…
Something scurried over her leg. Karigan's recoil sent bones skittering across the ground to knock against the opposite wall. Her hand fell onto a skull and she hurled it from herself with a cry. The movement threw off her balance and she tipped off her rock and crashed onto the cold stone ground, as well as into the midst of the rest of the skeleton. Her breaths wheezy and disrupted by little sobs, she heaved herself painfully back onto her perch, pulling her legs up to her chest and dropping her head onto her knees. The only light in this hole was the glimmers flashing in her eyes, and they blinded her just as much as the crushing blackness. If only her head didn't pound so, she could begin to think clearly—come up with some way to escape.
Water chose to drip down her neck right then, shocking her with its suddenness and cold. She dashed it away roughly, then dropped her face into her hands. Blood from her bound wrists smeared across her skin and she let out a small moan. She could hardly feel her fingers, or her feet for that matter, so cold was it in this pit. Curling tighter, she tried to imagine herself somewhere far away, somewhere safe.
Zachary. She imagined herself with him. She pretended like she hadn't run from him that night. She was warm and safe in his arms, tucked beneath smooth blankets, cuddled on a deep bed. He held her closely, tightly, as though to keep her from running away. It was easier to imagine, now that she had tasted him. Now she could add memories to her fantasies.
"I love you, Karigan G'ladheon," he whispered. He was so warm, so soft. Nothing could hurt her here.
Something touched her arm and she plummeted back to reality, losing her balance once again. The lost Rider's ribcage thrust deep into her side and Karigan rolled over the bones, struggling vainly to ignore their creaking and cracking. She dragged herself across the floor until she found the opposite wall. She felt her way around the perimeter once again, hands groping and fingers clawing to find a way out—any way out. As she searched, she battled the hopelessness building in her chest. She had no idea where she was. Her hands closed into fists and she pounded the wall. But she had to get out. She had to. She would not die here.
She spit out the blood in her mouth and stretched her fingers again. She would get out, and when she did, she would find him.