Coming From the Shadows Series
Coming From the Shadows: Lydia
Driven by Rage
February 1910
Leeds
Against Thomas pleas; Lydia, upon learning where she can track down one of the men who held her in captivity only weeks ago; departed, she sought revenge, driven by it – upon reaching Leeds, she wasted no time; she began her search.
The events of January ran through her mind like a nightmare, the vulnerability, the snap of the whip; she narrowed her eyes, the anger she felt boiling fuelled all of her actions, all of what she intended – the German cultist; Sören – his face had begun haunting her dreams, her nightmares made it difficult to sleep, physically she may have healed, but mentally, she certainly hadn’t.
Leeds was a city shrouded in grime and industry; a perfect hunting ground – it took most of her day, but finally, she found him; she tracked his movements with a predators grace, clinging to shadows as she stalked him, watching his every move – she waited, her anger and rage may have been pushing her, but she still had patience, she waited within an alleyway when she saw Sören enter into a pub.
For hours Lydia haunted the alleyway across the street, a ghost within dim streetlight; she pulled the wool scarf around her face, covering beneath her nose; she watched as men, their faces etched with hardship and vice, stumbled in and out of the pub; their laughter and drunken boasts a discordant soundtrack to her simmering rage.
Sören finally emerged; a thickset figure silhouetted in the doorway; a stench of bear and cheap tobacco followed him, his face flushed with drink – Lydia observed him, her hand moving to the scabbard hanging on the side of her bag that hung along her side across from her left shoulder; her fingers gently wrapped around the handle of the sword waiting for her to unleash it.
As Sören walked alone; his steps unsteady – she followed, she melted within the darkness.
He stopped to light up a cigarette, the match flaring and momentarily illuminating his face; his features were much coarser than she remembered, observing, he looked almost ordinary.
Making her move; she drew the sword, and closed the gap between them; she was upon him before he could even register the danger; all he knew, was a searing pain that spread at the base of his back, he let out a yell of pain as he fell to the ground.
“Shut it!” Lydia snapped; she positioned herself quickly, her foot coming down against his throat, she then leaned forwards; Sören stared as he felt her body weight against his throat, he choked and spluttered
“Remember me?” she hissed
Making gargled noises; he tried to confirm; she knew he did, but to watch him struggle was all she wanted “You remember what you did to me?”
He managed to finally choke something out “P-Please….” He begged
Her eyes narrowed; her rage visible as she stared down towards him “Are you…, begging for mercy?” her anger seemed to grow
He stared up, he could barely say anything; his breathing was becoming increasingly difficult as she maintained her foot positioned on his throat
“You took pleasure in hurting me; and before that, the way you looked upon me while I was tied up; I know exactly what you would have done if you had been alone” she moved her foot from his throat, and stamped down against his chest; moving her sword, she pointed the tip against his throat “You took pleasure in my terror and vulnerability”
“I have a family!” he yelled out in desperation; though, this seemed to enrage her more, he could see her anger flare in her eyes
“Lydia!” a voice yelled
She didn’t shift her attention; she just pulled the sword back a little, clearly preparing to thrust it down at Sören’s throat
Then, she felt a hand on her shoulder, she fell back a little; spinning, anger driving her, she swung the sword on an angle; Elizabeth, her sister, barely had a chance to move – narrowly avoiding being hit by her enraged sister “Calm down!”
“Do you have any idea what this man put me through!” Lydia screamed, turning into a quick spin, her left leg raised up before extending outwards; she kicked Elizabeth backwards, knocking her completely off her feet and sending her crashing to the floor, her eyes, landing onto Sören as he is attempting to flee “No you aren’t!”
“Lydia; stop!” Elizabeth held her chest as she heaved a heavy breath
Moving her hand beneath her coat; Lydia drew a knife free, and as she stepped forwards, she threw it with a determined fury; as it flew from her hand, it landed on target; stabbing Sören at the top of his thigh which sent him crashing to the floor; grazing his face against the hard ground
As Lydia made her way slowly to Sören, Elizabeth got back to her feet and rushed towards her sister; Lydia though heard her movement spinning around quickly and raising her sword “Stop interfering!” she snapped
Raising her hands, Elizabeth tried to calm the situation “Please; please calm down, I need you to listen to me, please!”
“After what this man did to me; I will not calm down, I will not show mercy; Stay. Out. Of. My. Way!” she emphasised her warning as clear as possible
“If you kill him; we lose someone who has the information we need; please, please don’t do this” Elizabeth begs
Lydia eye twitched for a moment, her rage was boiling over, spinning back around, she approached Sören and stood over him as he tried crawling away; her eyes landed where the knife was stuck out from the back of his leg, and she stamped her foot down onto it, it plunged it deeper and Sören let out a primal scream of agony; she repositioned her sword to the back of his neck and prepared to drive it down but stopped when her sister shouted again, turning her head, she eyed her sister with narrowed eyes – she noticed what Elizabeth was pointing towards her.
“Don’t make me do this!” Elizabeth said with a determined tone; she raised a revolver; pointing it towards her sister
Written By: Westley H.
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