Where was she?
Tatiana blinked, sitting up and squinting in the dim light. She was surrounded by stone, and not the stone of her cozy home, that was for sure. And there were metal bars. Wait, metal bars?
She suddenly sat up, chains clinking as she did so. Panic filled her chest. "Zeke! Zeke, Zeke, help!"
Her cries echoed through the chamber. It was a rather lonesome sound. Panic turned into fear, and fear multiplied into cold dread as she dashed to the doorway... or at least as far as the chains would let her. They rattled with an ungodly noise as they dragged across the grimy floor.
"Anyone! Please, I'm in here!" She screamed again. Nothing.
She backed up, her chest heaving. Try to calm yourself down. What did Zeke teach you about being help captive? Come on, Tatiana, think!
"Uh... uh..." She continued to pace around her tiny cell, looking for anything that could free her. Loose stone bricks? No, no, she wasn't strong enough for that. What could she do with a pile of brick anyways? Nails? No, that couldn't do anything, either. There were some bones... human... bones...
Oh. Oh. Maybe it was that lout Jerome! Yeah! That totally made sense! But... none of his underlings were that silent, because even the strays kittens banging around her kitchen at ungodly hours in the morning would wake her up, despite her being a heavy sleeper. Back to square one.
Oh! There was a witch! Oh. Oh. She was taken by the witch. The very same that captured young ladies for her rituals.
Tatiana's hands started to shake as she clasped them together in a prayer motion. Oh, Father Duma... this can't be, can it? Please, give me your protection, I beg of you.
Okay. She's to be a sacrifice. And she was held captive by a witch, who would use her in her rituals. Would Zeke even know where she was?
Worry blossomed in the pit of her stomach. He was across the plains, if she was where she was thinking she was.
Her thoughts started to take a darker turn. If Zeke doesn't know where I am, then how would he rescue me? What if he tries to rescue me, but it's too late? What if he's killed before I get to see him again?
What if this was all my fault?
She runs her hands shakily thorough her hair. She can't bear that thought, but in the silent, oppressive atmosphere, it seems to ring as though it had been spoken.
"Father Duma," She prays again. "I beg of you.. please keep Zeke safe, no matter the cost. Please give him your strength and protect him through all of the trials he'll have to face. Please..."
A tear runs down her cheek. Be safe, my sweet Ezekiel.