Chapter Text
I can hear the low tones of a heated conversation coming somewhere from my right. I want to sit up. To open my eyes. To ask what the hell is going on. Or at least tell them to go argue somewhere else.
But I can’t.
I can’t speak or move. Forming coherent thoughts is like wading through sea of gelatin. I have no choice but to listen to the rise and fall of the aggressive interaction. Whoever they are they’re too far away for me eavesdrop properly. I think I might have heard something that sounded suspiciously like my name, but there’s no way for me to find out in my current state.
As hard as I try to resist, I can’t stop myself from succumbing to the unrelenting pull of sleep.
o0o
The next time I came to, it was all at once. My body jolted upward as my eyes snapped open. I blinked a few times trying to get my vision to focus while I catch my breath.
The first thing I notice is that my flame maker bracelets are gone.
Before I can properly freak out about that fact and perhaps find out where the hell I am, a voice comes from somewhere to my left. “What’s your name?”
My head snapped over to look at the speaker. It was a girl, sitting cross legged on a bed identical to mine, and giving me a bored look. “What?” I ask, deciding to play dumb for the time being.
The girl tilted her head slightly like cat deciding whether or not you pose a threat. “Your name. What is it?” She sighed then uncrossed her legs and turned lie on her back. Eyes fixed on the ceiling she continued, “I figure if you’re going to be my roommate and all, I might as well know your name. But it’s fine if you don’t want to tell me. I don’t even know my own name, so I won’t be able to give you one in return.”
Swinging my feet off of the comfortable twin bed I consider her for a moment, deciding what to address first. I’m somewhat curious about her accent, but starting with something personal might make her close off. So I start simple, “Roommates?”
The girl gives a single, sharp, nod. “Yes.” I wait a second for her to elaborate but she simply continues to inspect the ceiling. “They were arguing about you.”
It’s an effort not to show my curiosity as I ask, “Who was?”
“The Captain, and someone else. I don’t know his name.” Abruptly she popped up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed and made eye contact. There was something strange about her eyes, I’d have to get closer to know what exactly. But I’m not sure I should get close to her without my bracelets.
I start rub my rist put off by the unfamiliar bareness, before internally scolding myself for the action. Mother would not allow me to show such vulnerability. Especially in front of a potential threat. If she searches my memory and sees it then I’m- the train of thought breaks abruptly as I remember the fact of her suspicious death. My mind suddenly goes blank and the world slips out of focus.
My focus returns as the girl continues. “I’ve seen the way they differ to her. To the Captain, I mean. The only way I can see them openly disagreeing with her in front of others, about someone, is if that someone is pretty important.”
She leans back and gives me an appraising look. I open my mouth to protest, but before I can she keeps on. “The other one asked why they couldn’t just ransom you back to Norta. So, I’m going to assume that’s where you’re from. Now, a ransom and the fact that this argument was happening at all implies that you,” She points a finger at me. “are someone important. Judging by the way you hold yourself and the almost diplomatic way you consider your words before you speak, I would’ve guessed future lord of one of their silver houses. But, then I heard the words Whisper Queen. So that would make you one of the princes.”
She had dropped her hand mid way through through the second half of her little speech. The look she’s giving me very clearly expresses: Cut the bullshit.
I rack my brain trying to find a way to explain. To excuse or dismiss her frighteningly on the nose deduction. But, there’s nothing I can say, or if there is it’s not coming to mind.
So I don’t say anything at all. Instead, I return her appraisal. She’s wearing loose white pants and a short sleeved shirt to match, same as me. Her hair hangs in wild dark brown curls that nearly brush her thighs while she’s sitting. Clearly it hasn’t been cut in a while, if ever. She has light brown skin smattered with freckles. The girl is beautiful, but once again it’s her eyes that pull me in.
At first, all I see is what looks like a star in her left iris. But the longer I look, the more I realize why I didn’t want to get closer when we locked eyes the first time.
They’re empty. Her eyes are the same shade of empty as mine.
“Where are we?”
The girl visibly deflates at my question. Less disappointment more exhaustion, I think. “A privately owned, uncharted island far far away from that little war torn country of yours.”
This time I didn’t bother masking my irritation. “I meant what is this place. Why are we here. Why am I here.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t get huffy with me just because you weren’t asking the right questions. This place, is a special facility dedicated to the rehabilitation of people who have been manipulated by Whispers for a long period of time.”
She pasted on an almost believable friendly smile and said, “Welcome to the island.”