Beyond the Castle, part one. (Two person.)

Araline:

Scooted up against the wall and looked around the room again.  My heart was wigging out in panicked spasms.  What if Ario had been shot too?  I pulled my knees up to my chest and hugged them as a choked sob escaped me.  I rarely cried ever, I had never really had reason too, but now I was scared and I knew Brian was dead and probably Ario as well...  Steps clicking on the hard floor brought my attention up.  And older woman was standing there holding Brian's bow as well as a smaller one.  I scrambled to my feet refusing to cry in front of any one.

Ario:

I couldn't move, but more than anything I hoped for Araline's safety. I didn't care what happened to me, I just wanted her to be safe. She meant the world to me, I hated to think that something bad had happened and I hadn't been able to do something to help.

Araline:

"What am I doing here?  Where is Ario?  Did you hurt him?" I demanded.  The woman smiled, making my skin crawl.   "The boy?  He's just right through there." she pointed to a door.  I gave her a cold look, I wanted to believe it but could I really trust some one who had killed a man for no reason then chained me in a kitchen?  I thought not.  

Ario:

I closed my eyes, and forced myself to relax. I needed to think of a way to get out of here, but I had been pretty much stripped down. I could feel the rope digging into the skin of my chest and legs. It felt like they had cut my pants at the knees to make sure I wasn't armed at all.

Araline:

I eyes her as she set the bows down. The smaller one was more of what I was used to, more of what I was excellent with shooting. "Don't you even think about it. If you try to harm us, you will be punished. If you do any thing but what we tell you will be punished." I gave her a blank look as she came closer to me. My gaze flicked behind her as a man walked in, tall and lanky, he creeped me out just as much as she did if not more. He walked to the door that the woman had pointed to. The second it was opened I screamed, "Ario?!" and was cut of with a slap across my face.

I heard Araline yell out my name then a slap, but because of the gag I couldn't do anything. I struggled and only succeeded in falling over and getting the ropes tighter around me.

Araline:

I shook my head a little and stared at the woman with a mutinous expression.

The man closed the door and walked down the steps to the boy. "Don't try to fight or you'll get it worse than her." He said rolling Ario to his stomach.

I had to force myself not to try and struggle. This was bad...real bad. I could feel anger welling up inside me but it turned to frustration at my inability to do anything. I was tied up, gagged, and blindfolded. I was in effect useless to araline right now.

The man secured ropes at his ankles then cut the rest tying one rope to one wrist and attaching it to a post. he took the gaga out and the blindfold off. "Remember, don't try to call for her." He said warningly the shoved a bowl of watery stew at him. "Eat."

I glared at the man but i would do anything so long as they didnt harm her. I nodded and started to eat asking softly. "What do you want with us."

"That doesn't matter." He said watching him eat.

Araline:

The woman handed me a bowl of soup which I refused to eat. I crossed my arms and sat on the floor stubbornly. After trying to get me to eat for a few minutes she left to a different room. I glared at her back envisioning hurling the soup at her head. Some how the prospect of being punished every time I did some thing wrong only made me want to break things.

I nodded and then asked. "If i do what you say will you not harm araline?" I asked maing sure to keep my voice soft and quiet. I didnt needhim to punish her for something i was dumb enough to do.

"That depends on if she is smart enough to do what we tell her." He said. "Finish, I need to tie you up again." He said impatiently.

I set aside the bowl and stayed perfectly still for him. I hoped that araline would behave but i knew...that wasnt very likely. I sighed and closed my eyes, knowing that i was going to have to think of something.

He tied Ario back up and replaced the blind fold but left the gag out as a sort of test.  He left the room and closed the door behind him locking it from the outside.

Araline:  

I saw the man come out then lock the door.  He went through the same door the woman had.

I wanted to call out for araline but i had been told not too. I decided to obey for now, on the basis of thinking if could gain therevtrust they would be more leniant.

Araline:

I tried for several hours to reach some thing of use but only failed.  I ended up curling up on the floor with a cushion that I had grabbed with the tips on my fingers from a chair.  I fell asleep thinking about Ario, and kissing him and wishing I'd done it sooner.

I attempted to rest my head filled with araline. I still didnt understand why she had kissed me. I had figured that she didnt want to fall in love with anyone.

Araline:

I woke up when early morning light came streaming in through window.  It took a second to realize I was here.  I curled up into a ball wanting to cry again.

I continued to sleep the lack of light in the room maing it so it was impossible to tell what time it was.

 I yawned and sat up looking around the room now lit up better.  And I was back to trying to reach some thing.

I woke up and sighed shifting a bit to try and get more comfortable. "I wish i could tell araline how i feel" i whispered softly.

Araline:

I settled back agains the wall with a sigh then my eyes fell upon the bowl and the spoon.  I snatched the spoon up and tried prying at the metal around my ankle.

I closed my eyes preparing to go sleep some more. If nothing else it was helpful not to know the passage of time. It made it so that it seemed i had only been here for minutes...but it already felt like days.

Araline:

I made no progress and finally hurled the spoon across the room angrily.  I curled up again and trying not to sob my eyes out.  I slept some more.