Ethilia's eyes fluttered open to darkness. A dull ache throbbed in her left arm, and she winced as soon as she tried to move. Her wound was bandaged loosely, more to stop the bleeding than to heal it.
Somehow, she pushed herself upright, sat on the cold floor. Her wrists were tied behind her back, her legs bound as well.
"What, couldn't they at least put a chair here? It's freezing," she muttered under her breath, her voice trembling as goosebumps rose on her skin.
Biting her lip, she slid sideways until her shoulder brushed the wall, but a sharp pain shot through her body. "Ouch," she hissed softly, clenching her jaw. The place smelled damp and dirty, and with no light at all, she couldn't even tell where she was.
But just then, she heard a groan from somewhere in the dark. Her heart started pounding hard enough that she could hear it in her ears as she understood she wasn't alone there.
Her throat went dry. She licked her cracked lower lip, straining to listen. Then she heard a soft whimper, "My head..."
Her eyes widened in realization, and she swallowed hard before whispering, "Char?"
The other person whispered in a weak voice, "Ethilia? What on earth…"
Relief and pain tangled together inside her. She gave a shaky little chuckle but flinched as her injured hand trembled from the effort. "What are you doing here?"
Somewhere close, Char shifted. She was twisting her body awkwardly, trying to reach her legs even though her own wrists were tied tight behind her. Her movements were clumsy and desperate. She clenched her jaw from the effort.
"Char? What are you doing...did you faint or something?" Ethilia tried to sound sarcastic, even here in danger.
Char let out a short laugh. "I'm trying to reach my leg. There's a small knife hidden in my shoe."
Ethilia hummed faintly, shivering again on the cold floor. "Char… aren't you a detective? Then do something. I'm freezing over here."
Char winced audibly. "I'm trying, but my head hurts so much I can't think straight."
Ethilia wet her lips again, fighting the sharp pain in her arm. Then think like a lesbian or something... Just do it!" she whispered hoarsely.
"Stop your humor, will you?" Char muttered, but then her tone changed slightly, as if something clicked in her head. "Wait. They tied our hands and legs… but not our mouths. Why?"
Ethilia curled up tighter against the wall, her voice low. "I don't know, Char. Maybe because I've got a bullet in my left arm?"
Char's eyes widen, "What? And my head took a good hit too…"
Ethilia hummed weakly, then coughed, the motion making her whole body ache. Char was trying to think of something, anything, though her head pounded so hard it felt like it might split. Then finally, something clicked.
"Ethilia… keep talking," Char said urgently, her voice tense.
Ethilia frowned, her teeth chattering. "Why? I… I can't. It's too cold."
Char swallowed hard, trying to move toward the sound of Ethilia's voice. "So that I can hear you and reach you."
Ethilia nodded even though Char couldn't see her. She started tapping her heel softly against the cold floor. The dull sound echoed in the quiet room, guiding Char as she slowly rolled and dragged herself closer, breathing heavily.
When Char finally reached her, she let out a shaky sigh. "Ethilia… I want you to take the knife out of my shoe, okay?"
Ethilia just hummed, her voice faint. Her fingers were stiff, nearly numb, and her wounded arm throbbed with each small movement.
Char twisted awkwardly, moving her leg behind Ethilia until her shoe brushed against the other woman's bound hands. Guiding her quietly, Char helped Ethilia to reach the hidden knife.
Char let out a faint chuckle. "Now… wait." She shifted painfully, trying to sit up. "I'll get my back against yours. My bound hands will be close to yours, and you need to cut the rope, okay?"
After several clumsy attempts, Ethilia finally managed to pull it out, her cold fingers trembling around the handle.
Ethilia's voice was barely audible, more a breath than a whisper. "Huh? But what if I cut your hand?"
"It's not that sharp," Char hissed, wincing as she tried to scoot closer. "Just… do it."
After 3 failed tries, Char's head started pounding harder, "Maybe… I can't…" she muttered.
Ethilia whimpered, "Don't stop… please try again. I can't handle being here anymore. It's so cold."
Char hummed weakly, her breath unsteady. "I can't feel my legs."
Ethilia tried to chuckle, but no sound came out; only a shuddering breath could be heard. "Feels like it's raining outside…"
Char bit her lip, gritting her teeth, and forced herself upright until her back finally touched Ethilia's. "Here… here you go. Now careful. Cut the rope."
Ethilia wrapped her shaking fingers around the coarse rope and started sawing at it. Her wounded arm throbbed so badly she bit down on her lip and let out a quiet sob. "No… my hand hurts… too much…"
Char tried to glance over her shoulder, her voice strained. "That's why I'm saying cut it... don't try to untie it. Please, Ethilia… just try a bit more."
Ethilia clenched her jaw, gripping the knife tighter. She started grinding the blade against the rope with what little strength she had left, hoping it would finally cut through. "My hand…" she whimpered hoarsely.
Char shivered as Ethilia's icy fingers brushed against her knuckles. "You're freezing," she murmured, trying to steer Ethilia's focus anywhere but the pain.
Ethilia gave a faint hum, her teeth chattering. "You're too…"
Ethilia stopped moving and lowered her hand. "I can't… my hand's hurting way too much."
Char swallowed hard, feeling the floor grow colder beneath them. "Okay… hand me the knife."
Ethilia shoved it toward her weakly. "Here," she whispered.
Char gripped the rope around Ethilia's wrists and started sawing through it, her breath uneven. "I should've done this earlier. I just couldn't think straight enough to do anything."
Ethilia gave a faint hum. "It's fine. At least you're thinking now."
Char let out a short laugh and fumbled with the rope until it finally gave way. "There… you're free. Now, can you untie mine? Somehow? Use your good hand."
Ethilia rubbed her sore wrists and then turned toward Char. With slow, shaky movements, she worked on the knots binding Char's hands. After what felt like forever, the rope loosened, and Char pulled her hands free, rubbing her wrists with relief.
"Thank God," Char muttered, shuddering as she reached down to untie her legs.
Once both of them were free, Char slipped an arm under Ethilia's shoulder and slowly helped her stand. Ethilia stood unsteady, while Char's head spun with dizziness.
Char somehow managed to lean them against the cold wall, breathing heavily.
"Let's find a way out of here," Ethilia said, her voice low.
Char shook her head. "We can't… not yet. We need to find the switchboard, some kind of light. We don't even know if this is a room, a garage, or something else. Walking in the dark would be stupid."