the ghosts of flora wren – Page 16

“They won’t be bothering you anymore, anyhow,” he spoke the last part almost like an afterthought.

Her gaze shot back up and she looked the stranger in the face. “What?” she asked, confused.

“I took care of them for you,” he replied.

She knew that he was right. The adrenaline from before was starting to wear off and she was left with the world spinning around her and limbs weak. It would only be a matter of time before she collapsed again. Then what?

“Wait,” he called out to her, putting his hand forward to stop her, “you’re not in any condition to go anywhere by yourself.”

“You don’t understand,” she replied, her voice shaking and frantic, “it’s not safe for me here.”

“And exactly how far do you expect to get?” The harsh tone of his voice made her flinch. She turned her head to look away from him, staring off into the distance.

Her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach, panic crashing over her in waves. She remembered the tavern. Those men. They slipped something in her drink. She remembered screaming and screaming, but no one came. Then…the gruesome shrill of a man being twisted inside out. There was so much blood.

“I have to get out of here,” she said suddenly, trying to stand.

“I… I don’t remember,” she tried to regain some kind of grip on reality. Everything was lost in the fog of her mind. She remembered running. “What… what happened?”

“I was hoping you could help me out there,” he replied.

“I’m sorry,” she said, “everything is a bit fuzzy right now. My head–”

“W-where… am…I?” she asked. The cool ground sent chills throughout her aching body.

“Littlewater.”

“Littlewater… how…?” she shook her head a little. Everything was such a blur. She couldn’t remember how she got here. The last thing she was remembered was…

“You’re not from around here, are you?”