7. Ash
Chapter 7
Ash
“Well, I’m going to go get the rest of their lazy asses out of bed so we can get moving,” Jerek said.
“You’re coming with us?” I asked.
“It would only make sense since we are going to the same place.” He winked before standing up and walking off. I stayed watching the river for around a quarter of an hour until a boat meandered down the channel and pulled into the dock closest to me. A lone figure sat inside with their back toward me.
Out of nowhere, the whiz of an arrow cutting through the air caught my attention. Two arrows sunk into the chests of the soldiers behind me before they slumped silently to the ground. I was on my feet in an instant; the arrows came from across the river, and I knew I had to get to cover. I glanced back at the figure in the boat to find the person had vanished, right before a hand clamped over my mouth from behind. A solid body gripped me and shoved me forward toward the boat. I struggled against the hold, and my visions suddenly returned as the adrenaline coursed through my body. Except with no weapons, I could see no option for escape.
I wasn’t a screamer. The only time I screamed was when the cougar had a hold of my leg, but I knew right now I had to, or this person would surely take me. I moved my face away from the person’s hand enough that I got ahold of the space between their thumb and forefinger with my teeth. I bit down as hard as I could until I felt the skin break under my teeth, and the coppery taste of blood filled my mouth. The person dropped their hand long enough for me to yell as loud as I could for help before the bloody hand covered over my mouth once more. They pushed me toward the boat with brute force. We got to the edge of the dock, the water rushing by us, and I could see only one option for escape. I lurched forward as hard as I could, sending both of us tumbling into the icy water.
Instant regret and frigid water smacked me in the face. It was too cold, too much of a shock to my system. My chest felt like it caved in as I tried to reach the surface. A hand grabbed my coat and jerked me upward, the same hand that still bled from the bite. Through the crashing of the water and the swift current, I finally found oxygen to fill my lungs. My eyes searched for anything through the watery haze and all I could see was a blur of murky water and black clothing. The captor’s arm gripped me around the chest with my back to him as he tried to drag me away to the opposite side of the river.
I could hear Diesel and others shouting from somewhere on the bank, and I used that to get my bearings. My breaths came short and panicky from the cold raging of the river, but I could now see the way out. I pulled my elbow up and slammed it down onto the man’s nose behind me, then kicked frantically at his legs and stomach. It had to be a man, a woman wouldn’t possess the strength he had to drag me through the water. I landed two solid blows and a third that missed, but my leg slammed into something that felt like a large rock protruding from the bottom of the river. I grunted in pain, but finally his grip released and I swam as hard as I could away from him. Trees passed rapidly along the bank, and my feet slipped across the rocks at the bottom of the river. The current’s force pushed and shoved me downriver too hard and fast for me to get a foothold. Diesel sprinted after me through the trees on the gravel-covered bank. I could hear the man splashing behind me, but I didn’t look back. Just ahead, a fallen tree jutted out over the bank and into the water.
“Ash!” Diesel shouted, still running. “The tree!” I reached out in time to snag a limb and try to hang on with my frozen hands against the raging current. I stopped long enough to see my captorfloat by, unable to grasp the tree. I finally caught a glimpse of his face which was covered in a black mask. He turned and swam away from me toward the opposite bank before I could blink enough water out of my eyes to catch any more details.
My numb hands slipped on the branch. I couldn’t hold on much longer. I reached for another branch to work my way back to the steep bank when I heard a splash, and suddenly Diesel was right next to me, helping me to the shore. I didn’t complain; it was all I could do to get my limbs to function with the ice that had invaded my bloodstream. We waded out of the water and onto the shore and I stumbled, my body convulsing with shivers.
Diesel helped me move up the bank, back toward the cabin. “Your lips are blue,” he said, his voice trembling with cold .
“I’m—fine,” I stuttered, my jaw trembling. I wanted to skin my failed captor alive. I was sick to death of people trying to take me and having to fight my way to freedom. I wouldn’t do this anymore. I wanted people to fear me enough they’d leave me alone. I had a gift, and I was ready to use it.
Jerek and a slew of other soldiers raced down the bank and intercepted us. Jerek quickly took off his coat and threw it over my shoulders. It did little to keep the cold at bay. Peters and Carter awaited outside the cabin as we approached, and I noticed the door had been broken and hung off its hinges with an axe embedded in it.
“Go find him!” Diesel roared to the soldiers, and they scampered off toward the river.
We crashed inside, the lush warmth of the fireplace enveloping my frozen skin.
“Everyone out. Guard the doors,” Diesel said to the remaining soldiers, and they covered the broken doorway with their bodies.
“What happened to the door?” I stammered while Diesel ushered me toward the fire.
“Someone locked us in. I had to break it. Here. Sit down, I’ll go grab some new clothes.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled, and he rushed out the door to where our supplies were piled. My toes had gone completely numb and I could barely feel the tip of my nose, but the fire already warmed my fingers. My blood began to thaw, sending a painful burning sensation into the tips of my fingers. I shifted and something dug into my hip. The book in my pocket. No, no, no . I dug it out and sighed in relief when I found the leather had protected most of it from water damage. Besides the soaked edges around the outside, it remained intact .
I shoved it under my leg when Diesel re-entered. He clutched a pair of clothes for himself and me in both hands. He eased over and handed them to me, and our eyes met as our fingers touched. His green eyes swirled with sadness and anger, and his lips were as blue as mine probably were. I pulled the clothes away and nodded.
“Turn around so I can change,” I said.
His face fell, but he nodded and turned his back, as did I. I slowly worked the frigid wet clothing off my body. Shuffling came from behind me, and I assumed Diesel changed as well. When I was done, I shoved the book in my dry pants and resumed my seat by the fire, my body already warming substantially.
“Do you know who it was?” Diesel asked after he got through.
I shook my head. “He was wearing a mask, and it all happened so fast.”
“We need to get to Hope. You’ll be safe there.”
I met his eyes once more. But would I?