

I stomp my foot on the ground, and their leader goes flying back. He looks up at me from the ground, startled look across his face. Everyone else around us displays the same look.

Right, it's always a little odd when you hurt someone without touching them. Magic isn't a thing everybody is doing.

I feel hands on my back, grabbing me and holding me still. I knock my foot against the ground, sending them flying back as well.

More hands grab at me, yelling and shouting words I don't understand. Someone puts a cloth over my mouth, and I feel my eyes struggle to stay open. I can't help it when they shut.