Silence answered her screams. They came back to her in echoes that were more haunting than anything else down here. Lines of light were above her, but that was all. Doris felt as if she was in a small box, she couldn't help but wonder what this area would even be used for. If she stretched out both of her arms, her fingertips would graze the walls.
Perhaps she wasn't the first person that was forced down here by the rogues. It was getting harder to defend them when half were so cruel. They silenced her wolf so she couldn't even defend herself and used her as leverage. Just when she started to think they weren't as bad as she thought, they proved her wrong. Again. Enzo was the one who made her want to give them a second chance, but now she wished she hadn't.
Doris closed her eyes to try and ward out the small stream of light. She didn't want to see it, it was starting to drive her mad. She sat on the cold floor and tried to ignore the thought of what else was down here with her. It smelled old and musty, as if it hadn't been touched in years. Doris had sneezed so many times, she felt as if her nose was stuffed with dust.
All Doris could think about was the possibility that William was out there getting ambushed. She wished he had left when he said he would, he was the only true target. It didn't matter what happened to Doris compared to him. If he had gone back to the palace, they would have either let her go or put her out of her misery once and for all.
Had they attacked them yet? They must have. It'd been hours since she first heard their plan and was left in the dark. She would know if William was hurt-wouldn't she? Or would only her wolf be able to tell those sort of things? It was pure agony not knowing more than anything. William could be dead for all she knew while she sat here uselessly.
She should have known it was too easy. Mr. Hugh agreed to Patrick too quickly and made the deal too smoothly. The back of her mind had told her it was wrong, but she allowed herself to believe it like a naive fool. Now Enzo and the rest of the villagers suffered because of her. It was always because of her. If she had never come on this trip, it might have gone a lot smoother instead of turning into hell at every turn.
"Joseph?" Doris called. "I think I broke my ankles." She said weakly. She knew he didn't care, there was no point. How many times had she tried to get a response out of him? Possibly a hundred or more. Her ankles were-at worst-twisted. If Joseph had any last shred of sympathy for her, he would at least check on her. But Doris had the feeling that she was completely alone-
"Is it really broken?" Joseph said in a small voice from above. Doris glanced up but he hadn't removed the boards yet. His shadow crossed through the light and stopped just above her. Each board creaked loud enough to strain her ears but it was better than the silence he forced her to endure.
"Yes." Doris cried. She laid her emotion on heavy with each word. "It hurts so badly, Joseph. I don't think I can move."
"I have no way to get you out right now." He said as he leaned down. "Are you bleeding?"
"I think so... I can't see anything down here but I hit the ground hard when you dripped me." Doris gripped the wall. It was ice cold, she wanted to cringe away from it but it was all she had to lean on. "Why can't you get me out of here? I wouldn't be able to run with broken ankles."
"I would have to get the rope but Mr. Hugh has taken it with him. I wouldn't be able to get you out by myself."
"You're not strong enough to lift me out?" Doris asked almost innocently. There was nothing worse to a man than a bruised ego.
"I didn't say that-" Joseph huffed and started to pull up the board before he suddenly stopped. "Are you trying to manipulate me again?"
"What are you talking about?" Doris tried to stand but she groaned the second she put weight on her ankle. "I just need something for my ankles..."
"I thought you were different, Doris." Joseph said quietly. Doris frowned as the usual ache of guilt thumped in her chest. "I thought maybe you cared for me like I cared for you."
"You don't know me, Joseph. How could you care for me so quickly? You're handsome and I want to believe you're kind-you don't need my approval."
"I wasn't asking for your approval! I thought you liked me."
"Joseph-you told me that you knew about the prince and I. Why would you go for me? I don't know what you expected from me, I was a prisoner you had to look after."
Joseph scoffed as if what she said was ridiculous. "You're the play thing for a prince who is notorious for going through women like they're clothes. I didn't think you would be dense enough to fall for him but clearly I was wrong. I should have known you were lying when the prince sent a guard to negotiate your safety. He wouldn't have done that for just any maid."
Doris knew he was trying to get under her skin, but she wouldn't let him. "I'm sorry for using you, Joseph. No one deserves to have their kindness thrown back at them. Can't you understand why I did it? Look at me! You've thrown me in a hole and you can't tell me this wasn't the plan all along. I was never going to be given to William without a fight."
Joseph shifted above her. Doris continued, "I thought you were a wonderful man that any woman would be lucky to have. My mind changed about you the moment you became someone else. I'm not even sure what side of you is real or not."
"It was the real me-"
"Joseph! You have to come stand guard, the prince is already here." A guard shouted, he sounded panicked. Doris felt her heart skip-William was here? Already?
Joseph stood quickly and she watched as his shadow disappeared and soon the door slammed. Doris strained to listen for any hint of William, but she couldn't hear a thing. If she knew anything, she knew that William wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted. Why did her blood race at the idea that he wanted her this badly?
Her entire being ached for him in a way she didn't expect. She'd dreamed about his arms around her every night but only woke up to the nightmare that he was no where to be found. Now he was here.
Doris forced herself to stand on her sore ankles. "Hello?" She called. No one said a word, she must have been completely alone. "William!" She shouted uselessly. She knew there was no way he was already here-
A chorus of screams erupted from outside the door. It made Doris shiver, she covered her ears when the sounds turned sickening. It sounded as if wet bodies had slammed against the doors over and over until it finally cracked open and bursted from the hinges. Doris certainly hoped it was William, otherwise she wouldn't have wanted to come out.
"Doris?" A breathless voice said. It was like music to her ears to hear that deep sound. It vibrated through her body and left her desperate for more.
Doris couldn't help her tears as she shouted. "William! Down here!"
His stomps were thunderous as he sought her out. She felt him deep in her bones as if a part of her had finally started to wake up just from his presence. "Down where?" He growled impatiently. Doris closed her eyes and it was like she could see him already. His angered expression and bloodied body. Her fingers curled at the thoughts. How had she gone from despising his frowns to craving them?
"Below the floorboards!" Doris shouted weakly.
That was all she had to say. William fell to his knees and started to tear up the boards until he found her. The wood splintered beneath his touch, he shoved the wood away and suddenly he was above her like a god shining down on her. Doris held her breath, she wondered if he could even see her.
William wasted no time, he reached down into the darkness and found her outstretched hands. William pulled her up out of the darkness and into his waiting arms.