~After one week~

As predicted by Channing, I was taken in as a suspect immediately after being discharged. He had already left the hospital in search of evidence, I was signing the discharge papers when I heard those annoying footsteps that clicked in sync.

Well, I already pushed my luck way too much by delaying my discharge and didn’t really expect a lot from it anyways.

What started as a simple mission to end the war between two different villages, had me caught up in a case of internal feuds and betrayal. It was never simple, to begin with! but this was the first time someone had offered me help, all that my heart hoped was this person don’t leave me at my own mercy.

The thought of prison wasn’t scary, it felt more like home to me. The shackles reminded me of the dungeon below the castle, all those who defied the king were locked up there, and the cell at the very end of that dark damp dungeon where my scent still reminds them of my previous presence!

Day after day it became easier to endure all the spiteful eyes from the inmates and the guards, that wouldn’t faze me as I had seen worst. if anything these people felt like street bullies and nothing else. And because I knew Channing was out there trying to save me and that gave me the strength to face it all.

There was a loud bang on my prison cell’s door and I glanced to see the guard looking back at me from the little bared slit of that heavy iron door, “Aye! Wake up, The chief is here to meet you!”

I was kneeling with my hands in the air, tied on both my sides and a chain around my neck extended to my ankles, it was tightened to be so small that I couldn’t even bend without it rubbing against my skin.

The door unlocked and the chief walked inside, he looked in his 40s so there was a likelihood that he also belonged to old school thought supporter like John.

“How are you doing Selene?” He asked with an icky smile.

“Haha, Pretty cramped here!” I replied sarcastically.

“Oh, you look pretty comfortable to me!” he exclaimed as if he enjoyed that fact.

I gritted my teeth in frustration but did not let him know, if I could I would rip his head off his body this very moment. In the past few days, the chief visited me quite very often just to check if I was properly suffering from his lousy plans. But I wasn’t giving him that satisfaction – the satisfaction of getting on my nerves, I have faced eviler than this!

My smile stretched from eye to eye, “Yes, absolutely! it’s pretty comfortable here. After all, the chief himself arranged it for me, thank you for the efforts.”

His smile immediately turned into frustration, and with anger boiling up inside him he stepped closer to me and crouching on one knee, “I’ll make sure you die for your crimes! The laws forbid me from touching you just yet, but worry not! After the trials when you will be sentenced guilty, I’ll personally make sure you scream in pain every day and every single night! Torturing you till you are begging for death!”

My innocent smile didn’t waver an inch, “what are you talking about, aren’t I already being treated just like that? But don’t worry chief” I said with the same smile but a serious tone, “You won’t get your chance to touch me!”

My final words did the deed as the chief was practically about to explode with anger totally infuriated, but since the law forbid him from punishing a suspect he felt like he was the one in chains, “You will pay for John’s death!”

Saying that he walked out grumpily as the guard closed the door behind him, the chief looked at me through the small square ready to eat me alive. The guard was done locking the door and the chief looked at him and spoke loud enough for me to hear, “Don’t give her any food today, she has too much strength to be back talking!”

I sighed, ‘here we go again!’ The chief probably planned to kill me from malnutrition.

The dinner bells rang after few hours and all the inmates were out of their cell except me, the guards all moved to the lower floors and I was left there alone in my cell. If I were to give a call for emergency no one would even listen to it at such time, but well chief would definitely want that!

I adjusted myself trying to get a little more comfortable in the chains, but every move I make just made it more and more uncomfortable.

While I was lost in my unnecessary worries I heard a familiar voice from outside the cell, “Should I handle this matter prin…madam?”

I looked up in shock knowing exactly who it was, my eyes went wide and I immediately replied, “Get out of here! It’s dangerous.”

The familiar figure of this girl was properly dressed in an officer’s uniform, it was very smart of her to dress up as an officer instead of a guard so if no one recognises her here there would still be no problem!

Her concerned face moved closer to the door, “Let me at least help you through those chains madam, I’ll transfer you to another cell with better facilities!”

I smiled at her for her innocent and pure-hearted concern. Dandeline, was the purest soul I had ever met but now was not the time for her to be seen around me, “We can’t have you be seen here. I understand your concerns but let me fight my battles, and you go back where there is your need!”

“But madam!” She argued, “please let me help you in some way! I can’t see you in this state.”

Her soft aura always made me lose to her words, “You can’t help me Dandeline, just hold a little patience. I promise to not die just yet!”

Her troubled face just slumped down helplessly, “Okay ma’am but at least let me give some food tonight!” Saying this she left in hurry, probably someone must be coming upwards.

I smiled knowing that she won’t listen to me, Dandeline had taken care of me previously during similar situations and I know how stubborn she can get.

I heard a few footsteps approach outside, they walked in unison making it clear that the chief was here with his two pet officers. As the cell door opened, the chief entered with his chin held high and satisfactory glint in his eyes, holding a paper roll in his hand. The other officers waited outside but the chief had an oddly jolly smile on his face.

He opened the paper roll and held it in front of me so I could see, laughing maniacally he said, “Look here, you killer! Your days are numbered.” He moved the paper aside and came close to me threatening, “Your trial date is the day after tomorrow, enjoy your last few hours of happiness! Because once you are proven guilty, You are in my hands! I will see to it that you are given proper third-degree torture every hour of every day!”

Although he was happy, his eyes were fuming red like they would ooze blood any minute now, so I decided not to provoke him this time.

I peeped at the official paper in his hand which looked like a notice from the court.

Looking closely I realised that the trials will be held outside the village in ‘The Rural Court of Adalolpha’ The court set officially by the royal capital! I had heard the judges there are extreme law and justice bound, but more than all of that trials in ‘A common court for all the villages’ meant that it was a matter beyond just village Winterwells.

It only indicated one thing, other villages had a role in this trial as well, and it wasn’t that hard to guess that the neighbouring village of Waterwoods is a part of this case for attacking Channing that night!

Seeing no reaction from me the chief got up a bit proud of himself and walked out, talking from outside the closed cell door, “Wait and watch Selene, the revenge for my brother’s death will be completed with your blood!”