Then the monster disappeared from view, but I could hear him devouring the body of the prison guard. Minute after minute, the sounds of teeth tearing flesh and low growls came from behind the door.
Long after everything went quiet I crawled back to the door and stood up, trying to see the remains of the guard on the floor. No matter how hard I tried, I could not see the keys that were once in his hand. I crouched, trying to fit my hand between the door and the floor.
“Please, please...” I sobbed, finding nothing but dust and traces of dried blood.
The wind was lifting a piece of steel roof cover outside, and the scraping, metallic sound repeated over and over, nearly putting me in trance. At times, I would have the dream withthe dark silhouette of the monster cornering me, and then everything would shift back to my prison cell. I covered my ears, unable to bear the incessant noise.
How long did I have left? A day? Two days?
I was dizzy and hallucinating. My breathing was shallow and I could feel my heartbeat drumming in my temples. Dazed, I traveled between the land of dreams and the faint reality where I was imprisoned for a crime I did not commit. The pictures my feverish mind drew in front of my eyes were detailed and so lifelike. In my dreams, I was traveling through the mountains, flying above the magnificent cliffs. I had seen the real mountains before, and I had always wanted to fly above them.
I nearly dozed off, unsure what was real anymore. I licked my lips and felt the dry, chapped skin under my tongue. It has been a long time since my last sip of water.
Not long now.
I closed my eyes.
Throbbing pain in my temples woke me up. I blinked, adjusting to the bright afternoon sun. My eyes landed on the tiny window by the ceiling. A rich current of orange and gold entered the gloomy cell with joyous, ignorant urgency. A pure strip of light brushed the rough mattress of my bed and the compelling desire to get closer to the window forced me to sit up. I shifted my legs forward and inched closer to the light then the whole room spun in front of my eyes. I was lightheaded and weak, my stomach contracted and I fought the nausea as I straightened up and leaned on the oppositewall to support myself. My breathing sounded loudly in my ears as I reached up closer to the window and felt the uneven surface of the stone wall with my scratched fingertips. The light from the window was so close. I could almost feel the sun on my skin. More than anything I wanted to get outside and see the sky one last time. I extended my arm and pulled myself up, standing on the stone border. For a moment, the shock of the pure, blinding light paralyzed me, and I could see nothing but the glare and flashes from the sun.
My lips stretched into a weak smile when I saw the silhouette of a black dragon slowly gliding through the sky. It was a sign that I could finally let go, that I could leave this place, at least in my thoughts. Just for a moment, I could imagine myself being on the other side.
As if seeing me, the magnificent creature spun around in the air and flew toward me. I lifted my hand high as the vision drew near. It was so close; I could see its eyes, black as night, and the matching opaque scales of its body.
“You’re so beautiful,” I whispered.
Then the ground moved below my feet and everything around me went dark.
I was drifting between worlds, not feeling the heaviness of my bones and muscles. Somewhere, from really faraway, there were voices. I winced, knowing that I was all alone, there was no one else with me. The voices sounded so urgent and agitated that, at last, something pierced the stupor I was in, and it made me anxious. Then I felt a pair of strong hands wrap around my body, lifting me up off the ground. I protested, my voice weak and almost unrecognizable. Still only half conscious, I made sure to open my eyes, noticing the strong profile of the man who carried me through the barely lit corridor. He had olive-colored skin and dark brown hair that reached almost to his shoulders. His dark eyes with thick eyelashes concentrated on something ahead that I could not see. I tried to lift my head but I could not move. I was hallucinating, seeing things that were not there, and for the first time, I was fine with it. The closeness was soothing and comfortable. I relaxed in his arms, soaking in the warmth of human touch.
“Ty? We have to make camp,” a female voice sounded from behind me.
“Are you nuts? Have you seen this place?” a man responded.
“She’s right. The girl won’t last long,” a deeper voice joined in.
“Sure. Side with her. All of you have lost your minds,” the first male said.
“We’ll find a secure location and barricade ourselves inside,” the low, soothing voice was so close to me, and I looked at the young man carrying me one more time.
“It’s a death trap, and the sun is almost down,” the first male said.
“We can’t fly her anywhere. She won’t make it,” the man who carried me responded.
Fatigued and exhausted, I closed my eyes, returning to the state between two worlds, not dreaming and not fully awake.
The next time I opened my eyes, a girl was leaning over me. Her hand stilled on my shoulder.
“Hey, easy now,” she whispered.
Something cold touched my lips and I turned away.
“Drink this. You’ll feel better. I promise.” She nodded to me.
The girl had gorgeous blue eyes and two braids on the sides of her head. Her light blond hair contrasted with her slightly tanned skin. She wore a leather jacket, with some inclusions of fur on top of her shoulders.
I tried to speak, but gave up, and watched her confident movements.
“This is a healing potion. It will make you as good as new in no time,” the girl added, placing a vial to my lips.
