Song: https://youtu.be/lufe_OjG4OU

I'll never react the same way to the crack of a whip again. But of course, that wasn't the end of the pain. Instead of leaving me in a cell of some sort, my hands were bound and I was hung up on a hook that kept me just a few feet from the ground.

The hook swung with my weight, not giving me a way to get myself down without help. Not to mention any movement I made only reminded me of the lashes I'd taken for staying silent on Barrett's behalf. The marquis had offered to stop several times if I simply told him where Barrett was. He sounded almost obsessed at the time. But I didn't say a word. Even if I knew where Barrett was, I wouldn't tell him.

No matter how angry I was, I couldn't betray him like that. Because I knew what the consequences would be, and I didn't want Barrett to die. Especially not by that man. Who knew how he would go about it?

Sighing heavily, I just closed my eyes as a breeze came through, causing my body to swing lightly. The rope bit into my wrists with time, but I tried not to think about how long I'd been swinging like this. My throat was dry and my shoulders were sore from holding the whole of my weight. The sun was bearing down on me, causing sweat to slide down my torso, which brought on an uncomfortable itch each time it hit one of the many cuts along my back.

It was fairly obvious what I was doing out here. It would be easy to help me off the hook if anyone were to come and rescue me. I was bait, like a worm on a fishing line. Lord Dominic was trying to lure Barrett here by using my injured form. A lot of good that would do. I knew Barrett a little better than that now. He was the sort of person to act kind in passing, when it didn't inconvenience him. Not the type to stick his neck out under an ax head. He wouldn't be stupid enough to come for me, with or without my powers.

The feeling of something brushing my legs, caused my eyes to flutter open almost sleepily as I stared down at the unrecognizable form. Except that they were perfectly recognizable. His hair was messier than usual, but he had a fresh cloak around his shoulders, the material even darker than the one he had previously given me.

Barrett looked up at me silently, his eyes were the color of blood. Both hot and cold as he checked my restraints and then grabbed my waist, lifting me up.

"Keep your arms straight." He whispered, and I did as he said, even with shaky limbs, I was able to lift the ropes off the hook. The thief set me on my feet as I dropped my arms in relief. He grabbed my hands, slicing the rope off my wrists with one fluid movement before looking around us.

I wanted to ask what he was doing here. Why he had freed me. But at the moment, I didn't care, just wanting to rest from my ordeal. But that wasn't possible, we weren't out of the woods yet.

The clang of a bell sounded in the distance as I rubbed my wrists when I felt Barrett wrap an arm around me. "Sorry about this." He muttered to me, wrapping another cloak around my shoulders. I was about to ask what he was apologizing for, when he ducked, wrapping his arms around my knees, hauling me over his shoulder.

I was very thankful I hadn't eaten in a while. Because when he took off towards the wall, it was as smooth as biking down a mountain. There were shouts from behind us as I heard the loud snap of plenty of traps going off. But our speed never wavered until we hit the wall. I clutched the cloak on his back tightly to keep myself from slipping off as Barrett climbed over the wall, jumping over the top.

We landed hard, but he just kept running. I coughed at the rough handling, my eyes stinging as I bit back tears. But you can imagine the difficulty. I was already in pain, and extremely tired. I just wanted to sit down. But of course I couldn't do that. Not until we found someplace to hide.

The splash of water reached my ears, and I opened my eyes as Barrett ran through a stream, following its flow for a little while before continuing on. He ran through the trees, not stopping to pause until the shouts of our pursuers had faded entirely.

I was quiet for a while as he finally slowed down. But he never quite stopped. Still continuing forward, I pressed my palms into his back softly, trying to sit up. But my arms were still sore.

"Barrett." I murmured, my voice cracking a bit when I tried to speak. I didn't know if he'd heard me, but he didn't respond for a little while. When he did, his voice was quiet.

"Just a little longer." He told me, before heading down hill, and at some point, he had to jump down several times. My stomach was certainly not a fan of that, and I was once again glad the organ was empty of sustenance.

By the time he finally stopped, and put me on my feet. I simply slumped to my knees, hugging my midsection. My stomach would undoubtedly be bruised, and my back was burning with the cloak that was set over the lashes in my skin.

"Are you alright?" He asked, kneeling next to me. But I shook my head, I just wanted to lay down and pass out at this point. "C'mon." He gently grabbed my arms, trying to pull me up again. Reluctantly, I let him, staggering to my feet.

He brought me into an old looking barn, before leaving me to grab a satchel he had hid under a pile of withered hay.

"Go ahead and sit down." He told me, pulling out a small lantern and some rags. I plopped myself down where I was as he brought the supplies over to me and set the rags in my lap. "I'll be right back. Just stay here." He told me before gripping my arm. "Stay." He reiterated with a stern look. But when I looked up at him, I didn't even bother answering. Where exactly did he think I was going to go? Back to Dominic?

Finally convinced that I wasn't going anywhere, he nodded once before heading out of the barn, off to who knows where. But I didn't care. I was out of that terrible place and was able to rest. That's all I wanted. So I leaned over, falling onto my side with the rags tucked into my cloak. I shut my eyes, not caring about any visions. I just wanted to sleep.

Sadly, I didn't get much sleep before I was shaken awake again. Looking over at the dark haired thief, I pouted as he set a pale of water off to the side and tried to get me to sit up.

"You need to get those lashes cleaned." He told me, pulling me up to sit. I sighed before handing him the rags. I wouldn't be able to clean it myself even if I wanted to. Thankfully, the dress I'd been gifted by the Marquis was still mostly whole, just missing the back where he'd unleashed his frustration on me. I pulled my cloak from my shoulders before holding it in front of me like a blanket.

Barrett shuffled behind me, dipping one of the rags in the bucket before wiping it over my back. I hissed as he did so, biting into the fabric of my cloak's hood.

"He's not after the prince." I told him once the pain had subsided a little. Barrett let out an exasperated sigh.

"Mon-" He started, but I shook my head.

"The prince is working with Dominic. They're plotting to murder the king." I said quickly before pulling my braid over my shoulder and out of Barrett's way. Blood decorated the end of my braid, but I tried not to focus on it as I stared at the unlit lantern. Lighting it now wouldn't be a good idea, not while we were currently trying to hide from the Marquis's men. But I wondered how much light it would provide, being so small. "Just so you know." I murmured, shuffling so that I was hugging my knees.

The thief behind me sighed heavily as he continued to dab the rag over my back for a little longer. Then he dipped it into the bucket, leaving behind the dried blood he'd gotten from my back.

"Even after being tortured and left to die, you would still stand against him?" He asked in a quiet voice.

"No." I mumbled, bowing my head. "I can't. I don't know anything about the king, where he's going to be. I just know that Dominic is going to shoot a poisoned arrow into his carriage while he's in some sort of caravan." I said, fidgeting with the cloak that was laid over my legs. Barrett grazed a particularly deep lash, causing me to flinch away from him.

"Sorry." He said quietly as I slowly relaxed again.

"I know you don't care for nobles at all..but if Dominic gains favor of the new king. He won't just hunt people in the dark forest...I know I can't ask you to risk your life for someone you don't care about. But if you were willing, I would do everything in my power to help you." I told him. Though I was painfully aware of how little use I would actually be.

"You're unbelievable." Barrett murmured, dipping the rag in the water a second time, then a third. "Why are you still trying?"

"I don't know." I admitted, staring at the opposite wall. "Perhaps a part of me still wants you to be the hero my dreams told me you were." He paused at my words, but I continued. "After all, I doubt you were just passing through the Marquis's house and decided to pick me up along the way."

"So?"

"So..can't you just admit that I'm worth a little more to you than my dreams of the future? We both know those abilities of mine have caused you nothing more than grief."

I didn't know what he would do after hearing that. I didn't think I could handle him telling me that he didn't care about me. But if he really only wanted to use me, would he really risk everything to get me away from Dominic? Was he really that obsessed with my powers?

After he finished cleaning my back, he gently tugged my shoulder so I leaned back, setting my head back on his shoulder as we looked at eachother. My heart picked up pace as I stared into his eyes, and he frowned at me softly.

"You drive me crazy, you know that? I don't understand how you can think there's so much good in me." He murmured quietly as I bit my lip.

"I'd be dead several times over if there wasn't."

He snorted at that, brushing a piece of hair out of my face. "You're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for."

I cracked a small smile at that, before feeling my eyes drift closed. I really was, so very tired. I felt a brief pressure on my forehead as I drifted to sleep. Turning further into him, I nuzzled his neck softly.

"I love you." I mumbled. Though I didn't hear him say it back, I hoped he'd at least think about my words. I hoped he would know that I didn't betray him, and that I never would.

Walking into an obvious trap to get someone out...would you guys do this? Are you just a good person? Or are you in love?

Barrett's running some BIG mixed signals though. I dunno, do you guys trust him?

Have a lovely Evening,

G'Night Stars