Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Labyrinth. Only the unrecognized characters and storyline are mine.
Chapter Two
Serina lay on the dirt floor, shivering as she waited for the guards to come for her. Her throat was raw from screaming and her entire body ached from the abuses that had been heaped upon her. She had been raped repeatedly by the guards that stood watch over her during her nights in the stockades and her back was covered with blood from the lashes the day guards had doled out when bored with their duties. No one in the village had answered her cries for help, fearing for their own lives.
She knew that they would come for her soon. The sound of a blade being sharpened reached her ears through the thick stone walls of the cell where she was waiting. She knew why she had been denied food and water, the First Elder wanted her weak. He wanted her to cower before him and beg for her life. It was something he would never get. Not from her. A footstep echoed through the cell and a key rasped against the lock. Snarling silently, Serina waited for the guard to come closer. She knew he was alone, they thought her too weak to resist anymore.
"Get up witch." The guard sneered as he stood over her. Serina turned her head blindly towards him. Reaching down, he grabbed her arm and dragged her to her feet where she stumbled against him. Her hand clutched at his waist in an effort to steady herself. Serina trembled against the guard, her skin crawling as he leered down at her. "You want more? Is that it witch?"
She closed her eyes as he threw her to the floor and lowered himself over her. She could feel every touch he made against her fevered skin as he prepared to enter her. Suddenly, her eyes flew open and he froze as she stared up at him with eyes full of fury and hate, her fingers curling around the hilt of his dagger. Her lips curled into a cold smile as she plunged the blade into his throat. The guard clutched at his throat, trying to stop the blood as Serina shoved his shoulder, forcing him off of her. She rolled away from the dying man and crouched a few feet from him.
"Now it is my turn to spill blood," she hissed quietly as she watched him die. As his eyes glazed over in death, hers shone with a feral quality. Quickly, she moved over to him and claimed his short sword as her own. It wasn't her weapon of choice, but she was skilled with it. Time was running out however, she needed to get out of there and away from the village before anyone found the guard.
Staying in the shadows, Serina crept from the building and into the woods behind it. Her leg was stiff and she could feel the infection coursing through her blood. Desperately, she hoped to find the herbs needed to ease the pain long enough to get to a healer. Cursing her luck, she was forced to travel on foot since she was so sick. She longed to take to the trees where she could travel without detection.
After what seemed like hours, Serina came across a stream. She whimpered at the scent of the fresh water and threw herself face first into it. Gulping the water down, she froze as her training came back to her. It had been more than three days since she had last drank anything. As ill as she was, she needed to slow down. Her whole body shook with severe hunger and fatigue as she laid down on the other side of the stream. She needed food badly or she would never make it to safety. Serina glanced around the area, searching for something edible. Her vision swam as she struggled towards a bush laden with berries. Just as her fingers brushed the fruits, the world went black.