A/N: And finally, this:

Chapter 11: See No Evil

Why didn't we bring cards or something? I'm even considering a rubix cube…Even though I hate them. Good god…What is HAPPENING to me? But even if we had brought any of those things, we would still be sitting motionless in this cart anyway. The books were sitting in the bags, just above my head…useless at this point. We had to be still. Still and silent.

I don't know why I brought those books along. Maybe I wanted to get back at Rosette and her tasteless aunt, no matter how stupid the revenge/

"I spy with my little eye…something depressing and gray." I talked softly, so that I could only be heard by Khairiya. I felt relieved that Baret didn't shush me again. Apparently, I made for terrible luggage.

"The sheet." Khairiya answered immediately.

"How'd you know?!" I asked, feigning bewilderment and resisting the urge to move my head toward her.

"…Cosette, there's nothing else to see but the sheet covering us. Of course I would assume it was the sheet." I couldn't see her clearly, but I imagined her giving me an odd look. It was still night time, but even though it was night, it was warm. Maybe that was due to the heavy sheet.

"Oh…Well, what else is there to do?" I yawned, and immediately heard Baret grunt in disapproval. It sounded as though yawning was forbidden as well. I felt like groaning, but knew I would only receive the same response.

"Nothing, we must remain still…And speaking of which, you keep on fidgeting," She scolded me, and I felt her elbow dig into my side. I nearly elbowed her back but decided against it.

"I'm a 15 year old teenage girl, Khairiya, not a miracle worker." I said instead, sighing and filling the uncomfortable space with even more humid air. It was getting warmer with each breath we took.

"Whoa, there." Baret's voice rang out in the silence, a low murmur that sounded like a gunshot. The horses slowed to a halt, and we heard Baret step down from the front. It was incredibly quiet, too quiet for my taste. We listened as Baret's footsteps came closer.

"We must get out now. You must be silent." He lifted the heavy sheet ever so slightly and took it off us as we took in fresh air which was a relief to our lungs. I attempted to move my arm, only to be confronted with a paralyzing numbness and a tingle that spread to my fingertips.

Khairiya somehow managed to move and was out of the cart in no time, waiting for me to do the same. I only rolled over onto my side, already feeling the tingling sensation traveling up my back. I looked at her helplessly. "Help…please?"

Khairiya laughed as loudly as her caution allowed, like birdsong in the silence. "Numb?"

"No, I just felt like laying there and asking for your help for no absolute reason." I said sarcastically as I tried to sit up, only to feel the uncomfortable aftermath of laying down on wood for…lord knows how long.

Khairiya was about to laugh again but Baret shushed us, telling us to "Be quiet." That seemed to be his favorite sentence.

As concerned as we were, we remained as quiet as mice in an open field. Khairiya and I weren't stupid, and we had no intention of jeopardizing our plan to escape hell. Not when we've gotten this far.

Baret looked incredibly nervous. "Quickly, this way." We had no reason to question his behavior. He was risking his life for us, after all. As annoying he could be, we owed him quite a lot.

"Baret, you okay?" I asked, noting the sweat dripping from his forehead. The guy looked like he was trapped in an oven as we continued moving, eyes glistening with anxiety.

"I…It is nothing, please, just hurry." He said mechanically, his breath quickened and it seemed almost as though he was going to hyperventilate. What's up with him?

Khairiya and I exchanged looks and shrugged it off. It could be something personal and we didn't really want to delve into that. Besides, we wanted to refrain from talking as much as possible. How I managed this feat, I have no idea.

Khairiya wasn't the sort of person to go into people's business; she was too considerate. Me? I didn't really care, and could be a little too curious. Personal matters were for people with dramatic things happening in their lives, something which, up until recently, I seriously lacked. The only dramatic thing that I could recall before this incident was the time I nearly burned down the house from putting a Poptart into the microwave and accidentally warming it up for 3 minutes instead of 30 seconds.

Yeah, the thing was…too burnt to be considered food by the time we got it out.

It wasn't long before we came to an old, run-down doorway. It looked so haunted and sad for some reason, like someone kept on beating the poor thing.

The moon was our only source of light; it was still very quiet save for our breathing. Something was off about this, and Khairiya noticed too. "Baret…Why are we here?" Her breathing quickened. "This is not Masyaf."

He stiffened and slowly turned to us. From the moon's light we saw tears fill his eyes. "Forgive me." He watched us, looking haunted and filled with guilt.

For a moment I was puzzled. What the hell is he-

Someone grabbed me behind and a jolt of terror went through my body as I heard Khairiya's startled cry. Seeing Baret's apologetic look before our captors bound and blindfolded us, I knew then that he had betrayed us. I heard a few grunts from our captors as we struggled to break free.

Baret betrayed us. The thought echoed in my head as our captors carried us, saying not a word. The doors opened. I whimpered, truly afraid and unable to see or say anything, hearing Khairiya's attempts to escape. The captors kept covering her mouth to stifle her screams.

For the first time, my courage had left me. I had never been so caught off my guard before. I was so sure that everything was going to go all right. I hate you, God. Why are you doing this to us?

Khairiya managed to break free of the man's hand and used the precious time to speak. "Tell us, where are you taking us? What have we done? We are merely travelers, please-…" I heard Khairiya's face being slapped and I flinched.

"Quiet." Was all he said and a chill went through my spine. But now I couldn't help but feel irritated. Who the hell does he think he is? What an asshole! I considered biting the guy's hand who was covering my mouth…or maybe slobbering over it. Maybe he'd be grossed out.

I decided against it. It was more likely that the guy would slap me in disgust. I was afraid of getting hurt. I felt like such a coward.

I heard Khairiya sniff, obviously tears coming to her, and I felt the urge to comfort her, but I couldn't. We were tied up, and all we could do was stumble around, tripping over God knows what.

Next thing we knew, we were thrown down like a sack of potatoes. Not again. I didn't know what kidnappers had against the people they were kidnapping. They never seemed to have enough respect or consideration to place their captives gently on the ground. Why is that too much to ask?!

"Ah. What have we here?" Strangely, it was a feminine voice, one that was bizarrely familiar. Is it…Rosette? No, it isn't, but I'm sure I heard that voice somewhere…I went through my mind to try and remember where I had heard the voice from.

"My lady." One of our captors responded, I imagined him bowing to her and didn't understand what she possibly did to deserve such respect. I nearly rolled my eyes, a difficult task to do when blindfolded. "We have the two runaways, just as you ordered." Fuck you, Baret. Fuck you.

I wished the guy would just shrivel up and die, but then I saw his teary eyes within my mind and quickly took it back. For all I knew, he could have been forced to betray us. I didn't know the reason, and until then, I guess I had no right to blame him.

"Lovely." She purred in a way that completely sickened me. She sounded sadistic. "Leave us, I wish to speak to Rosette's…pet and servant." Oh, shit! DIDIANE!

After the footsteps of the men left, the room felt eerily quiet. For some strange reason, I wanted the men to come back, just in case this woman was going to do away with us in some twisted, cruel manner. I had no idea why she would want us to be alone with her.

"Didiane…" I muttered to show I knew who she was. Hopefully she heard me.

"Oh!" She sounded so gleeful; I thought she was going to jump up and down clapping her hands like a child receiving a cookie. "You remembered me…How thoughtful." Just when I thought it wasn't possible. A person I hate more than Rosette. Amazing.

"Please…" Khairiya spoke up; her voice seemed hushed, yet strong. "Tell us why we are here."

"Perhaps I will….Perhaps not." I imagined her sneering in a very unladylike way and cherishing our uncomfortable looks on our faces, our vulnerability. "Perhaps…You shall tell me why you run…What were your names?" She paused. There were way too many "perhaps" in that sentence for my liking.

Khairiya and I stayed silent, neither of us having any intention of answering her. She had no reason to know anything that may have involved our release.

"Ah! Yes, Yvette and Cosette. Am I right?" Uh, actually you're dead wrong! Sorry, you get no price, thank you for playing!

She was answered by cold silence and the echoes of her own voice in the cold room.

I heard her come towards us and considered rolling away from her, but forced myself to stay put. She removed our blindfolds and we saw her beautiful brown eyes, cherubic smile and magnificent hair. She looked sadistic, with her twisted little doll face. She could have modeled for the design of Barbie. I was so tempted to spit in her face.

"Cosette…" She took my chin and started to examine me like I was some animal. I felt tempted to bite her or maybe growl at her. "You are nothing special; I see not what Rosette saw in you to take you as her pet." I was coming very close to attacking her. Maybe if I was lucky, I could give her rabies.

She glanced towards Khairiya. "And you." Her eyes flashed brilliantly, I never knew brown could flash so vibrantly…and full of hate. "You were a mistake."

Khairiya bit her lip as though to prevent herself from saying something regrettable. I, however, didn't have Khairiya's self control.

"What do you have against Khai…er, Yvette?!" My eyes filled with resentment as I glared at her. I had no idea what she meant by her comment, but the way she expressed it sickened me. Khairiya had a pained look in her eyes, which Didiane seemed to relish.

She looked towards me, surprised. "Nothing." She said it so simply, I felt confused.

"Then why do you hate her?" I asked speaking through my teeth with vehemence.

"Because that is how it is…And how it shall be forever, my dear. Her kind was never allowed into our world. They were a mistake of God." What the hell?! Is she on something? Drugs?!

"You're crazy!" I found myself saying. "And I don't just say that to anyone! So I'll say it again...YOU'RE CRAZY! Mistake of God? Do you know God? Do you two have conversations over tea?!"

Fury filled her eyes and her face twisted in annoyance. "You dare defy me?!"

"No shit," I said, my courage came back to me tenfold. I was glad that she gave me a reason to be sarcastic; I felt the need to laugh.

"GUARDS!" She screeched towards the door, obviously ticked off. She was only a few feet away from me and apparently couldn't…or wouldn't exact her revenge on me by clawing at my face or something. No, I guess she was too good for that. She just had to call for her posse who were in the other room.

They immediately entered, like obedient dogs, which disgusted me. How could they be so utterly loyal to a lady who acted like a spoiled child? "Take these…vermin to their rooms. Lock them up…separately." She smirked at the last word so maliciously I flinched.

They manhandled us again and pushed us roughly into the rooms, forcing my leg forward as I attempted to knee one in the groin. I did manage to stick out my tongue at Didiane before we left the room though, so at least I had the last laugh. I looked forlornly towards Khairiya before she was pushed into her room. I felt so alone. I only hoped they wouldn't hurt her.

"Asshole!" I sneered at the guard before he shut the door in my face. I continued to scream, knowing they would linger there as long as Didiane told them to. "BULLIES! GET A REAL JOB, YOU PIECES OF SHIT!" I heard one of the guards tell me to shut my mouth, banging on the door. I smiled

I leaned against the wall and looked around. There was a bed, worn down and hideous, and an open window that was letting in cold air. I shivered and hugged myself. This sucks.

After what seemed like hours. Didiane rushed in like a human storm cloud, looking ready to kill. Oh goody, this is going to be fun.

"You have not spoken for a while. Tell me…Where is it?! Where was the destination?!" She gripped me by the shoulders, shaking me until my teeth clacked against each other.

"Why are you listening at the doors, you bitch? Ever heard of privacy?!" I shouted back at her. Who am I supposed to talk to, anyway? The wall?

"Tell me!" She insisted. She seemed strangely desperate. I was convinced she had some sort of mental problem that made her paranoid. She looked ready to choke me for the information, had she been willing to dirty her delicate hands.

"NO! It's none of your business, bitch! Go back to brushing your hair!" I pushed her away as hard as I could manage. Did she even know the boundaries of personal space?!

"You must tell me! Tell me; there have been too many of her vermin running!" Her eyes wide, her beauty depleted by the hatred which ravaged her face. She looked deformed. "I must know where those murderers reside!" Vermin? Murderers? Fuck you!

I started to get really annoyed by her "interrogation", so I decided to have some fun. "Under the sea! Under the sea! Darlin' it's better, down where it's wetter, take it from MEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"Stop speaking nonsense." She shrieked, shaking me again. I just love being unpredictable.

I continue deafeningly. "It's the CIRRRCCCLLLEE of LLIIIIIFFFFEEE! And it MOOOVES US ALLLLL (except you)! Like the Wheel of FORTUUUUNE (the television show)!"

"Stop!" She said backing away. She probably thought I was crazy. Maybe I am.

"DON'T wanna be like YOOOU! Oh yes, it's TRUUUUE! DON'T wanna prance like you, shriek like you, TOO! You see it's TRUE! It's totally MEEE! I want to be CRAZY, which is nothing like YOOOOU!"

She ran out before I finished the last verse. That was brilliant. I smirked to myself.

Whenever the guard came in to give me my food, he seemed nervous. If he even looked in my direction I stared at him wide eyed, grinning widely. He ran out, terrified and totally creeped out. I was worried for Khairiya though, she wasn't like me, and I doubted she had similar tricks up her sleeve.

The next guard that came in I looked away as though shy and afraid the minute the door opened. He set my food down and crept over to me. I closed my eyes and pretended I was asleep as I heard his footsteps came closer. The guy probably heard of my antics and thought he was going to get to scare me into being good.

At the last second when he was about to touch me I shouted, whipping my head up to stare at him. "MY FAVORITE NUMBER IS 24 MINUS 2 WHICH IS 22!"

He fell back, not expecting my sudden exclamation. "W-what-…"

"Oh." I said as though just noticing him. "I didn't know you were there, I was sleeping." I giggled.

He looked perplexed and wide eyed, not saying anything. Then I noticed his skin was honey brown. Okay, he isn't one of her lackeys. Didiane made it clear that she despised anyone with a darker skin tone.

"Who the heck are you?" I said on impulse.

He blinked, as though it was shocking that I had spoken. "I thought you were dead…I thought they had killed you," I heard him mumble.

I didn't really have to be a genius to figure out who he meant. "Well…Apparently not. Unless I happen to be undead or we're in heaven," I looked around the unsightly room. "Which I highly doubt."

"How did you survive this long?" I noticed he looked to be Khairiya's age as he looked around the room with curiosity mixed with distaste. He didn't seem to like the sight of the room either. If the room had a message to spread, it would probably be something awfully depressing.

"They fed me. And they avoid me because they think I'm crazy." I replied as though it were the simplest thing in the world. But internally, I wondered why they kept me alive. I didn't exactly give Didiane the time of her life to deserve food… "Do you know how the other girl is doing?"

He glanced at me, like he had no idea what I was talking about. Oh goody. I tried to muster up all the patience I had as I sighed and tried to explain.

"You know. The girl in the next room to mine, dark skinned, beautiful, about your age, considerate, friendly…Any of this ring a bell?"

He still looked confused, but then his face began to fill with worry. "There was no one in the other room."

It took a moment for me to comprehend this. "What?"

"There was no-…"

"I heard you the first time!" I got up and grabbed him by the collar. "What the hell do you mean by that? She was there a few days ago, where else would she be?!" If Didiane had anything to do with this I'm going to put her on my hit list.

Updated Hit List:

Armand

Garnier (Killed by Altair)

Reynald

Rosette (On hindsight, just annoying and not someone to kill)

Didiane

"She may have been…" Realization hit his face.

"What?! WHAT?! She may have been WHAT?!" I shook him. Just get to the point already!

"Would you please unhand me?"

"NO! JUST TELL ME!"

He looked at me silently, glaring daggers. This guy seemed stubborn, and he clearly had no intention of telling me anything until I did what I was told. Even dressed in servant's clothes, I realized he was not someone easily pushed around.

I sighed and let go of him, sitting back on the rickety bed. "There you go."

He sighed and continued. "I saw a girl whom you spoke of. She was wearing a heavy cloak and I could not see her face but she was dark skinned. She was with some guards and a young French woman."

I cringed at the thought of Khairiya being "escorted" by Didiane and her lackeys to God knows where. "Let me guess, did this "young French woman" have beautiful brown hair that looked like it was made of silk?"

He seemed confused at my comment but replied. "Yes, I suppose her hair was stunning." He seemed unsure of what to say, as complimenting someone seemed like a foreign act to him. It nearly made me laugh, except for the fact that the person he complimented was now my archrival. Rosette was no longer a priority.

"Argh…Didiane." I growled, grinding my teeth. "She doesn't know what she's getting into." The only reprieve I could get was from imagining what I was going to do to her once I caught up to her and her lackeys. Oh the possibilities!

I went to the door and kicked it with as much force as my anger could muster. The man, however, gasped and tried to restrain me. "What are you doing?! You'll wake the guards!" I tried to fight against him and found it was difficult. Wow, he's strong.

"I don't CARE!" I said stubbornly, moving to ram into the door again, my head leaning forward. This time, I put my whole body weight into it.

"Do not be foolish! You will never save your friend if you yourself are captured." He shook some sense into me, and I realized he was right. This did nothing to improve my mood, but I stopped fighting against him. His arms loosened their hold on me, but he kept them there, just in case.

I grumbled. "But we need to do something…I don't want another friend of mine getting hurt."

He hesitatingly patted my back as he let go of me completely. I could hear the uncertainty in his voice and smiled darkly. Apparently, he had a hard time with comforting people too. Either that or he just didn't know how to handle someone like me. "There, there…She will be fine." Oh yes, very comforting.

"By the way, who are you? You didn't answer my question." I turned towards him. He obviously wasn't an actual servant, not with his weapon and the confidence with which he carried it. I inconspicuously eyed the small dagger at his hip.

He seemed uncertain whether to answer me and seemed to notice me eyeing his weapon. "I am…Farid." His name told me nothing. No elaborate title or anything. Not even a last name. Oh that was so descriptive. I'm left with even more questions now.

At least I wouldn't have to call him "Hey, you" or "mister".

A/N: Farid's an interesting fellow isn't he? Wonder what group he's a part of...

In any case, I'm sorry that we haven't seen any of Ryan these past few chapters! I promise he'll reappear next chapter, his story line just isn't as complex as Kaylyn's right now. I hope you enjoyed! The next one will have more footnotes, I think, so feel free to read them if you're interested.