Forgotten

Chapter 7

  I spent the next several days stuck indoors. It was all I could do to not worry incessantly about Emily. I had already cried myself out through the first night, to the point of being numb to the pain. There comes a time when you have no choice but to turn on the autopilot and stifle the anxiety. It's like your body's self defense mechanism, you suppress your emotions and continue living. Something I had become accustom to after losing Elizabeth. It's always nagging at you just beneath the surface but overall, as long as you can remain calm, you are able to put on a happy front to those around you. Besides, for now, Sorin was right, there was nothing I could do to help Emily. 

  I had a deck of cards with the things Sorin had brought for me, but you can only play so much solitaire while you're in solitary confinement. I took a deep breath and opened the door.  I almost took a run for it, when I saw the guards were not right outside of it, but I knew they would catch me. Honestly, I was sure Rage would jump at the chance to pummel me.

  "Vallin, Rage, why don't you come in here and play cards with me, I am going insane in here by myself," I pleaded with them.

  They didn't say a word. They stood there like stone.

  "Oh, come on, I'm sorry okay, you can't blame me for trying can you? I promise no tricks." They didn't move. "If you have to watch me anyway, what difference does it make if it's inside or out?"

  They looked at each other and Vallin actually looked worried.

  "I promise I won't bite," I said with a smile. "How about you go and ask permission?" 

  Reluctantly Rage left.

  "What's up with him?" I asked Vallin.

  "He does not trust you."

  "And you do?" I smiled sheepishly. If anyone shouldn't trust me it's Vallin. He was clearly a newer guardian. With his sandy blonde hair and green eyes, he reminded me of a young Josh.  

  "Master Sorin trusts you, so I see no reason not to," he replied. 

  It was funny to me that until then, I had never even thought about whether or not Sorin trusted me. I was too wrapped up in figuring out if I could trust him to even think about the amount of trust he must have in me to leave me in his home alone.

"I'm sorry for what I did to you, it was wrong. I didn't understand why I wasn't allowed out. I misinterpreted Sorin's intentions." I didn't want him to think I was sketchy.

  "I know. I am thankful you did not try to force your way past us." Vallin admitted.

  "Why is that?" I smiled. 

  "At the time we would have tried to subdue you." He said bitterly.

  I took a shot in the dark and said "What would get you in more trouble, letting me get away, or subduing me?"

  "I do not wish to answer that, should it give you any ideas."  He smiled shyly.

  "Hmm." I looked at him and stepped around him, he would move to block me, but would not touch me. How strange.

  I went back inside and laughed as I said, "See I'm not so bad, I can do as I'm told.... Sometimes." 

  "Thank you. You have saved me from much grief." He looked genuinely relieved.

  "Don't worry it'll be our secret." I winked.

  Rage returned with the verdict of my plea. He spoke, in another language, directly to Vallin.

  "Only one of us is permitted to stay inside, and the door shall remain open," Vallin translated for me.

  "Let me guess Rage wants to play cards with me." I smirked. I don't know what possessed me to antagonize him. I was leery of him but figured if Vallin wasn't allowed to touch me, the same must go for Rage.