Hello everyone! I know it's been a while since I've updated. I've had about half of this chapter written, but then couldn't think of how to finish it. I finally did today so I hope y'all enjoy. Please R&R. :D
It's been at least an hour since we asked for food. I'm hangry and also bothered by the fact Leila is angry with me. She probably doesn't even realize it herself, but she's blaming me for this internally. I can tell the by the way she's been trying to get me to see "common sense". She clearly thinks I'm a loose cannon here and that I'll get us both hurt.
I will admit my refusal with the names was unbelievably foolish, but I wasn't and am still not in a sound state after what happened and what I saw. I hope the guy who was down there with me is okay, but I know he's not. I am terrified out of my mind too, but I'm also angry. Clearly the dungeons aren't uncommon and what happens in them doesn't matter.
It really grinds on me that I don't understand that is being said to us. Like it makes me unbelievably stressed out. We won't be able to know anything until we can either learn or they kill us. Whichever comes first I suppose.
"Please stop doing that" Leila sighed looking longingly to the door. My hand paused from its tapping. I hadn't even realized I was doing it. She probably wouldn't have either if she wasn't upset with me. I caught her gaze and she just her head at me. I looked away in frustration.
The footsteps coming closer had both of our attention. My stomach made a loud grumble and I looked toward the hopefully. For probably the millionth time in the past couple days my stomach plummeted and I felt all the blood drain out of my face. Four of the things came through the door right towards us. I didn't offer any struggle when two of them grabbed a different arm and began hauling me out the door. I was frozen in fear and I'm ashamed to say I offered no resistance, but Leila didn't sound like she was struggling either.
The fear kept me in a sort of panicked and frozen daze. The gray walls and ceiling passed with hardly a change in them and I tried mastering my panic. Calm down. Calm down. Calm down. I swallowed and shook my head. They could be taking us to die. I bit my lip hard and shook my head. I was beginning to feel really light-headed.
"Leila" I gasped out worried trying to look over my shoulder. I saw them following us from farther away. She was just hanging limply letting them take her. Ok, that's what I am doing too, but she won't look up at me. We turned into an open doorway and they tossed me inside. Within moments Leila was tossed in as well next to me. I glanced back behind me waiting to see if they were going to enter but they shut the door and locked it. I looked at Leila and she stared back at me neither of us willing to make a move. I didn't move from where I was lying and just quickly glanced all around where we were. It was brightly lit by many lantern lamp things. When I didn't see or hear any other things or people I slowly raised up to my knees and I noticed Leila doing the same thing.
"They want us to wash" Leila whispered. I looked at her in bafflement. She pointed towards the back wall. I followed where she was pointing and noticed steam rising from a circular container sort of like a bathtub.
"Okay, let's go then" I rose up and walked gingerly towards the steaming water.
"It looks too hot" Leila muttered staring at it suspiciously. I slowly moved my finger towards the water, but she slapped it away and told me not be stupid. But come on, how are we gonna know its too hot or not if we don't test it.
"Hey look, are those clothes for us?" I nudged to Leila to look at a table pushed against the wall across from the the tub.
"And soap it looks like" she approached the table and lifted up a bottle of something that was there and thick brick of something. She dropped it in my hand and then opened the bottle. It felt kind of waxy and weird. She held out for me to smell. I shrugged after smelling something kind of like flowers and musk.
"I think that's for after the water" I said unfolding the clothes. It was a freaking dress or robe like a dress. With three layers too! And it is so hot in this place! What are these people thinking? I'm sweating just thinking about it. Leila reached out from behind me and ran her fingers over the fabric.
"It's kind of pretty" she smiled. Trust her to find something good about this situation.
"Just think about the temperature" I hissed feeling my anger bubble inside me. Not at her, but I couldn't help it. She stared at me in exasperation and I narrowed my eyes at her.
"Don't start with me" She sighed turning back to the hot water. I set down the clothes and moved up to where I saw her glaring at the water. Probably trying to figure out why it was so hot or how to cool it down.
"Lets just get in and we'll adjust to it soon enough" I said pulling up my sleeve high on my arm and giving the room one more suspicious look. I didn't want anyone barging in here.
"You shouldn't! what if it burns you?" Leila grabbed by arm gently. I stared at her and just shrugged. She gaze me a sad sigh, which I ignored, and gingerly leaned over the water. It was a very large container? Tub? Water holder? And I suppose there is a good question of how it was heated up. But I've seen a lot of things since coming here and it's probably just that all water in this place is super hot. Or I'm just upset and everything about this place is negative. But let me tell you, that guy was in a horrible state and he didn't get there on his own. I plunged my hand and within a second yanked it back out gasping.
"OHMYGOSHAREYOUCRAZYYOUACTUALLYDIDIT! Leila screamed spinning me towards her in horror. My arm and hand was now a bright red. I groaned loudly. Of course it was too hot, but at least pain is a feeling other then sadness or horror.
"Why don't we just use our dirty clothes as wash rags and clean ourselves that way. Maybe we can just dip the back of our hair in and just pull it out slowly? We would be less likely to burn ourselves." I suggested ready to get this all over with.
I thought I heard Leila mumble "Oh, I'm sure you'd find a way" under her breathe, but refrained from commenting. Arguing wouldn't get us anywhere at this point.
"Our dirty clothes as the washing ones?" Leila asked looking very vexed at the idea.
"Well do you want the new ones to get wet?" I countered glaring over at the many layers.
"I guess not, but I can't believe you actually did that you little fool!" She practically spat, looking furious and greatly upset. To be fair, the sharp sting only increased as minutes passed, the first signs of blistering puckering my skin. She turned her back to me and swiftly removed her clothing, meticulously searching the torn and dirty scraps for even a patch that wasn't soiled.
I stripped with far less fanfare than she, and dumped the wad of clothing into the tub. Making sure to only grasp a corner of the muddy fabric. I may have dunked my hand into the water out of impulse, or maybe just to spite Leila. I wasn't sure what I needed to prove to her; just that I wasn't too keen on burning myself a second time. Leila noticed, of course, and wordlessly nudged the dress from my hands, adding it to her own. I let her, wincing as the material chafed against my over-sensitive skin. Leila worked silently, as if I wasn't there, only looking up to shoot pained glances at my hand.
Her hard expression only marred by splotchy red spots that were now blooming across her cheeks and neck. Whether from embarrassment, the water's heat, or rage; I didn't know. She kept her thoughts from me, whatever turmoil that churned within her trapped inside. I don't know why she needs to act so traumatized, I was the one who went and burned myself. I opened my mouth to say as much, but the words caught in my throat and turned into a strangled sigh.
The process took longer than I thought it would; with having to add the soap and unlabeled liquids to make the fabric bubbly for washing. I don't even want to contemplate how we are going to soap our hair because it will dry off slightly while it cools. Well maybe not.
"Are you ready to try and wash our hair together" I asked. She looked up and nodded wordlessly. I sighed at her gesture for me to go first and wordlessly let my hair in fall in as I leaned back.
With how careful we were, it took some time, but fortunately not as long as I had suspected. I closed my eyes in frustration as Leila pointed out there was no hairbrush. They can be so prepared, but forget a stupid hairbrush. Now we gotta wiggle into these winter clothes. I say that sarcastically, but why so many layers in this temperature. My hand and arm felt a lot better but it was still a bit pink. I unfolded and separated the fabrics quickly pulling the first one on. At least it is a very pretty fabric and silky too. I ran my hand over it in grudging admiration at how a golden sheen managed to push out of the dark red. I can't decide if I liked my renaissance costume enough to be happy my hair and face and permanently changed or if I should be depressed I'll never actually look like me again. I really haven't had time to think about it, but looking at Leila's blue ombre hair reminds me. I was kinda hoping the water might do something.
"Here" Leila grunted as she pulled my second layer over the first. It is too damn tight across my chest. I let out a wheeze and motioned her to pull her second layer over her head so I could help her yank it down. It was a much lighter in color fabric. Opaque enough to see the dark red underneath and I think Leila has the same second layer because I can see black fabric with a blue sheen shine through as well. The third part didn't have to go over our heads, it just tied around neck and had sleeves. Like a sleeved cloak I guess.
"I'm already sweating" I groaned moving my shoulders to see if the fabric across my chest would loosen. It didn't.
"It's not that bad" Leila said holding her sleeve admiringly. I shook my head and moved to where they threw us in. I kicked the door and when I looked at Leila she was just staring at me like I was an idiot again.
"Why can't you just be patient. You know the door is locked" She fired off.
"Patience isn't my strong suit!"
"Oh, I am aware"
"Then why are you pushing it?" I demanded.
"Because you keep…" Leila shut up as we heard the lock mechanism turning. I bolted away from the door and stood next to Leila. Trading glances we waited apprehensively for the door to unlock. It was goldy. I mean it was Tar-Mairon. I shivered remembering the slap from before when I refused to repeat our names. He looked over us critically.
"Haldamire. Airawende" He motioned us closer. Leila and I traded glances frightfully and moved closer. My hand instinctively ran over my cheek nervously and I felt nausea curl my insides at his tilted smile to my fearful response. He said something else, but I don't know what it is and I know he know we don't know what it is. What is his goal here? He turned and walked away calling our names again. Anger flashed through me again at his expectation we would just listen no questions asked. Well alright we would, but not because we wanted to. We followed him and our hands clasped together tightly in fear.