The floor was cold and damp. The sun shone in through the cracks in the brick wall. Renae furrowed her brow as she slowly opened her eyes, squinting slightly. Seeing the bars in front of her, she threw her head back in frustration. She yelped as she felt the tenderness around her sore neck. She was reminded of what had transpired last night.

“Damn it…” she sobbed softly, “Andyr…”

Taking in her surroundings, she knew she was definitely in the castle’s prison. She could hear the guards in the distance, chatting away. She was currently sitting on a bed made of straw on one side of the cell and spotted a lone bucket on the other side. No barred windows nearby. She slowly stood up and wobbled to the bars to inspect them when she spotted a figure in the cell opposite hers. It was slumped against the wall, hunched over. Staring at him intently, she recognized Andyr’s messy brown hair.

Teary-eyed, she sighed in relief as she saw his chest slowly rise and fall. She clutched her chest as she fell to her knees. As she breathed and began to speak, her body broke out into coughing fits. She had to wait for it to end before she could clear her dry throat and try again.

“Andyr,” she croaked softly, her voice was hoarse.

He didn’t respond, but seeing his chest rise and fall continued to bring her comfort and give her hope.

“Andyr,” she begged a little louder, “wake up!”

She squeezed her eyes shut as she broke out in another coughing fit.

“R-Renae…?”

Hearing his voice over her coughs, she looked up and spotted him looking over at her with much worry. 

“Are you alright?” he asked, audibly concerned.

Finally, being able to see his face properly, she grimaced as she saw the massive lump on the side of his head, which he was currently cradling gently.

Andyr crawled forward slowly and positioned himself closer to the bars, wincing in pain occasionally. When Renae looked up to meet his gaze, he spotted two large hand-shaped bruises around her neck. Attempting to contain his anger, he flared his nostrils.