Interlines 3- Have you met one?

???'s POV:

The sound of horses' hooves and the clatter of the wagon wheels against the rocks are the only things that can be heard. The silent atmosphere only makes it heavier. Around me, about 10 other people are crammed together in this tiny cage. Since I'm the smallest among them, I try to take up as much space as possible so as not to be crushed between them. Despite my efforts, the heavy shackles on my hands and feet don't allow me to stretch properly. As I try to hold myself together, a movement of the wagon makes us all jump and I end up crushed between the bars of the Cage and a young man with a dead look. I struggle to free myself, but the weight of my handcuffs simply blocks any attempt at escape.

- Get out of the way...

As if he barely noticed my existence, the man lowers his gaze to observe me. His lost gaze focuses on me for a few moments before he takes me in his hands and throws me onto his lap. Despite the weight of his shackles, he manipulates me like a doll. I am stunned by the man's action. I look up to where the man stands with a blank stare and dead eyes.

- Thank you very much.

The man, without even looking at me, nods his head while constantly staring into space. His serious face only makes him look more frightening in the darkness. When I try to get up, another movement of the cart knocks me down onto the ground. Before I could hit the hard ground, the man catches me with one hand and returns me to his lap. He looks back at me sweetly to look forward again with the same dead eyes as before.

"Is he… acting?"

Before I could complete my train of thought, a sudden heat invades my body, warming me up. At first it covers me comfortably but immediately becomes unbearable and I get up clumsily.

- I'm sorry miss, it seems I'm not good at doing this in secret yet.

A slight mischievous smile crosses his face before he invites me to see what he was doing. Behind his body, with a blue flame in his hand, he was heating one of the bars that were next to him. A feeling of fear and suspicion arises as the man with dead eyes continues to heat the bar with his flame.

- You... are a witch?

I speak in a low voice making sure that no one else hears me. The man looks at me with some interest in my words.

- A witch? Of course not. But I am on a journey to meet one. Do you happen to know a witch, little one?

- Yes I do, my village had the territory of one very close by.

- And you met her in person?!!

His voice of surprise and excitement increased as he raised his voice. The other slaves surrounding us turned to look at us. I unconsciously try to hide behind the man, on the opposite side of his fiery hand, to avoid his gaze. Soon the other slaves turn their gazes losing interest in us.

- I'm sorry for the commotion…

- Nevermind…

- …So…

- So?

- Have you met one?

- …Not personally, but legend said that sometimes it came down to our village to get food in the form of a large wolf.

A snort of admiration leaves his mouth as he looks at me happily. He seems to have completely put aside his act of a man with dead eyes.

- And where is your village? I would love to visit it.

- …About that

Before I could answer, a sudden crash makes us all stir and push each other inside the cage. The screams of the guards echoed around the place as they moved around in an agitated manner. Some of them went to the cage and looked at us suspiciously as he gave orders to the other soldiers. I unconsciously leaned closer to the man and clung to him to endure the situation. The man, perhaps realizing this, slowly strokes my head.

- Don't worry, I promise you that everything will be fine.

Although I know that those words are empty and superficial, a flash of memory comes to my mind from the last time I saw my mother.

- "Don't worry my dear #####, I promise you that everything will be fine."

Tears begin to gather in my eyes before I can realize it. I cling tightly to the man. He grabs me under the legs and lifts me up with one hand leaving me at chest level. For some reason, the man's hands are free of the chain that bound his handcuffs, as well as his feet.

- Sorry for the wait gentlemen! It's time to free you all.

The scream resounds around us accompanied by a metallic screech. When I look for the source of the screech, I watch stupefied as the cage and the cover of the wagon around us collapse into pieces away from our heads. On the arm where the man's blue flame once stood now lies an elegant crimson red rapier.