[Brinniel]

Raye awoke abruptly with a throbbing pain at the side of her head. When she opened her eyes, she realized she sat alone in a dark cell, with both her hands bound to a large stick. The night elves had taken her. Again.

Raye did not take a moment to wonder what happened to the others. She never did care about them and did not care what happened to them. Instead, the murderess allowed memories to consume her.

She had been a captive of the night elves before. Five years ago, Raye had wandered aimlessly into the Grey Mountains, not knowing of its dangers. When the elves found her, the murderess put up a fight, but it was not enough. She lost the fight and was taken prisoner, accused of trespassing and murder. But no one could stop Raye. She proved that when she escaped two days later.

And now she had been captured again. Fool! Raye thought. Why did she ever agree to lead the others to the Grey Mountains? But the murderess did not panic. She would find a way to escape again and would've already planned it by now if her head did not throb so much.

Before Raye could put in another thought about escape, the cell door unlocked. In stepped three figures. Torches were lit and light filled the entire room. Raye immediately recognized the first face. It was Aragilath, a night elf she remembered clearly from her last stay in prison. He was the one who had captured her and visited her often, showing a particular hate for the murderess. She had killed his best friend, something the night elf still hadn't forgiven her for, seeing the look on his face now.
"Chain her to that post," Aragilath said to the others, pointing to a post that stood at the center of the room.
The two others, whom Raye only vaguely recognized, obeyed Aragilath's command silently and took hold of the murderess. The moment they touched her, Raye attacked. She kicked one in the stomach, causing him to double over and the other was hit hard in the face with the stick when she turned abrubtly on him. But in the end, Raye once again lost the fight and the night elves managed to drag her to the post. They chained her arms above her head to the post, then secured her legs. Aragilath ordered the two elves to leave and then he and Raye were alone.

Aragilath, who stood only a few feet away from the murderess, gave her a hateful glare. Raye returned it.
"I never thought you foolish enough to return to the mountains," the night elf said.
"Well, then you thought wrong," was her response.
"So, you want to cause more trouble, is that it?" Aragilath asked. "Seems so. You even brought friends to help."
"I have no friends," Raye lied.
"Then who are the others?"
"I was leading them into the mountains. One was in search of her brother. Another her pony. The rest came for whatever reason."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. And I suppose you have the brother. And perhaps the pony, too."
Aragilath only smiled. "Why did you lead them here? You don't normally help ones find lost others, do you?"
"Their fate was in my hands. I know what other dangers lie in these mountains besides night elves. I can lead them to their deaths if I wish to, which I do."
Aragilath's smile faded. "Not anymore. Your companions' fates are in my hands now. And I will not kill them."
"Why not? Surely you have killed before."
"Because I am not some merciless monster!" Aragilath gritted his teeth in anger. "Why do you kill anyway, girl?"
Raye smiled, pleased to here this question. "It's entertaining. Why else? Also, it disposes useless beings; mortals and immortals."
"My men you killed out there weren't useless. Neither was my friend."
"Well, that's just a matter of perspective."
Aragilath cried out, angry by the fact that the murderess felt no sympathy for those she had killed. After calming down, he said, "Raye is your name, is it not?"
"It is not. But that is what I'm called, so you may call me that also. Or, you may call me Murderess, if you'd like, for that is what I'm also called." Raye grinned.
"Well, Raye, then, you will show pride no longer for your horrific acts, for now the fate you have given innocent victims will be turned back to you. You will stay in this cell with no food or water and my men will see that you do not remain comfortable. After the sixth day, if you are still alive, I will see to it that you are finished off."
"I thought you didn't like to kill, Aragilath."
"I don't. But I always see to it that those who kill for pleasure get a fair punishment. And you deserve to die."
Raye could take it no longer. She screamed and spat at the night elf, cursing him. In response, Aragilath hit her hard in the face, and cursed her back.
"I'm through with you," Aragilath said. He pulled out a knife and pressed it at Raye's neck, just enough to allow a trickle of blood to fall.
"Your fate that I told to you will come to pass," he continued. "Do not try to escape this time, for you will not succeed. The doors are well guarded and you are tightly bounded to this post. You will die here, I guarantee it. Do not waste you energy on thinking otherwise, for it will not happen."
Aragilath then picked up the last of the torches and walked out of the cell room, slamming and locking the door shut.

Once again, Raye was alone.

[ January 25, 2003: Message edited by: Brinniel ]