Chapter 22

Autumn awoke harshly as ice cold water was splashed onto her face, turning pink as it mixed with her blood.

Blinking, Autumn's eyes quickly adjusted to the dim lighting.

She looked around slowly, her vision blurry and unfocused. Autumn had ended up in yet another cell. This one, albeit a bit larger, was almost exactly like the old one.

Autumn's glanced at the menacing weapons propped against the wall before shifting her gaze slightly and locking eyes with the bandits.

The bandit, who Autumn had started calling Donkey-face, waved his hand and dismissed the others.

"I want you all to myself," he laughed menacingly.

Autumn scoffed and got onto her feet. A wave of dizziness rushed over her, sending the room spinning as she bent down slightly.

Taking a few steps to steady herself, Autumn lifted her gaze towards her most recent captor.

Smirking, Autumn glared at him, her green eyes laced with a threat.

"Such pretty eyes," he marveled.

Autumn blinked, and his figure flashed, quickly appearing behind her and securing her hands with magic.

A maniacal look was on his face, lips pulling up into an eerie grin.

Donkey-face tilted Autumn's head to either side, admiring the light as it reflected off her eyes.

"Emerald. How interesting…I suppose I should add them to my collection?"

Autumn gagged, both from the rancid scent pooling off him in waves and the notation of an eye collection.

"Or perhaps," he continued, "It'd be a shame if I had to gouge them out. There's always a chance to do it later."

A growl surfaced in Autumn's throat, a threatening rumbling noise that snatched the bandit's attention.

"Getting a little impatient, are we?"

Autumn glared at him, struggling against the restrains on her hands.

"I don't like how your looking at me."

The bandit lifted his hand and brought it down across Autumn's face. A harsh sound rang out. Autumn's face was tilted downwards, a thin trail of blood dripping from her lips. Her cheek was beginning to swell, yet her eyes remained defiant.

Grabbing the base of her neck, the bandit slammed her head against the wall.

Cold stone stained with warm blood. Dull grey against crimson red.

The blood. It painted the walls and dripped down her face. Her eyesight tinted pink and hazy.

Autumn was thrown harshly onto the floor where she lay unresponsive. Only the shallow rise and fall of her chest indicated at the life that flowed through her veins and, now, pooling onto the floor.

The bandit's boots made a squelching sound as the blood stuck to the soles. Autumn lowered her gaze to her own boots, scuffed and torn and dripping with blood…her blood.

Her head barely capable of thoughts, acted on instinct. The mana that bound her hands behind her back were shattered in an abrupt motion.

Autumn scrambled to her feet, her necklace glowing softly as she summoned her dagger.

Autumn would have much preferred to fight in her wolf form, but her head was refusing to cooperate.

A soft step towards. A startled gaze turned menacing.

The bandit lunged forwards, grabbing her hand and wrenching the dagger out of her fingers.

Twirling the weapon in his hand, he examined the hilt.

His eyes narrowed as he examined the pattern etched into it. His grip on Autumn's hand tightened and she winced.

Furious, he snarled, "I knew it, you're one of those dammed slaves. Contracted beasts, is that what they call it now? Suppose it sounds more appealing."

"Don't degrade me to that level," Autumn snarled, "I'd rather die."

"Oh? So your free for the taking then."

"Hah! As if I'd alienate myself with the like of you! Forget dying, I'd cut off my hand and eat it."

"As expected, those dammed adventurers currying favor with animals. And you-your kind are just lowly beasts yet your arrogance is already in the clouds!"

Autumn snarled, her free hand stretching upwards as she dug her nails into the bandit's eye. Curling her fingers, Autumn pressed harder.

With an unsightly shriek, the bandit slashed towards Autumn's hand and pressed his free hand to his eye.

Blood dripped down like a waterfall. 'Not nearly as much blood as I shed,' Autumn thought, indignant.

Autumn pressed down on the gash on her hand, attempting to slow the bleeding. It wouldn't make much of a difference, though, as the wound on her head was still open.

Her vision swam and Autumn soon found herself slumped on the floor.

The bandit, infuriated and spurred on by his adrenaline was quickly approaching, grasping her dagger in his hand.

Pressing the blade under her eye, the bandit hissed, "I'm seriously contemplating ending your life now, but that would be too easy."

Autumn brought her hands to her face as she shielded herself from the dagger.

Unfazed by the additional obstacle, bandit plunged the dagger through her hand and into her eye.

A yelp escaped Autumn's lips, her mind blinded by the pain and leaving her paralyzed.

'Is this the end?' Autumn wondered, 'But I barely got to do anything here. I still haven't explored the world…still haven't found Ember…Ember-'

And then it went dark.