What Is Your Name?

Olivera's POV:

I soughed for the umpteenth time as I trailed behind the strange man tiredly. Are we really going to another part of the earth? I thought, feeling very jaded from all the walk. I was sure we have been walking for three hours. I knew it's a total exaggeration, but c'mon it felt like ages, and I was very thirsty.

"Stop whining. We would soon be there." The man said suddenly, startling me to a halt.

Does he read minds? I questioned myself, staring at the back of the man's head like I could see through it. He was still walking, not turning back even for a second.

"Be fast. The earlier, the better." He added, still walking, looking straight ahead.

I shrugged off the creepiness, and followed him, deciding to ask him some questions. He had been quite lenient with me; and I didn't think it would hurt to prey on that.

"Hello...I don’t know your name. could you tell me?" I asked, gathering strength from an unknown reserve to keep up the walk. I was sure he wouldn't carry me if I fainted. He might leave me out here. And who knows who will see or pick me up.

'Perhaps the bulky man.' My mind enunciated, making me shudder unconsciously.

No, not him. I muttered, increasing my pace. This man was better. I thought, staring at the strange man. The other one from last night was outrightly evil. His cold eyes were colder than death itself. It gave me the chills again.

"You don't need my name." The man stated monotonically.

"That's for me to decide. Tell me." I said, wondering where the boldness came from. Moving around with Jeremy has certainly paid off. I thought. I could imagine the surprised look that would have been on Jeremy's face if he had been here. He might have said that I have finally grown. I acted younger than my age most times. It wasn't my fault. I had been beaten into that by much humiliation and insecurities.

Thinking of Jeremy now, made me wonder how he was coping in the field with all those bricks and stones, the other prisoners, and of course the hot sun.

Was there water there? I thought worriedly, knowing that my best friend drank water like it was air.

"Bold now, are we?" The man mentioned, making me regret my query. I should have shut my mouth as usual. No one had really cared about my thoughts, questions or statements. Well, except Jeremy.

"I'm sorry." I muttered, knowing that the strange man would hear me.

"For?" He asked, turning to face me. His face blank of emotions.

"I shouldn't have asked you any question. You're my captor." I answered, remembering the incidence from last night; the slap the bulky man had given me because I had talked back at him. I wasn't sure about this new man. He might have been lenient, but he is not certainly patient. I should have shut my mouth. I thought, as I looked down, pinching my fingers.

"That's not really a problem. My name is Leonard." He said, with an amused look on his face before turning off, and walking away.

"Okay. Do you read minds?" I asked, and for a second, I could swear that he had chuckled lightly.

"No, I don't." He answered. "I just read your mannerisms and assumed." He added, like he knew the question that I had been about to throw at him again.

"Okay. I'm sorry for asking a lot of questions. But where are we going to? It's quite far." I said, stopping again to catch a breath.

"To where you would be working from now on." He replied.

" Everyday? Oh God..." I muttered, as I wondered how I was going to do it. The walks and works. This was going to be hell. I was in hell, and no one could save me; Jeremy included.

"Yeah, so you have to get used to it. With time you will though...and there are others there." He stated, not missing a beat.

"I'm thirsty." I said, finally admitting my dire need for water at the moment. Food can come later.

"You will have some water and food, when you're done working for the day. If you're lucky, you might have a meal twice a day." He stated emotionlessly. 

He could actually pass for a robot. I thought, biting my lips as his statement dawned on me. I loved food like life, and now I was going to have it only twice a day? That's not fair. But of course, I nodded absent-mindedly, thinking of a question to ask next, before the opportunity passes.

"There were other prisoners in the yard. I heard their grunts. Won't they work too?" I asked, almost envying the non-working inhabitants of the prison yard.

"They are dangerous, so, they can't be let out." He replied, turning at a point, a curvature leading to another straight grassy path.

"Dangerous?" I muttered to myself, unconsciously.

"Yes, dangerous. Very deadly. They committed grave crimes against the pack. Some are rogues. Some are vampires. There's a witch there too." He answered, startling me. I had forgotten that his wolf hearing was too keen and sharpened.

"Vampires and Witches?" I asked, my eyes widening at the realization. I've never seen a vampire or a witch before in my life, but I knew they were very dangerous, and cunny sometimes.

"Yes, highly evil." He stated, almost making me snort. If half of the stories I've heard about his Alpha was true, then he, the alpha, wasn't any better to, if not worse. He had been just smarter capturing the other evils of the world.

"They don't eat?" I asked, feeling embarrassed and ridiculous the next second; my question was totally stupid. 

Olivera, is that all you could come up with? I thought to myself, shaking my head negatively at my own stupidity.

"They do. Once in a while." He still answered, making me surprised.

"Okay." I muttered, deciding to keep silent.

We have been walking for a while in deep silence, when suddenly he asked, out of the blues:

"How do you cope with being wolf-less? In this pack, there are no wolf-less species. If there were, they would be banished." 

"I… don't...know." I stuttered, reeling uncomfortably in the new information. Would there be a continuation of the bullying and humiliation here, even among slaves? Would I be banished or killed? 

"Oh…God" I muttered. I couldn't be anywhere without Jeremy.

"Well, you have to build your courage then. Your friend wouldn't be around to save you always." He stated, coming to a halt abruptly; which consequently caused me to bump against him. I had been looking down the whole time, wallowing in not so good thoughts, bemoaning and cursing my wolf-less state

"Pick your mind off the clouds." He stated, slightly irritated with my clumsiness.

"We are here." He added, after a beat.