Chapter 5

I feel my shoulder being abruptly shaken and I'm forced back into reality. I find Loki peering over me curiously, a smile on his face. I look around and the events from last night repeat in my mind. It wasn't all a bad dream.

"Good morning little one." His voice is calm and he shoves a plate piled with fruits in my face.

I try to sit up, and pulling on my wrists, the rope burning them slightly, I wince.

"Oh, my apologies, I forgot."

He leans in and unwraps the rope, and it falls from my wrists. I touch my hands slightly, glad for them to be out of the cramped position, and I ignore the food that he's still holding. I look around, trying to notice any change that could have occurred over night.

"Now, now, I brought you some food, and you will eat."He says in a more stern tone.

I stare at him confused. Wouldn't he just kill me in the end, let me starve. Maybe he has a more painful death premeditated for me. I flinch at the thought and slide my hand over an apple, biting into it.

"Good."

He sits up and takes a pear from the plate, eating it as he watches me.

"C-can I ever go home?" I ask suddenly, not thinking the question through in my mind, my voice sounding hoarse from just being woken up.

He smirks, "There won't be a home for you to go back to soon."

I look down; I know my expression is devastated. No. He's right though, my home was here. And he's destroyed the city. I remember the black ships that came out of the sky, how they demolished everything. I remember the panic that was set across the city. I'm glad I was able to grab my sister and drive away, but there's only so far you can go in a city of millions set into terror. I look away, feeling the tears coming; I bite my lip to prevent myself from crying.

He leans down and softly brushes my lip with his thumb as I bite it, and I feel myself blush. I scold myself and pull away from him, focusing on the apple now.

"I need your help now, Faye." His voice is smooth and he seems to have collected himself well as he peers at me through those green eyes.

Focus on the apple, do not help him. The moment he gets what he wants, he will kill you, then how do you protect your sister. I keep eating, until he pulls the apple away from me, demanding my attention.

"You want me to eat, but you won't let me." I reply harshly and it's the only come back for his actions that I can think of.

I feel now that my sadness has transformed into anger. Here is the man, or thing, that brought entropy to this world.

He answers calmly, "You can finish eating once I finish talking."

I glare at him, "Fine, talk."

He sighs, wrapping his fingers around my arm. "Come with me, Faye." What's my other choice? I stand up, allowing him to lead the way.

He leads me out of the room, the demented guards looking at us, and I automatically try to hide in the shadows. Loki ignores the guards, who are croaking as we walk by them, their scales reflecting my terrified expression. I test his grip for a moment, even though escaping now means facing the armed lizards. It's tight and his eyes glance over at me from my sudden struggle. He grabs my neck roughly and pushes me in front of him, keeping his other hand wrapped tightly around my arm. I can almost feel the heat radiating off his chest as his distance to me is reduced. I flinch at his touch and look back at him, struggling to breath, I begin to cough. He smiles at the fear in my eyes and keeps pushing me forward. Calm down, small breathes. I feel faint and the pressure on my neck forces me to have to battle for every breath. The coughs are painful and I begin to slow down. Loki pushes me forward.

"Keep walking."

I feel my sight begin to fade and I stumble. BREATHE, BREATHE. Panic sets in quickly.

I barely manage a whisper, "P-please, Loki l-loosen your grip."

I feel ashamed and fall to my knees, heaving for air, my face burning. Fight, struggle, BREATHE.

He leans down while I'm gasping, leaning close to my ear and whispers softly, "Please, Faye don't struggle then."

I whimper and I feel my sight blurring. He releases my neck and I gasp desperately for air, coughing, and my eyes slowly regaining my vision. I look at Loki, and his wicked smile.

"T-thank you.", I mutter.

He quickly replaced my anger with fear. I feel the color return to my face as he pulls me up onto my feet holding only my arm. I'm shaken and I walk as Loki nudges me forward, making my every breath count. You're okay, breathe. He stops me at a small side door, creaking it open. He pulls me in, releasing his painful grip on my arm, and I step away from him, rubbing my arm, looking around.