#11. A Sense of Reality (4)

When Eleonore came to, she was in a dark, clammy warehouse, her hands bound behind her back.

The steady patter of rain against the wooden ceiling.

A thin layer of straw covered the hard floor. It was uncomfortable, and it scratched Eleonore’s delicate white skin through the tears in her blouse.

The last thing she remembered was being tossed into the back of a shabby freight wagon like cargo, along with Eugenie. Then a robed man had approached and made them smell something suspicious….

“Ugh….”

A hoarse groan slipped unintentionally from her parched, dry mouth. The pain that came when she shifted made Eleonore let out the sound before she knew it.

Her whole body ached, every part of her screaming for mercy so loudly she couldn’t even tell where the pain was worst.

She wondered how she had managed to endure it earlier, despite being in this much pain. But she probably hadn’t had a chance to show it, because of the unreal sight that had unfolded before her eyes.

As Eleonore grimaced at the pain that had arrived a beat late, a voice she cherished so dearly spoke from behind her in response to the little groan she’d let slip as she squirmed.

“My lady, are you feeling a little more awake?”...