~Mystery POV~

Drip. 

Drop. 

Drip. 

Drop.

You would think that a person who has been dehydrated for days would perk up at that sound, but for the woman leaning against her cage's wall, it only instilled fear. She knew that it wasn't water dripping in the darkness.

The only light in the room came from the crack underneath the door, yet it was bright enough to light up the cages closest to it. It seemed warm, full of freedom and happiness; it was just a few feet away. However, in the shadow of the darkness, where her cage lay, there was only cold. It ran goosebumps up her bare arms and sent chills down her spine. She frequently cupped her hands over her mouth to blow heated air into them, for they were the coldest- other than her nose.

It didn't help that she was half-dressed. The only things covering her were the bare essentials. Underwear, a sleeveless shirt, and- what became a normal thing now- the dreaded collar that encircled her neck.

"Jesse?" she heard a voice ask to her right, where another cage sat, "When do you think we'll get food?"

Jesse looked over at her new confidant, Ashton. She could barely see the outline of his face in the darkness, and she allowed her imagination to wonder what he really looked like. He sounded younger, almost childlike, and it sickened Jesse to think there was a child in this dungeon of horrors. 

She placed a hand on her stomach from the thought of food. Her stomach no longer growled with hunger since it soon realized it wasn't getting food anytime soon. Her ribs had sunken in.

She had always wanted to be skinny, when she was free. But now, Jesse wished more than anything to be her chubby self again.

"I don't know," her voice cracked with dryness. She wished she could tell Ashton that it wouldn't be long until they were stuffing their faces, but she couldn't throw hope into the air. In all her time being in this place, there were only two things that were absolute: no predictability or escape. She had only seen one person escape, and that person was stronger than anyone she had known.

Then there was that one person- the one that was always on her mind. Her baby. She hadn't seen him since he was a newborn; she was kidnapped shortly after his birth. It had been years and years since she had seen the light of day. In fact, she wondered how she was even still alive. She didn't know the exact amount of years that she had been stuck in a cage, but she knew her boy had to be a man at least.

She imagined what he was like. Maybe his father raised him after she left? She could only hope, yet she doubted the drunkard could even speak straight. But Jesse still imagined. She imagined that her son's father sobered up and became a striking man, a fatherly figure. She imagined that her son was raised with morals, lived in a nice home, and maybe married a beautiful woman. Her only hope that she allowed- the only thing that was keeping her going- was the fact that her son could be living a joyous life. She yearned to escape and see him again- it was her dream.

However, the only way to escape was if there was someone to come and save you. She was too beaten, too weak, and far too inexperienced to escape herself. So, every day, she waited for the day that their savior would walk through the door.

~{()}~

General Dominic Reno hated people. He hated everything about them. Their curiosity annoyed him. Their happiness made him angry. And don't get him started on the entire concept of soulmates.

Why did they have to exist?

He didn't want to fall in love with someone unwillingly. He felt as if he had no control over the situation, and he had enough of not being in control. His entire life was spent being pushed around, beat down, chewed up, and spit out. He respected his leaders, but they never respected him in return.

So, he had given up.

For his punishment, Reno had to sleep in a cell, which really didn't phase him. He had to quit his addictions, which only made him sad. He did those things to relieve himself of the past, and sleeping without them was like watching a horror movie right before bed. He suffered from horrible nightmares.

However, the real thing that Reno really despised was the community service he had to provide. He had to help the maids with gathering supplies and sweeping the floors, which resulted in him bumping heads with a maid named Becky. So, he was redirected to the kitchen, where he spent washing dishes and silverware. That is, until he accidentally dropped a bowl out of drowsiness, and it shattered against the kitchen floor. After getting a loud scolding from a chef, he was sent to the gardens to help the gardener.

That job he didn't mind. The gardener he worked with kept to herself; she didn't talk much, and Reno liked that. She didn't flirt with him, scold him, or ask him questions. She just told him softly what to do, which was ripping out weeds and digging holes for the upcoming spring flowers.

She didn't judge him off of his scars, his status, or even his scary, off-putting glare. He also found out that he was much better at the dirty job than he was cleaning. He took all his anger out by ripping the weeds from their resting place and digging violently. He even killed a few worms on the way in- that was one thing that he had to stop doing. The gardener had commented that the worms provided nutrients for the upcoming plants, so- to keep the job he had- he stopped killing the creatures. When he saw one, he would delicately pick it up and set it aside.

"Did you know that worms have six hearts?" the gardener asked softly when she noticed the pile of wiggling worms he had created. He raised an eyebrow in acknowledgment but said nothing in response. "If you don't mind, you can put a worm in each hole. That might help each plant to grow better."

He nodded in response. He didn't trust his voice around the gardener. He was used to being the rude, blunt general with an attitude. He didn't want to act that way around someone who seemed so kind.

It took several hours for the general to finish his work. The gardener seemed pleased to have help, and like him, appreciated the lack of talking. Dominic thought the activity was quite relaxing for his anger. Reno knew he had another day of punishment, so he asked if he could help tomorrow. The gardener then smiled in delight and shook her head yes. 

"Of course," she replied, "There are many plants that need to be seeded before the spring rain comes in. I would love help."

"Okay..." he said awkwardly. He wasn't used to being nice or causing someone to smile, "I'll see you tomorrow then."

He turned on his heels and left.

~{()}~

After a full day of gardening and a full night of nightmares, Reno wanted to do nothing but sleep. It was his second day of punishment, and he had helped the gardener with all of her needs. He had also been introduced to another, less-pleasant gardener named Joshua. He was a beefy man, who had a farmer's tan, and acted as if everyone else was below him. His stubble beard was greying with age, and his face was very manly.

He was very handsome for anyone who was in their mid-thirties. And Reno hated him- not out of envy- but because he had taken an oath never to trust pretty people.

They were all too good to be true. 

Nathan had stopped by and checked on his progress after a while. Thankfully, the she-gardener, who Reno had learned to be named Alyssa, gave a good word in for him. Nathan looked proud at Reno's progress.

Reno hated when people were proud of him- it only made it worse when he disappointed them.

Nathan informed him that, since he was being polite and doing so well, he would be released from his punishment early. Reno could leave after the end of the day. Reno was ready to drink beer again, so much so that he would pass out on his bed and fall into a deep sleep free of nightmares.

He yearned for the end of the day. However, once it came, he almost felt bad for Alyssa. 

"You know, you could always help out in the garden if you get tired of being general," she had said as he helped her clean up the shovels and seed bags, "You are quite good at it."

Reno had only heard one person praise him like that. And it only brought him sorrow to think of him.

"Thanks," Reno replied, "I'll think about it."

She smiled at him once again. 

"Alyssa!" yelled Joshua, who was apparently the top-dog of the place, which explained his arrogance, "Get your pretty little face over here and till this soil! If you can't do it because you're flirting with guys, then go dress up in a maid's outfit and clean like the women do!"

Sexist creep, thought Reno in his mind. And he was about to charge the man head-on, Let's see how you like a sucker punch in the solar plexus.

However, Alyssa caught his arm as he surged forward, which caused him to jerk away. He didn't like to be touched. However, unlike most, Alyssa didn't question him; instead, she shot an angry look toward Joshua.

"Don't worry," she huffed, which was unlike her personality compared to how she acted the previous times Reno had seen her, "He'll learn to treat me with respect once I'm a man."

"What do you mean?" Reno asked, wondering if Alyssa got the concept of genders and how they usually don't change over time.

"These," she pointed to her breasts, which were like any other girls, "Are coming off once I get the money raised. Then I am going to build myself up until I look like any average man, with muscles and such. I want to be the one to put him in his place."

Reno glanced at her small frame, then slowly nodded. He was small too, and he eventually became strong. All of the sudden, he had the urge to help her- to teach her how.

So, unlike the many times he pushed his kindness down, he replied, "Let me know when you do. I could teach you some tricks."

She beamed.

"Alyssa!" Joshua barked from the shed for the gardener's tools. She gave Reno a shy wave goodbye then hurried toward the shack. Reno turned.

Did he just make a friend? He had never had anything like that before. Was this what it felt like to be liked?

He got lost in thought as he walked drearily back to his home. His eyes were starting to droop. He needed sleep badly. He hoped that he had some bottles left in his stash to drink once he got to the house he slept in. He didn't even have the heart to snap at people who got in his way on the way there.

His back hurt from bending over plants, but his back aching wasn't new to him. He had woken up plenty sore from his hard mattress and had to deal with it on the battlefield and all.

Speaking of which, he would probably have to return to his post soon. Every moment that he spent moping around the castle meant that William Kain had an advantage. Reno sleepily scratched a scar hidden underneath clothing on the top of his shoulder, which always seemed to bug him when he thought of that horrible monster.

Reno would not stop until he had Kain's head on a platter.

He was thinking of leaving after a few more nights of sleep, when he made it to his house. He sighed in relief when he opened the door, but tensed when he opened it to a clean room. He did not remember it being so fresh in his house, and immediately, his hackles were up. He glanced around and froze when he saw a lump move to the side on his bed. 

Someone is in my bed, he realized. He noticed a rag lying on the counter and quickly grabbed it; he would strangle the stranger in their sleep for intruding. 

General Reno crept quietly toward his bed- his mind wide and alert despite the drowsiness he felt earlier. He pulled back the duvet, which covered the trespasser's face. Reno just needed to wrap the rag around their neck and-

Well, sh*t, he thought when he saw their face. It was that jack*ss butler that always made his temper flare. Reno retracted the rag, but now he was confused instead of alarmed. Why was Arnold Atkinson, Mr. Prim-and-Proper, sleeping on his flat, hard mattress?

Sh*t, Sh*t, Sh*t, he repeated in his mind, backing away. This was not good. That was the last person he wanted to end up falling asleep in his bed. How the hell was he supposed to get him up? He didn't want to touch him!

Reno dropped the rag and held his fist to his chest.

"Arnold," he said out loud, which sounded foreign on his tongue. He was used to calling the butler by other names. "Arnold," he repeated a little louder.

He didn't feel like screaming, not after the feud with the princess.

Pathetic, her words echoed in his mind. Reno felt his jaw tense at the memory of it.

Slowly, he reached out to touch Arnold's shoulder. He noticed the butler's disheveled long, brown hair that was pulled into a ponytail. Reno had never seen the hair a mess, and it made him pause. He directed his hand to the hair that got pulled from the ponytail and brushed it out of his face. He gently tucked in back into the hair-holder that was wrapped around the ponytail.

He sighed, Sh*t.

He decided to sleep on the floor. As much as he wanted to get revenge on Arnold for waking him up so many times, he couldn't do that to his ultimate crush.

The crush that he so desperately wanted to push away.