Twins of Shadow and Fang

[Lyra's POV]

"Sometimes the people you trust the most are the ones who hurt you deepest."

They pulled me through the dirt. Bran's hand was rough on my arm. My feet dragged. I tripped. Someone behind me pushed me forward and my knee hit a stone. I bit my lip and tasted blood.

"Keep moving," Bran said. He didn't look at me. His voice was flat.

People were crowded around. Some faces I knew. Some I didn't. Most looked angry. Some looked scared. Mira was there. She shook her head, just once. I wanted to call out, but my thought was hurt.

Lila stood in front. She didn't hide. Her arms were crossed. She watched me. When I stumbled, she smiled. Not the old smile. This one was sharp. She looked like she was proud.

Someone spat at my feet. "Traitor," a woman said. I kept my head down.

Kaden was among others. He was looking at the ground. His hands were clenched. I wished he would look at me, but he didn't.

The elders stood in a line. Elder Rowan lifted his chin. "Let this be a lesson," he said. "Betrayal will not be tolerated."

I tried to speak but nothing came out.

We passed the old well. I remembered dropping stones in it with Lila. We used to laugh and guess how deep it was. She never laughed with me anymore.

A little boy dragged his mother's sleeve. "Why are they hurting her?" he whispered. She pulled him back. "Don't look, Sam. She's not one of us anymore."

I tried to catch Lila's eye. She looked bored. Like she was waiting for the show to end.

Bran pushed my back forward. "Move," he said.

A stone hit my shoulder. I flinched but Bran didn't stop.

We reached the barn. The wood was old and cracked. The steps down to the dungeon were steep. I slipped. Bran held my arm tighter. "Watch your step," he muttered.

The door was heavy. It made a loud sound when it opened. The cell was small. Stone walls. A bench. A thin blanket. It smelled like wet dirt.

Bran dragged me inside. The door closed behind me. I heard the key turn. It was dark and I stood there alone. My legs shook before I sat down on the bench.

I pressed my hands to my face. I tried not to cry.

The silence was thick. I could hear my own breathing.

I remembered sitting by the river with Lila. She brought bread. We talked about nothing. I missed that. I missed her.

But she wanted Kaden. She would do anything to have him. Even this.

My wolf was quiet. I tried to talk to her, but she didn't answer. She felt far away. I felt alone.

I heard footsteps above me. People talking. I couldn't make out the words. Someone laughed. It sounded like Lila.

My stomach growled. I was hungry, but I didn't care.

The door opened. Light spilled in. Lila walked in. Head high. She looked at me like I was nothing. She sat on the bench across from me.

She didn't speak at first. She just stared.

I stared back.

She broke the silence. "Poor Lyra," she said. Her voice was soft, but not kind. "Did you really think you could get away with it?"

I wanted to ask her why. I wanted to scream. I couldn't speak.

She leaned forward. "You always thought you were better than me. Always so perfect. Now look at you."

I shook my head. "I didn't do it," I said. My voice sounded strange. "You know I didn't."

She smiled. "Nobody believes you. They all saw the evidence. They all heard what I said. You're done here."

She stood up. She looked at me one last time. "You brought this on yourself," she said.

She left. The door closed. I was alone again.

I lay down on the bench. I pulled the blanket over my head. I tried not to cry. I thought about Lila. I thought about Kaden. I thought about my mother. I wondered if she missed me.

Sometimes Bran brought bread and water. He didn't look at me. He just set it down and left. The bread was dry. The water tasted bad. I ate it anyway.

I scratched marks into the wall with a rock. One for each day. I lost count.

I heard guards talking outside my cell. "She doesn't look like a traitor," one said. "Doesn't matter," the other answered. "Lila said she did it."

Sometimes I dreamed about running through the woods. My wolf was with me. We were free. I woke up in the cell and this really hurt me.

I remembered when Lila and I stole honey from the kitchen. We got caught. She blamed me. I took the punishment. Later, she brought me berries. She said sorry. I forgave her. I always forgave her.

I wondered if I could forgive her now.

One night, I heard a child's voice above me. "Why is she down there?" A woman hushed her. "Don't ask questions."

When I pressed my hand to the wall, It was cold. Yet, I was still here.

I whispered, "I am not done yet." My voice was small, but it was something.

I thought about the accusation. Did I do anything wrong? I couldn't think of anything. I always followed the rules. It didn't matter.

I told myself I wouldn't let Lila win. I would survive. I would find a way to prove I was innocent.

I didn't know how. I didn't know when. But I wasn't done yet.

The next day, the door opened again. Bran came in with two guards. "Get up," he said.

I stood. My legs were stiff.

One guard grabbed my arm. "You're coming with us."

I tried to pull away. "Where?"

He didn't answer. He shoved me forward.

We walked down a long hall. The stones were cold under my feet. I heard voices ahead.

They took me to a room. The elders were there. Lila stood in the corner.

Elder Rowan spoke first. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

I shook my head. "I didn't do it."

Lila stepped forward. "She met with the enemy. I saw her."

"That's a lie!" I shouted.

A guard pushed me down to my knees. "Watch your mouth."

Kaden was there. He looked at me. His eyes were sad.

I tried to reach him. "Kaden, please. You know me."

He looked away.

Elder Rowan spoke again. "The evidence is clear. You are guilty."

I shook my head. "I'm not."

Lila smiled. "You always wanted to be special. Now you are."

The elders turned away. The guards pulled me up.

I tried to fight. I kicked at one guard. He cursed. Another guard slapped me.

"Enough," Bran said. "Back to the cell."

They dragged me back. My cheek stung. My hands shook.

They threw me into the cell.

I sat on the floor. My head was hurting. My heart was hurting even more.

I pressed my hand to my chest. I tried to breathe.

I heard Lila's laughter in my head. I covered my ears. It didn't help.

I whispered, "I won't let you win." My voice was thin.

I thought about my wolf. I called to her. She was quiet.

I struggled to the bench. I closed my eyes.

I dreamed about running. My wolf beside me. The wind in my hair.

When I woke up, I was Still in the cell. Still alone.

Moments later, Bran brought food again. He set it down. He looked at me.

He whispered, "I'm sorry." Then he left.

I ate the bread. I drank the water.

The next day, Mira came to the bars. She looked scared.

She whispered, "Are you okay?"

I nodded. "I'm fine."

She slipped a piece of fruit through the bars. "Don't give up," she said.

I took it. "Thank you."

She looked over her shoulder. "I have to go."

"Wait," I said. "Tell my mother I'm okay."

She nodded. "I will."

She left. I ate the fruit slowly. It tasted sweet.

I thought about my mother. I hoped she was safe.

I thought about Lila. I wondered if she was happy now.

In the night, I heard shouting above me. Boots running. A door slammed. Someone screamed. Then silence.

I pressed my ear to the wall. I heard nothing.

My heart raced.

I wondered if someone else was being dragged down here.

I wondered if I would ever get out.

So, i went back to the bench. I closed my eyes.

I listened to my heart beating.

I waited for morning.

The next time Lila came, she brought a guard.

She stood outside the bars. "Have you learned your lesson?"

I glared at her. "You're a liar."

She laughed. "Nobody cares what you think."

The guard smirked. "You should be grateful. She still visits you."

I looked away.

Lila leaned closer. "You'll never leave this cell."

I didn't answer.

She turned to the guard. "Let's go."

They left. The door slammed.

Days passed. I lost track of time.

Sometimes I heard voices. Sometimes only silence.

I was alone. But I was still here.

I would not give up. I told myself.

I closed my eyes and whispered to the dark, "You haven't seen the last of me."