Of Dreams and Chains
Jasmine's POV
Darkness surrounded me, almost feeling like I couldn't get any air. The trees went as far as I could see, huge and dark, sending shadows that tried to say things but I didn't understand. I noticed the smell of pine and wet soil, but something just didn't feel right. Wrong. Too still. Too silent.
Then I saw her.
Scarlett.
She was there, right in the middle of the clearing, her hands tied and attached to a thick wooden stake. Her clothes were ripped, and blood was coming out from the side of her mouth. Her eyes, looking scared and wide, met mine. I tried to run toward her, but as soon as I took a step forward, I noticed the man holding me up stretched out his hand and the cold metal he had around my hands suddenly tightened. I looked down.
Chains.
I was shackled too.
"No, no, no—" I pulled as hard as I could, but the door was just stuck there. My arms were held tightly behind me and my legs started to shake. I screamed her name.
"Scarlett!"
She didn't answer.
Laughter erupted all around us. I turned my head to look around, and I saw that folks were all around us. Wolves, men, women—faces with silly, taunting smiles. Some wore hoods, others armor. All carried weapons. And in the middle of them stood her.
Lucas.
He walked forward in a relaxed way, as if he'd seen the events happen before many times. His black boots stepped on the fallen leaves as he walked towards Scarlett. His hand brushed over the mark on her cheek, and she softly started to cry.
"Stop!" I shouted, my throat raw. "Don't touch her!"
But he didn't even flinch.
He looked at me and gave a smile that spread very slowly, almost like it could kill me. "You couldn't protect her, Azaria. Just like you couldn't stop anything from happening to your parents. Or your beloved friend."
I stiffened. You don't know a thing about me!
"I know enough," he said, picking up a shiny silver knife. "I know that this is the last time I'll get to see you."
"No—please—Lucas, don't!" I cried and tried my hardest to get out of the chains.
He ignored me. He turned back to Scarlett.
And then—
"No!!"
I screamed just as he lifted the blade to strike, but—
I jolted upright.
My body was really wet with sweat. My breath came in quick and shaky gasps as I gripped at the blankets, confused and shaking. My heart was beating so fast that I thought it might bust right open. I blinked a lot as I tried to figure out where I was.
No forest. No chains. No Lucas.
I was in a room. A real room. A bed. A blanket. Light filtered through cream-colored curtains, making the room nice and bright but also calming, just like when the sun comes up. A slight breeze gently came in through the open window. I was safe.
At least for now.
But I just wanted to find Scarlett, and all I could think about was how badly I needed her. Where was she? Was she really safe? Or was what I had dreamed just a dream?
I looked down at myself. Someone had changed my outfit to simple pajamas made out of comfortable material. My skin was still a bit wet from the sweat, but I felt clean afterward. My wounds had been dressed. A bandage was around my thigh, and I found out there was another bandage wrapped around my shoulder too.
The door creaked open.
I froze up suddenly and my muscles felt solid, but then I saw a young girl's face looking at me. She had soft brown eyes and her hair was tied back in an easy braid. She had on a beige apron, and underneath it was a simple dress. In one hand she carried a tray with a glass of water and something that looked like soup.
"You're awake," she said gently, coming in quietly. "Thank the moon."
I tried to speak, but it hurt too much to talk because my throat felt so dry. I could hardly get a voice out of me.
"Where…am I?"
She put the tray on the table next to me and moved a chair right by the bed. "You're in safe hands. You were found just outside the area where the Greyfang family lived. Barely breathing. Alpha Aiden brought you in."
Alpha Aiden? I had heard the name mentioned by others before.
The White fangs were well-known among the packs, despite having a problematic situation in fame. Some said they were noble. Others, ruthless. Still, there was consensus among them: they always took outside forces seriously.
"I've got to get up and go," I said, straining to move my legs from the bed. My leg felt too painful for words, so I let out a cry and dropped down.
Gently, the girl said, "No worries," as she set her hand on my shoulder. "You were hurt badly. If it had not been for Alpha Aiden, you would not have made it through the previous night.
Anxiety was settling in as I tried to understand everything. "Scarlett… where's Scarlett?"
She frowned a little. "Scarlett?"
"My—my friend," I rasped. "She was with me."
She paused. You were the only person when you were brought to the unit.
No.
No.
I said, "No, this time I'm not sure that's what I want." "She was with me. She was hurt. I need to find her."
"Please," I pleaded. "Please tell your Alpha. It's possible that she has not yet been found.
Her smile became more sober after that. She whispered, "I'll share this with him." At the moment, let your body rest as much as possible. You're still very weak."
I hated it. Hated being helpless. All I could think of was taking off the tourniquets and going out into the forest shouting Scarlett's name.