06: Smell like her

LISA POV

“Move it, you filthy rat!” The guard shoved me forward, his boot kicking the heel of my shoe roughly from behind. This caused me to stumble a few feet, and I barely caught myself before I fell. My knee scraped against the gravel, its sharpness cutting my flesh open.

I whimpered in pain as I struggled back on my feet, the gravel continued to crunch under my feet, the sound mocking me with each step I took.

I couldn’t stop to soothe my injured knee, even if I wanted to. The pain was insignificant compared to the fate that awaited me. I knew my destination, but I harbored no regrets about taking my brother’s place. 

The Night Crawlers’ gladiatorial pit, a place where they cast their captives to face a cruel fate, was where I was headed. It was the place where I would meet my end tonight.

As we approached the pit, I noticed something peculiar. The guard escorting me turned left, away from the entrance. He led me in a different direction, towards a cluster of tents situated just outside the house of our village leader.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked, fear and confusion rising in my voice.

He snapped, "Quiet, girl. You don’t have the right to ask questions." He pulled me forward and pushed me into one of the tents. The flap fell shut behind us.

He hurled me to the ground, and I landed with a resounding thud. "Stay here and don’t move," he commanded. "Master Jonas will be here shortly."

Jonas was also a Reagan. He is rumored to be Alpha Asher’s half-brother and is widely known for his hatred towards our kind. I couldn’t help but shiver. What did he have planned for me?

I waited for the man’s arrival, shivering in the cold and dark. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions, thoughts of my brothers’ fate following today’s ordeal clashing violently against the walls of my consciousness.

Jax and Max were devastated by my decision. I saw the look in their eyes. It was one of horror and disbelief, but I couldn’t just stand by and watch Jax die for something that wasn’t his fault. 

My brothers have always risked their lives to protect me, and now I am glad I could repay them even though neither of them agreed with my decision. I simply couldn’t imagine a life without them.

If anything had happened to any of them tonight, I would have felt as if I were dead. I practically rely on them for everything. As I sat in the corner, I found myself lost in a maze of memories. Our lives are closely intertwined, flourishing in mutual love.

We had relied on each other as we toiled on our late parents’ farm, our bond stronger than the toughest steel. Fresh tears streamed down my cheeks like a river breaking its banks, carving a path of sorrow on my face.

I have often observed my brothers in prayer, their faith vested in a Creator whom they refer to as God. Perhaps if I pray sufficiently, my circumstances might improve.

Without further delay, I sank to my knees. My lips whispered a silent prayer for divine intervention, mirroring the faith of my brothers. Yet the only answer was the chilling arrival of the ruthless man.

He burst into the room like a tempest, instantly propelling me to my feet. Seizing my arm, he pulled me towards him. His stormy, penetrating gaze traveled every inch of my face, as if it were a riddle he was determined to unravel.

“Unbelievable, utterly so,” he mused, continuing to survey me. The proximity set my heart racing.

“Who are you?” he bellowed. His dark and stormy eyes bore into me, as if searching for something.

I shivered, my throat suddenly dry, and I was unable to utter a word.

“Speak, girl. What is your name?” he demanded. His voice was low and harsh, and his grip on my arms was firm.

I stammered, barely able to form the words properly, "L-Lisa Bonnet."

“Lisa Bonnet?” He repeated my name, as if savoring each syllable. His grip tightened, causing me to wince. “Don’t lie to me. Who are you?”

“My name is Lisa Bonnet,” I said.

“Is Lisa Bonnet your real name, or are you lying to me?” he asked, his voice low and menacing. I responded, “I am the youngest and only daughter of Henry and Rose Bonnet. I live with my two brothers on a small farm on the outskirts of our village, sir,” hoping to appease him.

“I see,” he said, smiling a wicked smile that showed his sharp teeth. He then pulled me closer, sniffing my neck like the animal he was. He made a low sound in his throat, a sound that made my skin crawl with disgust.

“You smell like her,” he said, his nose brushing against my neck. “You look like her. But you’re not her. You can’t be her. She’s gone. You’re just a reminder of her.”

I gasped, my body tensing up. "Who are you talking about?" I asked, my voice quivering. "Who is she? What do you mean, she is dead?" He said nothing as he continued to stare at me, almost in disbelief, his grip around my arm tightening more.

Tears sting in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I couldn’t let him see me as weak and pathetic just because I was human.

"Who are you?" he asked again. "Why do you have her face?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat and shook my head, a sob escaping my mouth. "I don't know what you're talking about," I said, my voice breaking completely.

“I’m Lisa Bonnet, the youngest daughter of the Bonnet family. We live on a farm near the town. As for the other woman, I do not know who she is. I’m completely in the dark. Please, let me go.”

He let me go, and I collapsed onto the floor. I gazed at him, my pain impossible to conceal. Despite knowing it was likely temporary, I felt a wave of relief wash over me, finally free from his grasp.

Summoning my last bit of courage, I dared to ask, "What are you going to do to me?"