4. Chapter 4
four
B rielle
It had been three days since Henry had come home. Three long, agonizing days of waiting, pacing the small, dimly lit room, wringing my hands as every creak of the floorboards made my heart race. Panic gnawed at me, but underneath it all, a dark sense of relief curled at the edges of my thoughts. What if he never came back?
The thought should have scared me, should have made me sick, but it didn’t. It filled me with a strange, sickening sense of freedom. And then reality would slap me back into place. I needed him. Without him, how would I survive? How would I pay for food, for this house? I hated myself for it, but I was trapped, dependent on the man who made my life hell.
The soft knock at the door made me jump, breaking my spiraling thoughts. My heart pounded as I hurried to the door, opening it just enough to see who it was. Nicholas stood there, the knight I had run into just days before, his face grim.
“Can I come in?” he asked, his voice low.
I hesitated, my hand tightening on the door. "No... maybe you should wait until Henry gets back. He's not here right now."
Nicholas stepped forward, his gaze steady on mine, dark with something I couldn’t quite place. "I know, Brielle. That’s why I’m here."
My stomach sank, and dread settled deep in my bones as I stepped aside to let him in. He entered silently, standing in the middle of the room, the silence between us thick and suffocating.
"What’s going on?" I finally managed to ask, my voice cracking with unease.
Nicholas sighed, rubbing a hand across his stubbled jaw. "Henry was taken. By the Maze King."
My world seemed to tilt, my head spinning. "Taken?" I whispered, gripping the edge of a chair to steady myself. "What do you mean taken? You have to go back. You have to! When are you going to get him?"
His expression hardened, his eyes dimming. "We can’t, Brielle. Calm down."
I stepped closer, my voice rising in panic. "No! I will not calm down! You can't just leave him there! One of your own, one of your men! Is that not the point of honor? Tell me!" I shouted, feeling the anger burst out of me in desperate waves.
He raised a hand as if to quiet me, his tone flat. "Calm down, Brielle. There’s nothing we can do."
Anger and disbelief roared inside me, clashing with the fear. “I’ll go to the king. I will tell him how dishonorable his army is to leave one of their own to die.”
Nicholas's face hardened. "We are following the Kings orders. He doesn’t want to provoke the Maze King further. We lost several men out there. We think… Thorne wanted Henry. He knew the King wasn’t coming to sign is fake treaty. He knew everything, Brielle. And now, we haven’t heard a sound from the maze in days."
I stared at him in disbelief, my chest heaving. "How could you say that? You’re just going to abandon him? How am I supposed to survive without him? I won’t let you leave him there to die!"
Nicholas’s face twisted in frustration. His voice softened into something darker, his eyes narrowing as he looked at me. "Why do you fight for him like this?”
Before I could react, he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around me in what was meant to be a comforting hug. But his grip was too tight, and his hands started to slide lower, rubbing my shoulders, then down to my waist. His voice softened, taking on a more intimate tone. “You don’t have to be alone anymore. I can take care of you. I know how he treated you; everyone does. You deserve better. Now that he’s gone… let me be the one to help you."
I froze, disgust and fear mingling in my chest as his hands moved lower, gripping my hip. "No," I muttered, trying to pull away, my voice shaking. "Get off me. You need to leave."
But Nicholas ignored me, his fingers digging into my skin as he leaned in closer. "Come on, Brielle," he murmured, his breath hot against my ear. "You don’t have to fight this. I can give you so much more than Henry ever did."
Rage surged through me, and I shoved him hard, finally breaking free of his hold. "No! Get out!" I screamed, my voice cracking.
My heart hammered in my chest as I caught the shift in Nicholas's expression, something predatory flickering in his eyes. I’d seen that look before, felt the tension that came with it; rejection twisting into something dark and dangerous. My voice shook, but I forced the words out, “I said get out.” The room suddenly felt too small, too close. The silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating, his wounded pride hanging in the air like a threat. I knew what men like him were capable of when their ego was bruised. A man denied could turn vicious, could decide to take what he felt entitled to. The fear gnawed at me, sharper now, as I stood there with nowhere to run. I was alone. If Nicholas wanted to cross that line, to punish me for denying him, who was going to stop him? My skin prickled with the realization, dread sinking deep into my bones. He had the power, the physical strength; and I had nothing
His face twisted into a sneer, his voice turning cold as his hand dropped to his side. "Fine," he spat. "Die alone, then. No one else will help you. I will make sure of that. With Henry gone, I’m in charge. We will see how long you last. When you see that you have no where else to go. You will come running to me, and guess what? I’ll still take you in. Think about that."
Nicholas slammed the door behind him, the sound echoing through the empty house like a gunshot. I sank to my knees, my heart racing as I gripped my chest, trying to catch my breath. What will I do? What can I do? Panic clawed at me, each inhale a struggle, every exhale a reminder of how trapped I truly was. Henry had warned me about the monsters lurking in the shadows, but I never believed him; never wanted to. Yet here I was, alone, with those words ringing in my ears,.
Monsters. So many monsters, human and beast alike, all waiting to pounce, to take everything from me. The world outside felt more dangerous than I’d ever realized, filled with treachery and deceit, and I was just a fragile girl lost in it. A pretty face is a dangerous thing to have, I thought bitterly. It draws in predators like moths to a flame, igniting desires they believe they have a right to claim.
I lay back against the cool floor, the chill seeping into my skin, grounding me as the tears fell freely. My thoughts spiraled like a storm, crashing into one another. How did it come to this? What if Henry never came home? The thought twisted in my gut, churning the remnants of hope into despair. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of helplessness, the weight of my reality pulling me under. Would I ever be free? Or would I always be shackled to the monsters in my life, waiting for the next one to strike? I lay there on the cold floor, feeling utterly pathetic. How did I let it come to this? Weakness seeped into my bones, a suffocating reminder of how I’d relied on a man for my happiness, convinced it was love that bound us. Instead, Henry had crippled me, shackling me to a life I never chose, one built on fear and control. The thought of how much he would relish seeing me so helpless twisted in my chest, a hot ball of anger igniting beneath the layers of despair.
Could I really survive without him? I told myself I could. Why should I be defined by a man’s presence or absence? What’s the difference between a man and a woman, really? But as I questioned it, doubt crept in like a thief in the night. What skills did I possess? I couldn’t think of a single one, nothing I could cling to as a lifeline. The world felt vast and empty, my mind a blank canvas where what little hope I had used to reside.
I lay there for hours, lost in my desperation, the sun slipping away and darkness cloaking the room. Each minute felt like an eternity, and the shadows danced mockingly along the walls. Just as my thoughts spiraled deeper into despair, a soft tapping interrupted the silence. At first, I ignored it, convincing myself it was a figment of my imagination, a trick my mind played to keep the loneliness at bay. But the tapping continued, insistent, urging me to acknowledge it.
Then I heard it—the voice, that familiar tone that felt like an echo from my own thoughts. “You look pathetic there on the floor. ” I flinched, startled, the words slicing through the haze of my self-loathing. My first instinct was to dismiss it as my own cruel mind, but then I glanced toward the window and saw it— the crow. It perched there, unyielding, it’s beady eyes fixed on me. I bring myself to stand up.
“Feel better already, don’t you? ” The voice resonated louder in my head, and I could almost feel it wrapping around me, mocking my plight. “Are you speaking to me?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, incredulous. I chuckled softly to myself, shaking my head as the absurdity of the moment washed over me.
“I’m going crazy,” I laughed, half in disbelief, half in despair, wondering how far my mind had wandered. But the crow simply stared, unblinking, as if waiting for me to understand.
As I stood at the window, the crow's dark silhouette loomed against the dimming light, its beady eyes glinting with mischief. The realization hit me like a bucket of ice water. “It’s you. The Maze King?” My heart sinks to my feet. How is this possible? Am I losing my mind?
The crow tilted its head, a bemused glint in its eyes. “And here I thought you’d be happier to hear from me. Instead, you look like a sad little wretch on the floor. Such a sight to behold, really. Perhaps I should have brought a flag to commemorate your defeat.”
I clenched my jaw, unwilling to give in to the irritation bubbling inside me. “What do you want? Haven’t you done enough? Here to cause more problems?”
“Oh, but I think you’ll find I’m the solution to your troubles. Your husband has quite the way of keeping you in chains, doesn’t he? Or perhaps you enjoy being locked up and pathetic. Pity party for one?”
His taunts sparked something deep within me, igniting my fury I can no longer hold back. I am dead already or quite possibly insane what harm can possibly come to me now. “You think you can just fly in here and mock me? You know nothing about my life, about what I’ve endured!”
“Endured? Or chosen to endure? You’ve been a lovely little bird in a cage, and it’s about time you realized the door is wide open,” he taunted, the smirk evident in his tone. “I could show you a different life, one filled with power and freedom. All you have to do is follow me into the maze.”
“Freedom? Is that what you call it? You’re just as much a monster as my husband,” I snapped, feeling my resolve harden. “I’m not interested in your games, and I won’t be your pawn.”
The crow let out a low chuckle, as if savoring my struggle. “Ah, but you’re practically begging me to save you, aren’t you? Just look at yourself. All that fire and fury, yet you’re still stuck here, wondering how to breathe without him. How sad.”
“I don’t need saving from you,” I retorted, my voice steadier than I felt. “You think you know what I want, but you don’t. I can take care of myself.”
“Is that so?” The crow’s voice dripped with amusement. “Then why are you still here, sulking like a discarded doll? If you truly believe you can survive without him, why not come into the maze and prove it? Or are you too afraid of what you’ll find? To afraid to leave the cage, afraid to go on the adventures you’ve only read about?”
“Why should I trust you?” I spat, fighting to keep my voice from trembling. “You’ve taken everything from me. Why would you help me now?”
“Help you?” It cawed, the sound echoing in my mind. “I have no intention of helping you. I simply find your desperation entertaining. Besides, you seem to need a little push in the right direction. If you want Henry back, why not come and get him? Or are you afraid?
“Afraid? Of course I’m afraid!” I shot back, feeling the weight of my vulnerability crash over me like a tidal wave. “I don’t know how I can make it out there. Monsters and men like you lurking around every corner, waiting to take from me. What chance do I have?”
“Are you done yet?” the crow asked, a mocking lilt in its voice. “Because I could listen to your whining all day, but honestly, it’s making me nauseous. You think your husband’s little reign of terror defines you? Pathetic. I see a fire beneath that fear. Instead of cowering on the floor, why not embrace the monsters out there? You might just find they’re not as frightening as you think—or perhaps they’re even more delightful. The world is ripe for the taking, and yet here you are, playing the damsel in distress. You’re better than that, Brielle. Don’t waste your breath lamenting the past; take your control back. Prove everyone wrong.”
“You're so hateful and rude,” I snapped
“Maybe,” he drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “but unlike everyone else, I don’t pity you. You’ve wrapped yourself in their sympathy so tightly that it’s suffocated your spirit. In that weakness, they’ve all abandoned you. I refuse to coddle you, Brielle. You’re not just a woman; there’s a ravenous she-wolf inside you, fierce and deadly. And trust me—no one, especially not the sheep that surround you, has the right to feel sorry for a creature like that. So enough of your pathetic whining. Come collect your precious little husband from my castle. Before I take the trash out.”
The crow took off into the night, leaving me standing there in a daze, grappling with the remnants of our exchange. I shook my head, trying to rid myself of the vivid images of the Maze King’s voice resonating in my mind like a dark echo. Suddenly, the appeal of lying on the floor lost its grip on me. Was it all just a figment of my imagination? I couldn't help but wonder as I slipped into bed instead, the sheets cool against my heated skin.
The memory of his taunting words about the she-wolf lurking inside me sent a tremor through my body. No one had ever dared to look beyond my surface, let alone see a flicker of strength within. The thought sent a flush of warmth coursing through me, a contradiction to the fear still gripping my heart. I clutched the blankets tightly, my knuckles whitening as I attempted to dispel the swirling anxieties. Tears began to seep down the sides of my face, blurring my vision. Why should I even consider saving him? How could I? I was trapped here in this gilded cage of my own making, suffocating under the weight of dependency.
But part of me, a dark, rebellious part, longed for the adventure the Maze promised. I craved the thrill of defying Henry, of seeing the shock in his eyes when I emerged as his savior. The moonlight streamed through the window, casting shadows that danced across the walls. Sleep eluded me, and instead, visions of the Maze danced in my mind. The twisted paths, the darkened corners; each turn a promise of danger and excitement. What more do I have to lose?
I started to drift off, yet the familiar soft song crept into my mind, wrapping around my consciousness like a gentle lullaby, the same words I had conjured every night to soothe myself to sleep:
“I will save you, my sweet, don’t cry anymore, I am coming for you, through darkness and war. Rest now, my darling, the night is our friend, I’ll take you away, where the pain will end.”