I wake up, smelling Eliane’s scent nearby. It’s faint, but it’s here. I need to make sure the Mean Ones didn’t get her. If they did, I need to help her!
I force my eyes open and push myself to a seated position. There are voices all around me and someone puts a blanket over my back which still feels raw from my last whipping. I feel weak, barely able to sit up. I can hear a lot of voices around me, but I can’t seem to make out what they are saying until I hear one in particular. The only one that matters.
“Let me through!” Eliane’s insistent voice says.
“ELIANE!” I cry and even to my ears, my voice is weak.
She’s pushes through the crowd of people surrounding me. “Iniko! You’re awake!”
“Oh Eliane! You’re here! You’re safe!” I say, pulling her into a hug.
She carefully wraps her arms
