Free Dirt (The Dirt Trilogy) by K. F. Ridley Page B

can’t go while you’re in here.” She folds her arms across her
chest. “Where am I going to go? Really?” I guess she doesn’t really
want to be in here with me either.
“Take care of your business. And make it fast,” she says and
struts out of the bathroom, her black robe chasing behind her.
I use the restroom and wash up in the sink. The plumbing is
different than what I’m used to. The cool water runs out of the
rocky walls into a basin refreshing my skin. There are no towels, so
I use the bottom of my ragged brown t-shirt. The mirror over the
sink is cracked and a vibration away from shattering to the floor,
but I’m able to make out the reflection of the window behind me.
It’s small, but it’s still an opening to the outside.
“Hurry up in there!” Helga, or whatever her name is, bangs on
the door while yelling at me.
“I’ll only be a minute. I’m washing up.” I stall for time. I find a
long, slender piece of stone on the floor. I shove it in the latch
preventing the door from opening. The window is my only chance
for an escape. The hammering at the door grows louder as my guard
tries to get inside. I climb on the back of the toilet seat and reach for
the window latch. There aren’t any bars keeping me in. I don’t
think they have prisoners often. Maybe, I’m the only one they’ve
ever had.
“Open this door!” A man’s dark voice insists. I unlock the
window and try to pull myself out.
“Kick the door in!” someone yells. Pounding rings through the
planks of the wooden door.
I grab the outside window’s rim and feel the flesh of my palms
tear from a razor sharp edge. Black thorns surround the edge of the
window’s seal. Yeah, they’ve had prisoners here before and this is
how they keep them. Blood streams down my forearms dripping in
my face. Pain sears through my hands. Splinters of wood bounce
off the door as pounding rattles the room.
My heart
sinks
when
I
hear
Straif’s voice. “Stand back,
incompetent fools.” And the door blasts open.

Rowen
    I was stronger than that, or at least I thought I was. Her kiss
was more powerful than any force I’ve ever encountered. Stronger
than any energy I’ve ever defeated, but more wonderful than
anything I’ve ever wanted. Yes, I failed, but I don’t care. I want
her. I want all of her.
    As I enter the tent my heart breaks. They took her during the
night through a fresh slit in the back of the hut. I fall to my knees on
the ruffled mat and notice the tracks in the dirt floor. She was
dragged out of here. Thoughts of what her condition might be puts a
fear in me I don’t recognize. Until now, I haven’t known how it
feels to lose. There’s an emptiness inside me; death in the living.
    I
’ve got to get her back, but I can’t do it alone. By now, the
others know. Alder, Ruis, and Coll are probably headed here and
I’m sure Coll is happy I’ve failed. He has to be relishing in the fact
he was probably right; only if I hadn’t given in to my heart.
    The sound of horse
’s wings announces my brethren’s arrival
and I’ll have to explain myself. The ground trembles as they land.
“What’s happened that we’ve been summoned?” Alder asks.
“They’ve taken her.”
“What? How could you let this happen? I knew it should have
been me!” Coll yells.
Coll is in disbelief, but underneath his tone is a secret pleasure.
He wants to be in my place so badly, but he has no idea where my
heart is.
“I let her sleep in privacy. I left her alone during the night and
The Thorn captured her. I never heard them.” Ruis, the youngest of
our group remains silent.
“Come, Rowen, we’ll return to Congramaid to prepare. We
will get her back,” Alder instructs. Our brotherhood is known for its
strength. Alder doesn’t scold or reprimand. “We have to focus our
energy on getting her back. We keep the news to ourselves to
prevent terror among the people. If those of Durt find out Ashe is in
the hands of The Thorn, fear and panic