Call.
Someone was calling for me.
My eyes opened to the strange sensation I felt within my chest.
I slowly rose, looking around the dark room.
It was not like when the Moon called out to me.
This was different.
I hesitantly stepped closer to the door.
Arishia.
My eyes widen as I push a hand against my heart, the thrum of it increasing as the silent plea cries out for me.
It needed me.
I stare at the door, before looking back at the one that connected to the King's room.
Could I risk it?
I faintly trace the scar that stained my shoulder.
He had already done his worst to me.
I silently turn the handle.
My body instinctively goes closer to where the feeling of sorrow is.
I'm connected to it.
It's only then, when I'm halfway there- that I realize who I am going to.
I feel my pace increase, my fear rising as I turn the corner and find-
Oceane.
A sob leaves her as she rushes to me.
"Arishia!"
"Sssshhh!"
I frantically look around, knowing the dark ones would be upon us soon if we did not hurry away.
"Why are you outside?"
"I was going to see you," she whispered.
I shake my head at her foolish innocence and drag her to the nearest safe place.
The room for the reaping, where the other girls were.
I knew the King would not be stopped, but the other red eyes could not get in.
I quickly turn the corner and open the door, pushing her inside.
I stop short though when I see that it is empty.
"Where are the others?" I ask.
But a heavyweight settles within me as I look into the vast dark room.
Oceane's eyes look around also as she takes in the empty space.
"I don't know."
I look down at her in astonishment.
"Who was the last girl you saw?"
She shrinks in on herself now, her shoulders hunching inward as tears collect within her eyes, "Saint came two days ago to visit with me."
"Two days ago?"
Oceane nods, "she could only stay for a few minutes. But she told me she saw you and you were alive."
I stare at Oceane in shock, still unable to take in what the empty room meant.
"Are the others...did the King....are they gone?"
Oceane shakes her head, "Some are with others. A guard likes ReRe. He took her. And another man came and took away Rhoda. There are others but I forgot their names."
"How many are dead."
The blunt question has the tears in Oceane's eyes spilling down.
"I don't know."
I close the door behind us and step further into the room.
"You're alone here?"
Oceane hesitates. I see fear cloud her face.
"Not for long," she whispers.
"What?"
She sobs, and I find myself stepping closer to her, my chest holding an unbearable pain as I watch her tears fall.
"He came today. The King. He told me he would- he was- tonight."
A shaky breath leaves me as I feel my world slowly unraveling.
"The girls have told me Arishia, what he does, and I'm not scared," her ocean eyes stare up at me- determination watered down in tears.
I slowly raise my hand, wiping away her cheeks as I take her in, "You're crying though," I whisper.
"It's silly," she laughs then, a sound I didn't expect from her after the news she had revealed, "I know I shouldn't be crying about it but...I'm sad that he will be my first kiss."
Those words sent my heart into millions of shattered pieces.
Oceane's eyes widen.
She is unable to say her next words.
Because I've cut them off with my own lips.
Salt.
Salt from the tears has run onto her lips.
I have her face cupped into my own.
I pull away, looking down at the shocked expression that she wears.
"He is not your first," I whisper.
Her lips are trembling.
I wrap my arms around her as she embraces me, "Thank you Arishia."
I cling to her, feeling a wave of protectiveness fall over me.
I didn't want him to have her.
I didn't want him to taste that same salt from her lips- as she cried in fear or screamed in agony.
But I couldn't protect her.
And the promise I had made to keep her safe suddenly comes back to me and I feel tears of my own threatening to come.
I hold them back though.
I could not let her see me cry.
Moon.
I plead with her.
I do not think I have prayed for something so hard in my life.
Keep her safe.
"It will hurt," I whisper.
She pulls back to look up at me.
"He will bite you. That will hurt also. But once the venom makes its way into your system, he will make you want to enjoy it."
Her eyes are wide. I don't leave anything out. I don't want to offer words of comfort. Only the cold truth for what to expect.
"Scream. He likes to hear your voice. Yell, moan- there is no over exaggeration. Do not remain silent."
I push back a stray piece of her hair, tucking it behind her ear as I continue, "I'll be with you."
"You will?"
I nod, "There is a door in his room that connects to mine. It's where he holds me. I'm on the other side. When you look at that door, know that I am on the other side of it. I'm with you."
Oceane wraps her arms tightly around my stomach a sigh of relief leaving her, "I know I'm safe with you Arishia."
I hesitate, but something within draws me to whisper in her ear, "Stella."
She pulls back, confusion on her face.
"My name...before I was blessed by the Moon...it was Stella."
Her eyes widen in awe and new tears make their way down as she grabs my hands within her own, squeezing them.
"I'm honored. Stella."
She smiles, taking my breath away from the sight, "It is a beautiful name."