Noella

Consciousness comes back in small doses, like waves lapping at the shore.

I notice small things as it comes back. Like the shivers that are no longer making me tremble, or the hard concrete floor that has mysteriously turned into a cushion. The throbbing mess of my hand has vanished into nothing but a dull ache, and the bruises around my throat have almost stopped hurting completely.

Everything feels better, but that doesn't make sense.

I was in a cell, sure I was good as dead. I should be dead right now. Right?

Not right, because as more senses start to filter in, I notice the very bright lights above my head, the white walls around my.....bed, not a floor, a bed. This isn't a cell, this is a hospital, but that can't be true.

The forbidden forest isn't supposed to house livable qualities. It's meant to repulse people into never entering or even think about entering.

The only things that can survive in here are the toughest of animals. At least, that's what everyone is led to believe.

A headache starts to form, but when I go to rub my forehead, I find I can't.

My eyes shoot down lightning fast to my hands, where I find thick blue straps enveloping my wrists. And my ankles. And my waist.

Oh no... Oh no, no, no.

Somehow, this is worse than a prison cell. I'm completely vulnerable, helpless. I can't lift my hands, I can't use my leges, I can't move.

Panic bubbles, simmers, explodes inside of me until I'm left gasping, fighting for control of something. Anything.

Voices from outside have me tensing even more than I already am.

Are they coming to finish the job? But why would I be in a hospital if they intended to kill me? Do they want my injuries healed before they make new ones?

The door opens, and I'm a spring that's ready to bounce to outer space. My nerves are so coiled and fried I'm surprised my nervous system is still functioning at this point.

"Hello there," A man in a white coat greets as he walks in. "I'm doctor Lo, but Arlo works just as well. What may I call you?"

I watched enough detective dramas as a kid to know that giving up your name is basically like giving up everything you stand to hold back, so... no.

Arlo is not deterred in the least by my silence, and instead goes to the machine I failed to notice beside my bed. A thin white cord protrudes from my chest and up into the device, showcasing how utterly terrified I am to anyone who looks at it.

I cringe as I look away, but Arlo just chuckles.

"It's completely normal to be afraid. You don't know where you are or if you can trust anyone here. I understand. I only wish I knew how you got here, but I'm guessing that information is gonna be hard to come by, hmm?"

I look down into my lap.

"Thought so," he says, moving to the cupboards on the back wall. "I'm sorry about the restraints. Rowan can be quite the worry wort, and he insisted." He comes aback to my side holding a roll of ivory cloth. "I'm going to take a look at your hand, alright?"

He does kinda look like a doctor, and the room isn't much different from the ones I've seen back home, so I slowly nod.

He unstraps the blue material on my wrist before carefully lifting my hand to undo the wrapping I hadn't noticed was on.

It looks red and swollen, but it hurts so much less than earlier.

"It's not broken," Arlo says as he starts rewrapping my hand. "But you do have a pretty bad sprain, so it'll stay wrapped and iced for a while, ok?"

I nod again, watching as he sticks the wrapping in place and slips my wrist back into the blue strap.

"Well, unless there's anything you'd like to talk to me about, I think I'm done here."

I say nothing, and he sighs.

"Ok then. Those bruises on your throat should heal nicely on their own as long as you avoid touching them too much," he nods, as if assuring himself he covered everything, then says, "I'll be back later to check in."

And then I'm alone.

Again.

•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*

I open my eyes for the fifth time as I huff a frustrated sigh.

I thought I might be able to sleep again, but with panic hacking away at my brain and the pain that's started to seep through my hand again, unconsciousness just won't come.

I don't know what time it is or how many days I've been here, and it's freaking me out.

This trip was supposed an in and out job with little to no casualties. None of this was supposed to happen.

A click from the right has all my muscles tightening into iron as I turn my head.

My breath clogs in my lungs, making difficult to take air in.

Dark brown curls crown his head, long lashes frame eyes so green I can just about see the forest within them, and just enough scruff on his jaw to make it noticeable.

He looks....... Attractive. So attractive that I forget why I'm scared. Something about him just seems... calming, maybe?

"I hear you're quite interested in a conversation with the Alpha."

His voice sounds like something an audiobook company should be aware of, and I have to keep myself from melting.

"I-um, yes," I stutter out.

I still have no idea what an Alpha is or why the word holds such importance with these people.

"Well, you're looking at him, so speak," he practically snarls.

The Alpha is a man. Of course he is.

My (not so brilliant) plan, unfolds in front of me like sand running through fingers, and I cringe at the lack of detail. I really had nothing planned past staying alive.

I clear my throat, hoping to buy myself a second, but the man, sorry, Alpha, raises his brows in clear impatience.

"I would like to..." my brain scrambles for ideas, thoughts, anything that will form words in my head. The pressure on my ankles finally makes me say, "I would like to be set free."

His jaw ticks, and fear floods my stomach once again, dread tickling my spine.

"You were imprisoned far after you requested my attention." He walks closer to my bed, and something like mint and oak fills my nose before I shake it away. "I don't like games, and I have no use for worthless humans who waste my time." His face comes within inches of mine. "Either you talk, or you find out the consequences for if you don't. Your choice."

Goosebumps erupt everywhere as I try desperately to keep the pressure behind my eyes to stay there.

"I am on a mission," I start, wondering how information will be sufficient. "I believe someone in these woods needs my help, and I intended to save them before I ran into some... difficulties."

His eyes narrow before he says, "You entered the forbidden woods by yourself in search of a corpse?"

I glare as I say, "He's not a corpse! He's alive! I know it!"

Silence ensues for one moment, then two, then-

Hot air brushes my cheeks as a growl fills the silence.