DAY 52-4: HOUSE OF CARDS

The masked boy who’d fallen from the tree is now silently quivering in the corner of her room. He’s down on four limbs, his ominous mask instilling nothing but unease at the pit of her stomach.

It hasn’t been long since Leda let him in here but she already knows she’s made the wrong decision.

Then again, after his dramatic drop, a streamline of guards came hurtling into the area, adamant on securing the “wolf” that had run in this direction. Which led to this guy’s blatant panic, where he raced up the tree and leapt through her open window, leading to her situation now.

Although Leda has a ton of questions—primarily why this boy’s head is accompanied by realistically fluffy ears, craning and twitching every now and again—she instead starts with: “You okay?”

He flinches, much more vigorously than she anticipates. Then, he ducks in an attempt to hide from her.

Her lengthy eyelashes flutter seamlessly as she spares her attire a glance. How hideous does she look for him to be so scared? Or is it her odour? Sure, taking a shower at the moment sounds blissful, but knowing Nia and that uppity Rhett, the idea may as well be unattainable. The two can barely give her answers on her whereabouts, let alone a shower.

Regardless, the idea currently swimming in Leda’s mind is much more pressing. Can it be this boy is the “wolf” this entire tower has been in a disarray to find? One can argue his ears have a wolf essence to them; they are sticking out from the top of his head, after all. Plus, if Rhett can possess a nose resembling a toucan, then maybe the notion that they’re real isn’t so improbable after all.

But, half-animals, half-humans? Such a thing can only be possible through imagination. Leda can admit to not having the brightest mind, but even she isn’t gullible enough to fall for such fantasy.

Thinking about her situation along the same lines, however, only erases that notion.

How she should’ve been dead and yet ended up here, trapped within this gorgeous tower. Nia and Rhett’s formal yet enigmatic manner of speech. And now this boy.

Anyone with working brain cells can decipher this unbelievable place is not her home city.

Not that she wants to believe she’s been kidnapped to some foreign land...

The boy hasn’t halted his shuddering. Nor does he make the motion to look anywhere in her direction.

Seeing him so frightful of her allows Leda’s features to fall flat. She averts her focus, out the window toward the distant shouts belonging to those guards. Then, eyebrow twitching, her last sliver of patience wears thin. Hands to her hips, she refocuses her attention downward.

“You don’t have to shake so much,” she says, exasperation slipping into her tone. “I’m sure you realize since you’re from here and seem to be aware that I was in that cage over there, but I’m not exactly harmful. If anything, I should be the one shaking and begging you to spare my life.”

The boy stiffens. His head twists, and once again, his eerie mask is on her. It’s almost blood-curdling and works to remind her of various antagonists in horror films. With it on, deciphering his intentions and facial expression is impossible.

Shoulders sagging, Leda purses her lips. Is he really so afraid of her that he can’t muster any words?

“I-I apologize.”

She perks straightaway. His shaking has lulled considerably, but his definitely youthful, higher-pitched tone remains apprehensive as he rises to his feet.

“I-I’m...” He pauses, ears frantically waving upon his head. His fingers fiddle with his black cloak, his other hand reaching to part the mask from his face. He has a head of thick, lustrous red hair—so bright it emulates a scorching fire. Along with baby cheeks and a sepia-coloured skin tone, his eyes are a mesmerizing emerald. “I-I’m not used to interacting with many people,” he stammers onward. “Let alone a human, s-so I don’t know how I should behave.”

Leda doesn’t even notice she’s gawking until his awe-inspiring irises shift towards her, tense for a response. He’s so pretty, so much so it’s difficult to believe he’s a man. It’s enough to make any girl swoon.

“So you can speak,” Leda finally says, nudging free of her ogling.

“I-I’m s-sorry,” he whimpers. “I-I know I shouldn’t have opened my mouth. Master Rhett always orders me not to.”

From where she is, Leda can clearly see the film of tears that have washed over his eyes.

“You don’t need to apologize,” she says before he can cry. Though she knows there’s little point in being concerned for one of the people associated with her kidnapping, she can’t help herself. He really is sensitive.

For a split second, awe of some kind sifts across his countenance. Whether it’s surprise for her concern or her willingness to hear him speak, Leda doesn’t have the leisure to figure it out.

A booming shout rips through the air, seizing all attention.

“There he is!”

The boy, bluntly put, screams. Without even whipping his neck to the window where the shout had erupted, he takes a nosedive under the covers of the pristinely made bed a foot away.

Leda watches him cower under the sheets. Her face falls flat.

Is he serious?

The guards below go on to grumble about a false alarm. Leda ganders out, observing them loiter right below the window while they nonchalantly discuss where to go next.

“H-have they disappeared?”

“Not yet,” she deadpans. “But now I kind of want you to.”

He carefully pokes his head out from the covers.

Her bottom lip catches between her teeth. Might as well ask.

“Why are you the talk of this tower anyway? That Rhett guy said something about ripping off your legs when he finds you.”

His green eyes become glossy with newfound tears. “I-I’m going to die!”

“Well, that sucks. I hope you rest in peace.”

He lurches onto his knees, distress consuming every inch of his face. Clearly that isn’t the response he expected.

Regardless, Leda merely drapes a hand over her hip. “I don’t mean any harm, but as much as I enjoy having you here—like really, look at the joy radiating from my face—I’m starting to think that if I notify the guards that you’re here they might set me free.”

He scrambles off the bed, nearly tripping over his lengthy cloak in the act. “You do not— How do you know for certain that I am even the one they’re looking for? Unless you know my name—”

“Orian?”

“—Yes. My name is Orian and you don’t—” A horrified gasp leaves his mouth as he recoils. “You know it?”

“I mean,” she says, “it’d be stupid of me not to remember the name everyone here keeps yelling. I was a little unsure at first but, thanks for confirming, Orian. Oh, and just so that everything’s equal, my name’s Leda.”

All the while her lips quirk up into a gaudy smirk, he gapes. As if she’s sprouted two heads. As if his will to live has been completely sucked out of him.

“P-please do not tell them!” In only an instant, he’s bobbed his head, hands clamped together to fortify his plea. “I-I cannot die just yet!”

As Orian warbles off in an incomprehensible babble, tears streaming down his cheeks, Leda observes blankly. In hindsight, this stranger begging for his life shouldn’t concern her one bit. Especially considering the novelty of the situation; her capture, these strange individuals, and odd animal-like humans. Nevertheless, that’s exactly why she knows she can’t let this chance slip.

Unlike Rhett, Nia, and those stoic guards who dangled her like a sack of potatoes only minutes ago, Orian isn’t intimidating. He isn’t reminding her of her inferiority in this tower. Because, like her, he isn’t safe here. He’s being targeted. Regardless of the reason why, it’s clear they’re in the same boat.

And Leda can use that.

“Fine.”

Orian’s chin jerks up. Hiccuping, he snivels, further words catching in his throat. His fluffy ears have flattened on his head. Identical to a pouting dog, he stares at her with huge, watery puppy-eyes.

As someone who’s a sworn dog person until death, Leda must restrain the urge to pet him. He’s human, she has to remind herself. No matter how unbelievable the notion is.

“I won’t say anything to them,” she goes on. ”If you help me get out of here.”

He sniffles again, then flutters his eyelids. Resting his intertwined fingers to his sides, he surveys the empty room. “Now that you mention it, I was positive Miss Nia said she left you in a cage. And that you cannot break free without a special key...”

Leda dangles the set before his eyes. “You mean this?”

“Yes, exactly that— I-I am extremely scared of you.”

A boisterous chuckle passes her lips. Considering a boy with wolf-ears is telling her this, it’s tough to accept the compliment.

“Look,” she says to rid him of newfound fright, “just as I don’t want to be held captive here and you don’t want to be slaughtered, I think it’s best we work together right now. Plus, you seem to know this place better than I do. Considering that, there’s a higher success rate. Ignoring the fact that I’ll be trusting a freaky stranger with animal ears, of course.”

She smirks from ear to ear like a mischievous child about to pull a prank.

“What do you say, Orian? Why don’t the two of us officially break out of here?”