I woke up slowly and painfully, a pounding headache making its presence know. I didn't bother opening my eyes, knowing light would only make pain worse. The air surrounding me was chilly but not quite freezing, probably because a fire I heard crackling in the corner. The clothes in my body were strangely not mine, consisting of thick pants, stockings, and long sleeve shirt, that thankfully kept me from feeling the brunt of the cold.
A rustling noise made me crack my eyes open and turn slowly. The noise was made by what seemed to be a man. He had shaggy brown hair with a scruffy beard, a blue coat covered his shoulders and natural linen looking pants on, both articles looked very worn. He was facing an old stove that contained a roaring fire, and couldn't see that I was awake since he was turned a bit away from me. I watched him poke at the fire for a few moments until I started coughing loudly due to a parched throat. He jumped, turning to look at me immediately.
"Sorry," I squeaked out, unable to raise my voice above a whisper.
It's alright, I was wondering when you would wake up," He said gently with a voice holding an accent I couldn't quite place.
"How long have I been out for?" I croaked, slowly sitting up.
"When I found you, you were already unconscious and that was about three hours ago. What were you doing out there?" He asked me looking pretty worried about my situation.
"Out where? The last thing I remember I was in New York City, walking to my parent's apartment," I told him, my brow stitching together.
"New York? I don't think that is anywhere near here," He said, enunciating New York like it was a foreign word to him before handing me a bowl-shaped cup, filled with liquid.
"Where is here then?" I asked, becoming increasingly worried about my situation. He motioned for me to drink the liquid he handed me before he started to talk.
"You are in what they call Siberia, we are a very isolated people here because of the mountains that surround us on all sides," he explained calmly. I nearly spit out my drink at the word 'Siberia'.
"That's halfway across the planet!" I exclaimed, putting the cup down.
"Well then if you could remember anything, that would be helpful in finding out how you got here," He said calmly. I nodded and took a few calming breaths, wracking my brain to trying to remember anything.
"Oh god!" I whispered, breathing erratically as I remember just a few of the events that led me here.
"What is wrong? Did you remember something?" He asked with genuine worry, lightly putting a hand on my shoulder.
"I remember, I-I was kidnapped, some guy picked me off the street while I was walking by an alley and knocked me out. He was with other men, possibly smugglers, I remember them saying something about the fact that they were going to sell me as a sex slave," I sighed, pulling my sleeves over my hands and put my hands on my face. I heard him sigh, then he patted my shoulder. I removed one of my hands and picked up the cup again to drink. I realized it was some type of tea from the odor and the warmth coming from the cup.
"What is your name?" He asked after I finished the tea.
"Cassiopeia, yours?" I asked, placing the cup on the ground.
"Jacob," He smiled and stood up, offering me a hand up. I gladly accepted it and pulled myself off the ground and onto my feet.
"I'm just taking a wild guess, but you have a group of people somewhere else," I told him, wiping my hands on my pants. He let out a soft chuckle and nodded.
"Yes, but my people aren't the most trusting of newcomers," Jacob explained. I noted how he said 'my people', almost how a leader would say.
"And you wanted to see if you could trust a random woman you found in the snow," I said, looking down at my feet for a moment, making me realize I didn't have shoes on. Jacob noticed my realization and went to a table that was in the corner, picking up a pair of dark boots.
"Yes, you see one of my men found you and I wanted to see if you were trustworthy because I knew you were not going to survive in place, and we found these with you," He said as he handed me the pair of boots. I put on the boots on thinking over everything. Again he said "my" men, either he was a leader to a more primitive people or a cult leader.
"But I haven't been awake long enough to show trustworthy qualities," I guessed. Jacob nodded and handed me a light gray coat, which I slipped on.
"That is true, but I still would like to bring you to my people," He offered. Welp, I'll find out one way or the other.
I'd like to meet them," I said simply. Jacob smiled and nodded before starting to walk out the hut. I followed behind cautiously, being met with a gust of freezing air.