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Challenge: Normal
January 25, 2006

By Geek Mama
January 12, 2006

~ Dark of the Moon, continued... ~
Part one is here. This is part two...

She followed him, perforce, pulled along by the imperative, almost painful hand at her wrist. The bloody horror of the night, the leering faces they passed, the stars wheeling fatefully overhead: all weighed her down, kept her silent but for her rasping breath. An opening gaped in the black deck, and they started down, down into the depths of this monstrous ship, their feet thumping on the steps. Then along a dark, narrow passageway, leading, finally, to a shadowed door.

He opened it and shoved her inside with a hand at the small of her back; followed her in and closed out the remaining light.

There was a scraping sound, a spark, and light bloomed in a small lantern that hung from the low ceiling, illuminating them both. She had backed as far as she could when he'd released her – not far at all in the tiny space. The edge of his cot burned the backs of her legs, and she stared at him, this exotic, dangerous unknown, and he stared back, black eyes absorbing her from head to toe. She set her teeth.

"Sit down," he said, abruptly, sharply.

She hesitated only a moment before complying.

He frowned, thoughtfully. "You'll have to stay here."

She swallowed hard, and nodded.

"Do you want some tea?"

She gaped. "Tea?"

"Aye. I can fetch you some, if you like." He shrugged. "My mother swore by it in bad times. Said it calmed her nerves an' all."

His mother?

She burst into tears.

~.~

~.~

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