Chapter 5: How Do I Escape?

Ebony Winters POV:

In the back of my mind, I was trying to figure out what I was going to do with the fact that I was not wearing any clothing under this large and heavy trench coat. Now, I stood there silently, watching this strange, older, rough-looking man walk to the back of the large wooden box. He seemed to open the back door and step inside, leaving me standing there as it was getting colder. What year is this? Since I was not from where I originally came from. Could it be? Did I actually travel back in time or something?!

"Here you go, child," the older man said as he walked back around the side to me. I wrapped my arms around myself even further as he approached. "My name is Seldic. Here is the meat I promised you."

When he came back, he brought something to me, holding it out in his hands. It looked dark and like something I had never seen before. I looked at him and then, disgruntled, looked down at the disfigured piece of so-called meat he held out toward me in his hand. Then I asked, still unsure about its appearance.

"Are y-you su-sure it's fine?" I asked questionably.

"Sure it is," he said as he pulled it back, tore off a large piece, and shoved the entire thing in his mouth. When he handed me back the remaining piece, he even grabbed at the sleeve and pulled it back, revealing my hands, and forcibly placed the meat in my now open palm. "You'll never know unless you try some for yourself. Well, go on now. Take a bite."

He let go of the sleeve, and I raised my hand to my mouth with my other arm still wrapped tightly around the trench coat I was wearing. I first smelled the meat. It didn't smell bad. Then, in the back of my mind, it smelled like I was remembering something from a dream. It was like a long-lost memory of some kind. I closed my eyes to help myself focus when I heard that voice in the back of my mind again.

'Just eat it," the voice in my head said, seeming a bit irritated that I waited this long.

I immediately opened my eyes and took a bite. However, to my surprise, it actually had a decent flavor. I noticed instantly that it had a bit of a smoky taste seared along the outside edge of the meat. I swallowed somewhat hard at the realization that I knew how to explain how it tasted. How was it that I knew what this tasted like and how to describe it? I have never tasted anything like this before. All I had previously eaten was a meal microwaved in a box from a hole in the wall of my apartment.

"Well, we had best be on the way then," Seldic said as he walked around me to the front of the wooden box.

"Wh-what is this th-thing?" I asked when I turned around to face him.

I watched as he reached down, grabbing the lead to his horse that was eating grass along the water's edge. He was still bending over when he looked up at me and then stood back up before he said anything.

"This is my possession, and I call it a wagon. I am going to take a ride to my next destination. It's only a short distance down the way till we get to where I need to go. Once there, I have business to conduct before it gets too late. So, are you ready to head out with me?" I looked back over the surface of the water and wondered if I should try to take another dip. "Child, I would rather get going. I don't think you would prefer to stay out here alone with nothing to wear, especially in your current condition. Besides, you don't want to be caught in these parts after dark."

I turned around and faced him, confused, when I said, "Al-alright." I then walked closer to where he was standing and looked around the front of his wagon. I could not believe what I saw. "Wh-where exactly am I go-going to s-sit?"

"You can ride up on the bench with me," he said as I looked at him this time.

The expression on his face was not as appealing as I would have liked. It even gave me an eerie feeling, and I knew the bench he referred to was quite small. There was barely any room for him, and he wanted me to sit next to him?! I didn't exactly know if I would have a decent amount of room since the wagon was only about the width of the horse. That small bench where he would sit would not leave room for the both of us, that's for sure. Then, considering I was naked under his coat, I didn't want to get all that close to him.

"D-do you h-have another pl-place I could ride?" I asked, trying not to come off rude and inconsiderate of his former offer.

He looked around and walked past me, grabbing a strange-looking light with fire in the middle of it. "Sure, follow me," he told me. "You are welcome to ride in the back. As I mentioned, it's a short distance from here. It will be dark inside, so this will help keep things lit. Just don't blow out the lantern."

I followed him around to the back of the wagon as he opened the door. Inside was a small blanket that covered the floor. Was that his bed? Suddenly, a breeze blew, and it sent a cold chill down my spine.

"Hop on in. Unless you prefer me to help you climb in there."

"I w-will manage," I told him as I climbed into the back of the wagon.

I made sure to keep myself covered as I crawled on my knees and turned around, sitting with my legs tucked underneath me. He reached around the edge and set the lantern in a small metal hook in the corner of the wall.

"We'll be off then. When we arrive, remain silent. The guards at the gate are not all that friendly."

He then closed the door and laughed lightly to himself. I didn't know what that meant. However, I wondered what was going to happen to me after we arrived at the next destination, after hearing him laugh like that. When I looked around before climbing in, I could tell it was getting relatively late. At least in here, I had the light and heat from the lantern to warm up a bit.

I could tell when the wagon turned around, rocking back and forth a bit as it rolled along. It was mesmerizing, really. I thought I'd lie down to help pass the time. What I didn't realize was that I soon fell asleep.

Suddenly, there was a loud roar, and I opened my eyes and looked around. I was still inside the back of the wagon, but I didn't mistake what I had heard. On top of that sudden jolt back to reality, I'm not sure how much time has passed since I fell asleep. However, I did hear voices speaking outside the back entrance. As I sat up, I could tell it was Seldic talking with another person, but who could he be talking to, about me?!

"She's right in here, Your Grace," Seldic said as he opened up the door.

There stood a tall, darker-tanned man with longer hair partly tucked behind his ears. He was not wearing a shirt, either. The image before me was burned into my memory as I stared at the curvature of his muscles glistening from the light of the lanterns outside the back of the wagon. He grumbled lightly when he got closer to me. Upon seeing me crouched there, I thought. How do I escape?

"How's this?! She's my mate!" He growled, turning to glare at the unsuspecting Seldic.