Jazzy - In the Shadows

Virginia awoke with a quick start. Sweat glistened on her forehead as she awoke from a horrible nightmare. She practically jumped off the floor as she remembered what had just happened to her not too long ago with her food. She could tell it wasn't poison, and for that, she was very thankful, but why would they drug her? What was the point?

She slowly lifted herself into a sitting position on the floor, being cautious as not to create another headache. To her surprise, there wasn't even a hint of a headache. Well, that made sense, this time they didn't hit her in the head with that crap.

As she looked around her, she held back her gasp of surprise. She was in a completely different cell this time. She stood up and walked over to the window. It was just as high as the other one, but the bars were crossed vertically and horizontally instead of just straight up and down. Why would they move me, she thought, a new worry creasing her brow.

She turned around and noticed her door was now wooden with a hole in the center, protected by bars, which was very small. This really reminded her of Snow White Memorial Prison. But, why would she be there? No, she couldn't. The governor wouldn't really like the idea of Trolls housing their own victims there.

So, now where was she? The same silence stood as before. In the distance she could hear water dripping and an ever so faint sound of moaning. She swallowed deeply, glad that it wasn't her making those awful cries. Placing her hands on her hips, Virginia paced the small cell in frustration. This was really wearing on her nerves.

Just about when she was practically ready to scream, there was the familiar sound of foot steps. 1, 2, 1, 2... Growing louder with each step. Virginia hurried over to the door and watched for the owners of the steps. To her surprise, someone new was with the group. She was confused for a moment, then realization dawned on her. That's who was controlling the Trolls!

Burly led the group over to Virginia's cell. The lady was behind him, then Blabberwart and Bluebell. There was so many questions Virginia was dying to ask, but her mind couldn't sort them all out at once, and so she remained speechless.

"Hello Virginia," the lady spoke. Virginia was quite taken aback by her voice. So calm, and yet, dripping with a horrible bittersweet tone, mocking Virginia. She gritted her teeth and stared at her.

"Why am I here?" she questioned, adding a deeper tone to her voice. She didn't want her to feel superior to Virginia, even if she WAS the one behind bars.

"I feel I have the need to give you something, in return for what you have taken from me."

That made no sense to Virginia, what the hell was she talking about? There was something familiar about her voice, but she couldn't place it. Whatever it was, was shoved to the back of her mind. If Virginia had taken something from her, which she was completely unclear what that was, she would want to take something from her, wouldn't she?

"What are you talking about?" was all that she could voice out.

"What you took from me, left me in pain, and total abandonment. I am alone because of you. It's all your fault! I lost everything!" The girl was beginning to lose her control, and Virginia could see the tears she was trying to hide. This was unbearable.

"What have I done to you!?" she yelled, all the frustration and being left in the dark finally reached her breaking point. She snapped. Virginia knew, as well as the others around her, that if she had the chance, she would most likely hurt every one of them fatally. They were driving her mad.

"Exactly what I am going to do to you!" she yelled back. She took a deep breath, and smoothed out the front of her dress. Clearing her composure back to the same it was as she entered, she turned gracefully to the Trolls. "Leave me alone with her." The Trolls were about to object, but saw the look on their boss's face. They left without a word, quietly feuding with one another.

Virginia swallowed and drew in a sharp breath. She stared down the lady, and for the first time, noticed the green eyes she had. She felt as though she had seen the same eyes before, but not to her liking. Virginia pushed it to the back of her mind again, and decided to change the subject a bit. So far, they were just going in circles.

"What have you done with Wolf?" Virginia asked, trying desperately to hide her fear.

The lady thought a moment. Perhaps that was what she could use against Virginia. Yes! That could be her weak spot, her breaking point, it could be where she broke Virginia down to nothing before her, as she had done to her. Smiling in satisfaction, with a grin displaying her thoughts, she chuckled.

"That .... Wolf, well, he got in the way of things and had to be dealt with," she said, quite happily, walking back and forth in front of Virginia's cell.

"Wh--what do you mean?" Virginia pushed out. Her heart was beating rapidly in her ear, she was most surprised that she didn't hear it as well, it was practically throbbing out of her throat.

"Let's just say, there's one less filthy animal out in the world." She smiled as she watched Virginia's reaction. This was good. She would make her die of despair. So what if it wasn't true. Virginia didn't know that, and no one here was about ready to tell her the truth, and that was all that mattered.

"What?" Virginia's question was nearly a whisper as she sank back into the cell, nearly falling over. It couldn't be true. It couldn't! No, she wouldn't believe it.

"I'm sorry, did the little mongrel mean something to you? Oh dear," she paused. "Well, I guess life goes on, don't it?" She paused again and smiled wickedly. "Well, for some anyway."

"You monster!" Virginia ran to the door and reached out the barred window as far as she could, just a few inches out of reach from her. She only laughed at Virginia's attempts and mocked her failure. Virginia couldn't stand it anymore, it was too much.

Feeling her temper burst within her, Virginia screamed, "Who are you!?"