by Kelly Napoli
CHAPTER 21
MADNESS
The larger man rounded the table as Kiethara stood there, stunned, unable to process the words. When they did sink in she turned, the only thought in her mind to run, but the man grabbed her around the waist. She let out a horrible, throat-searing scream, one that ripped through the square with such force that all the commotion around them went silent.
She shrieked again as the man holding her yanked her back, the motion lifting her muddy feet off the dirt path. She thrashed wildly, her hair blinding her for a moment, but through it she saw the woman who had brought her go pale. Kiethara spat the hair from her mouth and screamed at her, seeing nothing but rage. The lady stumbled back and tripped into the dirt.
“Shudda up!” the man yelled, jerking her hard in the opposite direction.
She clawed at his arm, kicked him in his knees, and elbowed him in his ribs. It made no difference, though, and nothing could hinder the strength of his arm or the brisk pace of his walk. She watched in despair as he dragged her towards another wagon. No! No!
Kiethara howled again, maddened by the sight of the iron bars that promised her there would be no escape this time. She braced her feet against the back of the wagon and shoved with all her might. It pushed the man back a step, but his grip was true, and it remained firm as he pushed her forward with a grunt. It was all she could do to keep her legs in place against the wood.
“Stop it, ye little twit! Get in there!” the man ordered, freeing one of his arms to take a swipe at her legs. She was shoved unceremoniously into the cage, head first, and her skull was sent knocking against one of the bars. All she saw was stars for a moment, and the man took advantage. The door clanked shut and the lock was drawn.
No!
Her surroundings were blurred, common sense faded, and meaning was lost. She pressed herself up against the bars, her wild thrashing and screaming calling the attention from every person. Kiethara felt disconnected from her body, as though she was watching herself fight from another’s point of view. It was someone else smashing her body against the bars and it was someone else’s voice ripping through the air. All she could think was help her. Someone please help the girl…After everything that she had survived these past few days, how could she be here? What had she done to deserve this degree of torture? It was far too much for any ordinary person to endure.
But she had not been born an ordinary person.
No, she had been born a guardian, and it was a curse.
In a far corner of her mind, where a bit of sense lingered, something contradicted her thoughts. There was a reason behind her faithful protecting, but in her madness, she could not find it.
Through her despair, which clouded not only her vision but her judgment as well, she saw a figure approach her. A savior? No, it was the man. The man with the whip. A faint crack sounded through her screams. Her hand hurt. She yanked them back from the cage bars.
There was nothing in this cage for her; she had no way to escape it.
The madness continued.
