The Abyss
The big fire crackled and popped in the center, the only light source.
Isadora's unease grew every minute, this place should be considered dead because not even a single chirp of a bird or anything to be considered alive could be heard.
It was like a graveyard.
The soulless vibe could suck someone's life out, and the steady chills to the bones were electrifying.
Isadora's eyes kept peeking everywhere, the feeling of something emerging was too much to be ignored as a simple imagination. The swamp was dead the same way it felt alive.
The fire helped chase the cold and Isadora snuggled close to feel more warmth but the ropes restricted her from warming her hands, she could only sit close.
Rav walked to Isadora and sat beside her, her pale skin under the fire glimmering was enough to show she was not made for the wild, he'd never seen anyone with such porcelain skin, even the dirt did no justice to cover up the glow.
Isadora tensed when Rav reached for her but only aimed to loosen the ropes. The feeling of it easing a bit was welcoming to Isadora's wrists, they were bruised already and red with how the rope constantly dug her skin with Kraven's tug.
Rav offered her a small smile. "Better?"
Isadora only nodded before staring back at the fire. "Thank you"
Rav's grin grew wider, alleviated she'd decided to speak with him. "I know you're scared of this place and you've all the right to be" he passed a look around the area.
The feeling of eyes upon them was heavy but whatever lay there wouldn't dare to come closer. There was something far scarier with them.
"But don't worry, by tomorrow we should be out once we cross the swamp"
Isadora felt a little comfort by his words but struggled not to show it, she kept reminding herself not to engage but her curiosity got the better of her.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
They'd been walking for days and it was starting to become a mindless journey, by her guess she knew they were not from here, everything about them was foreign, their accent too.
"Away from Brookcrest. We were simply passing by when we stumbled at Desire's Haven" Rav clarified, still feeling remorseful about the whole thing.
What happened was not planned, and getting Isadora caught up in their mess wasn't either.
But deep down he couldn't shake the unmistakable feeling that this was all Kraven's plan—from causing a bloodbath in the brothel, killing the Jarlas, and taking Isadora against her will.
Isadora knew they planned on leaving Brookcrest but she doesn't know how to feel. Most of her life here was spent in her room and she had no attachment to this place, except for Serena, her only friend.
"Serena," she began. "Did you hurt her?"
Rav frowned. "No, I would never lay a hand on a woman"
For some reason Isadora felt relieved by his words although she did not know if he spoke the truth, the look in his scarlet eyes showed his sincerity to his morals, an unusual thing for an outlaw to have. Then why didn't he keep his word?
"You gave me your word, said you would let me go after I healed Kraven but you gave me to a monster" she uttered, a hurtful look taking over her features, naïve to the fact she called Kraven a monster in the face of his companion.
But Rav was least worried about it and still aimed to plead with her. "I'm sorry. The truth is we're loners, and taking you wasn't discussed" he explained.
"I see... it seems my weaving abilities are what enticed him, not only does he treat me like his property but god knows what he would do next" she scoffed in distress.
Rav wished he could explain her predicament but was lost as she was. He was yet to deduce what Kraven had in store for Isadora but he'll do his best to ensure he doesn't break her.
"It'll get better, I'll make sure of it" He promised. "I'll keep my word this time"
Isadora spared him a look but didn't reply, choosing silence as her peace.
Rav didn't try to engage further allowing her to solace. Not until a twig snapped and Kraven came into view.
Rav detected as Isadora took a sharp breath upon seeing the silver-haired devil, her calming posture becoming alert.
Kraven dropped a sack on the ground.
"What's that?" Rav asked, eyeing the bloody bag.
"Dinner"
"We can't eat anything that lives here," Rav reminded.
"Have any better ideas?" Kraven asked with a raised eyebrow. "Don't worry I made sure it's alive this time"
Rav shivered at the recollection of hunting an undead animal, the meat was awful. Kraven must have caught an unfortunate animal that wandered into the Abyss.
"Dissected it already. Throw it into the fire, I'm starving" Kraven mumbled disappearing into the dark once again to gods' know where.
'Wait what?' Isadora thought confused and then Rav rose to do it, grabbing the bag.
Mortified, Isadora kicked to her feet and stopped Rav. "W-What are you doing?!"
"Making dinner"
"By dumping it in a full fire?"
Rav shrugged. "Yes?"
"And then what?"
Rav got more perplexed by Isadora's questions but replied anyway. "Leave it out until charcoal"
Isadora gasped at the absurdity, that's how they planned to make dinner? Dump everything in the fire and burn the whole thing? Who cooks like that?
Isadora snatched the bag away and then raised her bounds, a clear message that stated he should take it off.
"If you don't want to take it off then at least get me what I need," she said, noting his hesitance. There was no way she would have burned meat for dinner.
Rav gulped, staring at the sack and then back to Isadora. "What do you need then?"
A fleeting smile found Isadora's lips. "Just a few things"