Innocent Little Runt
Chapter 42

Celeste’s POV

I can’t believe that I’m seeing him again. After what happened with the rogues, I never thought I’d see him again. I always had these dreams that one day I would feel a certain part of me break. With that part of me broken I would know that he was officially gone. Now that I’m seeing him again and that he’s promised me he’ll get me home, I actually have hope. Hope that we will both be okay and be best friends until the end, like I thought before he was taken.

I feel like I should be ecstatic right now but I’m not. I feel empty on the inside. Ancillary has barely stopped whining since I’ve gotten here. I need Xavier.

I feel stupid but I feel like I am going to go crazy without him. I sound like a stupid, love struck, teenage girl. Oh wait, I am.

I don’t know how long I have been here but they haven’t given me any food. I don’t complain because Lycer must have gone through worse. I don’t want to imagine what he’s gone through. He has a lot of scars on his back, some worse than others.

It’s freezing here, especially at the times that I assume it’s night. Lycer always holds me, to keep me warm through the night. He keeps joking with me about how Xavier would be mad, hoping to get me to laugh. It only makes me think about how he is right. Xavier would be mad, but I don’t want to freeze. I just get so cold.

When I sleep, I dream. Every single dream I have is of Xavier. It starts out sweet, him holding me and pointing out constellations. He will k**s my forehead, my nose, my lips. It is always so sweet. Then, it turns into a nightmare. One of those people, who look like there is something wrong with them, comes out. They rip me away and Xavier can never get me back. I fight and fight, so much, but to no avail. Then I wake up to Lycer shaking me, telling me that it’s only a nightmare. It’s like part of a never ending process.

“Celestial? Are you okay?” I snapped my gaze to see Lycer looking at me in worry. I nodded my head but I wasn’t okay. I felt numb.

“I’m fine.”

“You know after all of the years that we have known each other, you still suck at lying.” I glared at him. “Oh, you love me so stop that glaring nonsense.” I gave him a small smile as I stopped my glaring. “Now tell me what’s wrong.”

“I. . . I want to go home.” He sighed. I could tell that he has been beating himself up over the fact that I’m here. He sat down on the small cot and held out his arms. I hugged him and let my tears fall. There weren’t many as I’m pretty sure I have cried myself out in my dreams.

“And I promised I would get you home. Just trust me.” I pulled away from him as I felt Ancillary take over, my eyes turning darker.

“And how could you promise that when you couldn’t even get yourself out of here?” Ancillary growled at him. He glared and all I wanted to do was cower but Ancillary held the reigns.

“Ancillary,” Lycer growled in warning. “You will stop this immediately. Celestial is worried enough as is, and she doesn’t need you to make it worse. You are supposed to be the strong side of her so stop. Now,” he growled out. Ancillary whimpered and gave up her control. I took a deep breath and looked at him apologetically.

“I’m sorry Lycer. I can’t always control her.” He smiled sheepishly.

“It’s fine.” His eyes widened as he looked behind us, where the cell door was. He moved to sit in front of me as he growled. I turned around to see a man with the most terrifying aura I have ever come across. He must be Malum. I’ve never actually seen him before but now that I have, I wish I could have been kept in the dark.

His eyes are almost pitch black and I’m sure that they will forever on haunt my nightmares. His pitch black hair that matched his eyes so creepily that if it was to fall in front of his eyes, you might not be able to make out one from another. His hair almost didn’t seem natural. He smiled this awful smile at Lycer, his yellow teeth showing.

I moved one of my shaking hands onto Lycer’s back, hoping to replace some sort of feeling of protection.

“Lycer, Lycer, Lycer,” Malum repeated with a chuckle. “I told you when she was brought here that I had plans.” Lycer growled and this kind of vibe went off from his, full of anger.

“Don’t you dare come near her!” I started to shake more.

“Ly-Lycer, what’s going on?” He glanced behind me, his forest green eyes shining with worry but I could tell his wolf was yelling at him to protect me. That’s part of him being my protector.

Malum snapped his fingers and two men came in. I recognized one of them as the one from the woods. His completely black eyes made me think of Kaleshia’s completely blue eyes, making me long for home even more. The other one looked like he never ate a day in his life. His bones and veins were prominent and his skin was pale.

“Grab them,” Malum said in a bored voice. the two came forward, one of them unlocking the door. Lycer growled and turned around, wrapping his arms around me. The one with the black eyes started to rip him off of me.

“It’ll be okay Celestial,” Lycer whispered. “I’ll get you out of this.” The black eyed one successfully ripped Lycer off of me as the unhealthy one grabbed onto my shoulders. I thrashed in his arms but he was stronger than I thought. I watched as they stuck a needle right by Lycer’s collarbone and he stopped fighting for a minute as his eyes scrunched up in pain. I watched with tears in my eyes as they dragged him away.

The unhealthy one started to push me after Lycer and the black eyed one who was following Malum. I stopped fighting, wanting to go wherever they were taking Lycer, but the man still pushed and pulled me along harshly. They took us through passages with so many twists and turns that it made me dizzy while trying to replace a way out.

They then pulled me into a room that smelled like b***d, sweat, and if horror had a scent, it had that too. I watched as the black eyed one pulled Lycer to a wall on one end of them room and chained his hands to a wall so he was facing forwards. The unhealthy one pulled me to the wall opposite of Lycer and pushed me against it, facing the wall, and chained my hands just like they had to Lycer’s. The two odd people left the room as Malum started to chuckle.

“Celestial,” I could hear Lycer whisper. “It will be okay, I promise.” Malum scoffed.

“You shouldn’t lie.” I could hear footsteps walk closer to me and I once again started to shake. He lifted up my shirt slightly and I felt tears race down my face. I heard the sound of ripping as he cut my shirt off and let it fall to the round. Lycer growled but I could tell it made him tired. What did they give him?

“Let’s just test this out, shall we?” I could hear Malum chuckle just before a burning pain went through me. I could feel spikes rip into my skin as I let out a scream that echoed across the room. I could hear Lycer scream as he brought the thing hit my back again. I could feel my skin ripping and b***d running down my back. I screamed even louder, the pain increasing.

“Stop!” Lycer kept shouting the same thing over and over again as Malum brought it down a fourth time.

“Say the magic words, Lycer, and her pain will end.”

I could hear whatever it was go across the air before stopping. Lycer had whispered something.

“What was that?” I could basically hear the triumph in Malum’s voice.

“I said I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you that damned secret, but then you have to stop hurting her. You let me take care of her, and if she is alright afterwards, I’ll tell you. You aren’t going to get it out of me any other way.” I could hear his energy starting to return but it wasn’t like it was when we first met. I hadn’t noticed it until now but he was weaker now.

“Fine. You two will go back to the cell, and I will have one of the experiments collect you in the morning.” I heard the door open and then my chains were off. I crumpled to the ground in pain. Pain was going throughout my whole body even though it was on my back that was injured. I didn’t even care if they all looked at me in my b*a that was probably also covered in b***d, all I cared about was this pain ending.

Lycer growled again. “Don’t touch her.” I turned my head to see the unhealthy one reaching down to me. He looked up and after a bit he nodded, backing away from me. I felt an arm go under my leg and the other go around my waist. Lycer tried not to touch the cuts but I still winced in pain. “I’m sorry Celestial,” he whispered. “Wrap your arms around my neck or shoulders as best as you can, okay?” I nodded weakly and tried to do as he said. I slumped against him as he started to walk away from the awful room. I could hear two pairs of footsteps behind us but I didn’t care.

I cried into Lycer’s chest the entire way back. He walked into the cell and I heard the door close and get locked as Lycer laid me down on my stomach.

“I’m so sorry Celestial. This is my fault.” I tried to say something but I could see black spots filling my vision. “Celestial? Celestial? Damn it,” he murmured. “Stay awake. Can you do that for me?” I wanted to but I was just feeling so tired. “Do it for Xavier. Do it for your mate.” I opened my eyes wider and told myself to stay awake.

Lycer tore off a piece of the very thin blanket that covered the cot. He put it over my back and small whimpers of pain left my lips.

“It hurts Lycer,” I whispered, wanting to fall asleep.

“I know Celestial but you have to stay awake just a little bit longer. I promise just a little bit longer. It will stop bleeding soon and then you can go to sleep.” I looked up at him, hoping that he was speaking the truth. I was exhausted and my throat hurt so much.

I closed my eyes, hissing in pain as he put more pressure on the cuts. He crouched down in front of me so I could see his face. He smiled weakly at me and held my hand.

“It’ll be okay Celestial. I will have us out of here by morning, I promise. Somehow, I will.” I didn’t know if he was being truthful or if he was just trying to make me feel better but I just wanted to sleep.

“Lycer? Can I- can I go to sleep now?” He smiled a tight smile but nodded.

“Yes, Celestial. You can go to sleep now.” I smiled at him and I finally let the darkness take over my vision.