I loudly blew my nose into a tissue and weakly threw it towards the garbage bin, missing by a couple of inches.

I ignored it and snuggled back in the bundle of blankets. I rested my head on the armrest of the couch and hugged Drakon's favorite teddy bear close to my chest.

I coughed harshly into my elbow, feeling the soup I ate earlier rise up. I swallowed it down, rubbing my sore throat. Tristian appeared and handed me my fifth cup of tea. I gestured for him to put it on the coffee table.

He carefully lowered it down and sat down on the coffee table, facing me with his elbows on his knees.

"You need to rest." He said softly.

"I can't," I spoke, voice rough and hoarse so I cleared my throat and started to kick off the blankets, "I need to look for Drakon."

The cold started to nip at my skin and I shivered, goosebumps creeping on my arms. I rubbed my arms and coughed.

Tristian reached over, pulling the blankets up and over my shoulders. He scooted closer to me so our knees touched.

"Please stay. You're going to get sicker and there's another storm coming." Tristian said, holding the edges of blankets as if he was willing to tie me up in the blanket if I escaped.

I tried my hardest to flash him a glare, but my body ached and I only managed a frown. "Drakon is out there. I need to find him."

Tristian sighed and shook his head. "Varia... I have looked everywh—"

"Don't start with that," I snapped, feeling that all too familiar lump in my throat, "I don't care that two months have passed. Drakon is there. I know he is."

Since the first night Drakon and the other three boys headed off to the woods, it was like they were swallowed completely without a trace. Two months had passed. Two long, agonizing, hot months had passed, and nobody appeared; dead or alive.

With the whole town, the whole police department and even some dozen city volunteers after it hit the news, there was nothing found. No clothes, no footprints, no DNA of any kind. Nothing.

I spent hours in the woods, combing through every tree, every turn backward and forward, and there was nothing. As that night turned into day, I was for sure Drakon would be found, safe and alive.

But that didn't happen.

So I hoped that he would turn up alive the following day and the next day and the day after that, but my hopes were painfully crushed as the sun set and rose each day. It was like I wasn't doing enough. I wasn't looking hard enough. I wasn't putting my all into finding my son yet each night I sat on Drakon's bed, wondering what was there more to do?

Everyone turned over every little rock, looked under every cliff, inspected every little grain of dirt, and there was nothing.

I was slowly driving myself crazy. I couldn't sleep without waking up in terror. I couldn't rest knowing Drakon was out there, doing who knows what. I couldn't think positively anymore. Every time I woke up, I thought this was going to be the day I would have my baby back in my arms yet as soon as I step out of the house, I was attacked with vivid nightmares and I would end up in bed, crying myself to sleep.

"Just... please," Tristian pleaded softly, letting go of the blanket and cupping cheeks, "You need to stay—at least for tonight. Tomorrow we could head west."

I shook my head, shaking Tristian's hands off. "I want to go look for him."

Tristian lowered his hands to his lap and I could feel his eyes narrow at my stubbornness. He picked up the tea and handed it to me.

"Alright, but drink this or else I won't let you go."

I carefully took the mug from him and took small sips as it was still hot until I finished it. Tristian took the empty mug from me and went towards the kitchen. I stood up and suddenly the room shifted.

I paused, letting the blanket fall from my shoulders and pool around my feet. I blinked a couple of times when my vision started to blur around the edges. I leaned against the armrest and cupped my forehead as I started to sway.

My knees shook and almost gave up on me when Tristian appeared, catching me under the arms.

"What's... happening?" I slurred.

Tristian gathered me up in his arms and looked down at me. "I'm so sorry, Varia. You need to rest."

I felt rage built inside of me, but I couldn't glare or hit me as my body started to feel heavier by the second. My head leaned against his chest as he took me upstairs—or at least I think it was.

I couldn't make out anything, not even Tristian's mask. I suspected he brought me to my room as I felt the all too familiar comfort of my bed. He gently placed me down and covered me with a thick blanket. He sat down next to me as my eyes started to close.

"Sleep. It'll do you good." Tristian said, his voice distorted and sounding far away.

I only moaned in response as my eyes finally caved in. I was sucked into darkness and I was expecting it to fade into another nightmare, but to my surprise, my eyes opened to stare at an angry crowd.

I blinked a couple of times as the crowd booed and threw things at me like rocks and rotten food. I flinched, trying to get away, but two men suddenly appeared behind me, holding me in place by the arms.

My hands were bounded behind my back and as I struggled against the two men, pain exploded all throughout my body. It took me a moment to realize I was in my own body with a white, oversized dirty gown. It was torn in some places and it slid off my shoulder where there was a painful and deep cut. I also realized that for once, I was in control of my actions.

I breathed hard and tears blurred my vision as a rotten peach hit my chest. I grimaced and looked towards the man on my right, who stood up straight, eyes emotionless and locked on the crowd.

"Please, let me go. I-I haven't done anything wrong!" I begged and the crowd roared as they all shouted. I tried to listen to what they were saying, but it was difficult when they were trying to top each other's voices at once.

The man to my left scoffed rudely and squeezed my arms, digging his nails into my skin. "Haven't done anything wrong? Do you even hear yourself, whore?"

I whimpered in pain and stared at him with wide eyes. "I don't understand."

He narrowed his green eyes at me and looked down at me as if I was lower than dirt. "Of course you wouldn't. You think you can just throw yourself at anyone without getting caught. Well, I got news for you, tramp. Your sinful acts stop here."

The crowd cheered in the respond of the green-eyed man. I winced as he smirked and gave my arm another painfully squeeze, drawing blood as I felt it slid down my arm and drip from my fingers.

"That is enough, James." A different voice said from somewhere behind me.

James' smirk disappeared and the crowd quieted down to only whispers and mumbles. Heavy footsteps drawled near until I felt a breath near my ear.

I gasped and tried to get away, but the two men gripped my arms tightly. The man behind me chuckled in amusement and I felt his finger trace my spine from the base of my neck. I shivered uncomfortably and arched my back to get away from him.

He chuckled again and leaned closer so that I could feel his moist lips on my ear.

"You should've just run away when you had the chance with your lover, but I guess the Gods are in my favor, huh?" He whispered.

I sniffed and the two men suddenly let go my arms. My legs wobbled and I landed on my knees, the gown pooling around me.

I kept my head down as footsteps went around me and stood in front of me. His boots looked like something that came out of from 1800s painting. My eyes trailed from his boots to his old-fashioned clothes and landed on his face.

My eyes grew wide as I stared. His brown eyes were narrowed but I didn't miss the hateful look in his eyes. His thick eyebrows were furrowed and with his bread, he looked all the more dangerous than he was without it.

"J-Javon?" I stuttered out. His white gloved hands curled into fists and his expression twisted to anger.

"Is that a name of one your many lovers? You don't even recognize your husband anymore?" He spoke, his voice echoing.

I blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

His lips curled into a sneer and he grabbed a handful of my hair. I grunted as he twisted my hair in his fist and pulled my hand back, my throat completely exposed.

"Don't act innocent," He sneered into my face, "You know what you're here for and it's about time you get punished."

He roughly let go of me and spat in my face. I flinched and the two men behind me chuckled.

"Take her to be hung." He said coldly.

My heart stopped and I felt myself go pale. Hung? As in...

The two men grabbed my arms and lifted me up. The crowd started to shout again as they parted a path for us. I couldn't keep up with them and they practically dragged me across an empty muddy field. There wasn't much around except for a couple of trees gathered around the field. Smack in the middle was a stage with two strong pieces of wood stood up straight and an extra set of wood on each side to maintain it. Another long piece of wood was on top and there hung a noose, swaying with the breeze.

My throat closed up and I screamed. I struggled against the men and tried to dig my bare feet into the dirt but they roughly dragged me along without a sweat.

"Please, let me go! I don't know what you're talking about! I swear! Please!" I sobbed, but my pleas were ignored and drowned by all the shouting of the crowd.

The men stepped up to the stage and tossed me in the middle. I fell to my side and I scrambled to get away, but my dress was caught.

I looked up to see James tsking at me as he stepped on my dress to stop me from escaping. I glared at him and sat on my knees and pushed forward. There was a tear and I stumbled forward, but James was quicker than me and grabbed me from behind. He walked back to the center of the stage and I panted as the noose dangled in front of me.

Javon, or the man who claimed to be my husband that went by another name, calmly stepped forward, his eyes scanning the crowd.

"Let this be a lesson to all. Adultery has consequences and is a sinful act," He turned to me, scanning me with disgust, "And let this be the last time we have to hang a whore."

The crowd cheered, pumping their fists in the air. There was not one face that looked upset or disturbed. In fact, they all looked eager with eyes wide, bodies pushing others for a closer view.

My lip quivered as I stared at Javon's emotionless face. He came closer and grabbed the noose. He stared at me for a while, his eyes flickering.

"Please, Javon" I whispered and Javon frowned as he broke from his train of thoughts, "I don't know what's going on. Please don't do this."

"My name is not Javon," He mumbled and put the noose around my throat, "I'm Harry. Harry Vale."

He took a step back after tightening the noose. He went around me and stood in front of a lever I haven't noticed before. I looked down at my feet and saw the outline of a square.

My eyes widen as I realized that when the lever was pulled, the floor beneath my feet would disappear.

I started to breathe hard as my stomach twisted into knots. I felt like everything was going in slow motion as I stared at the crowd. From here, I could see a figure hidden in the trees.

He wore a long cloak with the hood on, but even the hood couldn't hide the plain mask he wore to hide his face.

Tristian.

I felt like our eyes connected and I wanted him to stop from what was going to happen. Tristian had saved me from a lot of situations, but he didn't make a move towards me. He only stood there, half-hidden by a tree.

His name was at the tip of the tongue when Javon pulled the lever and I felt the noose cut off my airway as the floor beneath me was taken away.

And then I woke up.

I sat up, breathing hard and sweat rolling down the sides of my face. I was gripping the blanket tightly and I eyed the room warily as I reached up to hold my throat with both hands.

Heavy footsteps thumped the floor and came towards my room. I froze, unable to move as the footsteps grew louder until they stopped at my doorway.

The door was wide open and Tristian turned on the light, balancing a bowl of water with one hand. I breathed a sigh of relief and Tristian set the bowl down the nightstand.

"What's wrong? Why are you holding your neck? Does it hurt?" Tristian frantically asked.

I shook my head, lowering my hands. "I had a dream."

Tristian tilted his head and dipped a small piece of cloth in the water. "What was it about? You look frightened."

"I was going to be hung," I said hollowly as I stared down at my lap, "Javon was going to hang me, but he... wasn't Javon."

Tristian stiffened, letting the cloth sink back in the water. He looked like he was shocked. I turned to look at him, confused by his reaction.

"What... What do you mean?" Tristian finally asked and stood up straight.

I reached up to rub my neck and grimaced. "He looked like Javon, but when I called him by that name, he said is that the name of your lover or something like that. I don't remember exactly."

Tristian shifted uncomfortably, rubbing his left arm. He seemed to be in deep thought as he softly shook his head or clenched and unclenched his hands. He snapped himself out of it and picked up the wet cloth and started squeezing it to get most of the water out.

He sat down next to me and neatly folded the now damp cloth on my forehead. I shivered at how cold it was.

"Sounds like a weird dream." He said, holding the cloth on my forehead.

I nodded and realized this was my chance. I reached over, grabbing the bowl of water from the nightstand. Tristian appeared confused as he leaned away, leaving the cloth on my forehead. I didn't waste a second and dumped the water on top of Tristian's head.

He hissed and jumped away from me, his back turned to me. "What the hell was that for?!"

Even though he couldn't see me, I glared at him. "For knocking me out with whatever you put in my tea, you idiot."

He mumbled under his breath and walked out of my room before closing another door loudly.

Assuming he was in the bathroom, I glanced at the time where it read that was one in the morning. I sighed and leaned back on the headboard.

Maybe tomorrow will be the day, a small hopeful voice said. Half of me wanted to snap at that hopeful voice and say that maybe... maybe my baby was gone for good.

I shook my head, the cloth falling from my forehead. I threw it on the nightstand and crawled to the other side of the bed that was dry. I snuggled myself up with the pillow and stared at the doorway.

Tristian didn't come out for a good ten minutes when he finally emerged, his jacket off but his sweater was still on. His long sleeved black shirt stuck to his skin from the water.

He picked up the bowl and was about to walk out the room when I softly called out for him. He stopped at the doorway, looking at me over his shoulder.

"I'm not sorry that I threw the water at you." I admitted.

Tristian sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "I deserve it. I just really wanted you to rest. You look deathly pale."

Now I shrugged as I brought my knees up, hugging the pillow closer to my chest. "Were you out looking?" I asked, changing the subject.

Tristian set the bowl down on the floor and came towards me, sitting down behind me on the dry side of the bed. "For a while, but then I came back to check up on you. You had a high fever."

"Did you find anything?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Nothing, but the usual." He replied.

I bit down on my lip and looked at the time. Another day had passed. And another would pass without Drakon in my arms.