Katheryn sat alone on the creaky wooden floor of her hut, staring out the narrow window at the village beyond. A soft breeze pushed the tattered curtains aside, letting in a weak shaft of sunlight. Time had passed strangely here, the days blending into one another, marked only by the steady rhythm of her heart and the dull ache of longing in her chest.
It had been a month since she'd found herself thrust into this strange world, her old life left behind like a fading dream.
Her hands absentmindedly traced patterns on the worn wooden floor as her mind raced. The villagers called her a witch, sent by the mountain god.
At first, she had vehemently denied the accusations, but it hadn't taken long to see the futility in arguing, to them, she was something otherworldly, and no amount of protest would change their minds.
Her days were largely solitary, punctuated only by the occasional visits from Samo. Each encounter with him was like walking a tightrope, her words carefully chosen, her demeanor measured.
Today he once again arrived to interrogate her, to piece together the puzzle of how and why she had appeared in their world. He stood over her, watching her with intensity.
"Where are you from?" he asked, his tone as sharp as the glint in his eyes.
Katheryn leaned against the wall, her arms folded defensively. "Somewhere far from here," she replied vaguely.
"Far isn't good enough," he said, stepping closer, his dark eyes bore into hers, unyielding.
"You've been here for weeks now. You've seen enough to understand what's at stake. Stop playing games."
Her jaw clenched. She wanted to snap back, to remind him that she had been torn from her world, thrown into his, and treated like a prisoner, but instead, she took a deep breath. If she wanted to survive, she had to be smart.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," she said finally, her voice softer.
"Try me," Samo pressed, his gaze unwavering.
Katheryn hesitated. Telling him the truth could be dangerous, but lying hadn't gotten her anywhere. She decided to take a risk.
"I'm from a place far in the future," she began, her words slow and deliberate. "A world where people travel in machines faster than any horse, where we communicate across great distances with devices that fit in the palm of your hand."
Samo's brows furrowed, skepticism etched into his features. "And you expect me to believe that?"
"You don't have to," Katheryn replied, her voice steady. "But it's the truth. In my world, this village would be a relic, a glimpse into a distant past. Your weapons, your tools—they're primitive compared to what we've created."
For a moment, Samo said nothing. He studied her intently, his expression unreadable.
"Why were you sent here?" he asked finally.
"I wasn't sent," Katheryn said, her voice cracking slightly. "I don't know how I got here. One moment, I was drowning, and the next… I was here."
Samo's eyes narrowed. "If you're telling the truth, then you're dangerous. Knowledge like that could destabilize everything."
Katheryn's chest tightened. "I don't want to hurt anyone. I just want to survive."
Samo's eyes softened, "That's enough for now, your lunch will be brought to you soon." He didn't spare a moment a left.
Katheryn thought to herself *I hope I didn't make my situation worse.*
The next morning there was a sharp knock at the door. A messenger had arrived, summoning her to the village head's hall.
The meeting hall was a stark contrast to her humble hut. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and aged wood, and the central fire pit cast flickering shadows on the walls. The village head sat at the far end, his posture stiff, his expression unreadable.
Katheryn stood before him, her hands clasped tightly together. The weight of his gaze made her feel small, insignificant.
"You have been with us for a month," he began, his voice gruff. "It is time to decide your place here."
Katheryn swallowed hard. "I just want to be left alone."
The elder's eyes narrowed. "You were brought here for a reason, whether by the gods or some other force. That makes you our responsibility—and our property."
Her stomach churned at the word. "Property?"
"You have no family here, no allies," the elder continued. "You are not one of us, but you possess knowledge we do not. You will stay in this village as our prophet witch. You will use your abilities to serve this kingdom."
"And if I refuse?" Katheryn asked, her voice trembling.
The elder leaned forward, his gaze piercing. "Refusal is not an option."
Katheryn's mind raced. She wanted to scream, to protest, to demand her freedom. But the cold reality of her situation left her silent.
The elder gestured to one of his attendants. "Take her to her new quarters. She will be watched closely. And give her what she needs to do her work—within reason."
As she was led away, Katheryn felt a mix of relief and dread. She had been granted more freedom, but at what cost?
Her new homewas larger than the previous one, built with stone instead of wood, there was a small front garden outside.
Inside was a large stone fireplace, already filled with wood and a couldron hanging in the middle, a bit cliché she thought, there was a small table and chair, a straw mattress covered by cow hides, and a narrow shelf for storing her belongings. Luxurious compared to her last dwelling.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. If she was going to survive, she needed to adapt.
The next day, Katheryn approached the village head with a request. "I need my belongings back," she said firmly. "And I need paper and ink."
The elder raised an eyebrow. "What for?"
"If I'm to help you, I need to organize my thoughts," Katheryn explained. "I need to write down everything I know—future events, herbal remedies, anything that could be useful."
The elder regarded her for a long moment before nodding. "Very well."
A few days later, her bag was returned. Katheryn's heart raced as she rifled through it, her hands trembling when she found her phone and power bank. She pressed the power button, praying silently. When the screen lit up, relief washed over her.
For the first time in weeks, she felt a spark of hope. Her phone became her lifeline, a connection to the world she had lost. She spent hours scrolling through her saved notes, focusing on history and herbal medicine. Her first aid kit, still intact, became her most precious possession.
Using the paper and ink she had been given, Katheryn began transcribing everything she knew. She sketched diagrams of plants, wrote instructions for treating wounds, and noted remedies for common ailments. Her hut slowly transformed into a makeshift apothecary, with herbs hanging to dry and scraps of parchment scattered across the table. But most importantly, Katheryn wrote down every event set to happen in the next century. She knows the future of this village and especially her saviour and captor, Samo.
Despite her progress, Katheryn couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Samo and Athanasi kept a close eye on her, their presence a constant reminder that she was not free. Athanasi's presence was the more annoying one, he took every chance he could to tease and bully,but thankfully his father kept him busy and often on hunting trips.
One afternoon, Samo visited her, his expression unreadable.
"You've been busy," he said, gesturing to the piles of notes on her table.
Katheryn nodded, her fingers curling around the edge of the table. "If I'm going to be stuck here, I might as well make myself useful."
Samo stepped closer, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "What's your endgame, Katheryn? You can't convince me you're content with this life."
She hesitated, her pulse quickening. "I don't have an endgame. I'm just trying to survive."
Samo said nothing, only scanning her face for any hint of a lie, seeing nothing he sighed and walked away, leaving her alone again.
As the door closed behind him, Katheryn let out a shaky breath, her heart pounding.
"I shouldn't be feeling this way.." She rubbed her face in frustration and turned back to her notes.
"I need a breather." She sighed.