© Faris S. J. 2024. All rights reserved.
Chapter Nine: Shella
Bradley loosened the band around his wrist cautiously, as though afraid it might harm him. The white glow of his life bracelet illuminated the dim room entirely, revealing details previously obscured, including the hidden beauty of the imprisoned girl beneath her exhausted features.
A strange wave of emotions coursed through Bradley—feelings he'd never experienced before. He gazed into her sunken eyes, weary from deprivation, yet within them lingered a faint spark of hope, as if it were the last thread she clung to. Suddenly, weak words escaped her lips, carrying a note of triumph:
‘At last… you’ve come.’
She spoke with a victorious smile, as if she had waited for this moment her entire life. But no sooner had she uttered the words than she fainted, collapsing before Bradley's eyes.
Without hesitation, Bradley approached her and gently called out, attempting to rouse her.
‘Wake up… please wake up. I’ll get you out of here. You’re safe now.’
He repeated the words, hoping they would reach her consciousness. When he was certain she would not respond, he examined the thick, sturdy chains binding her. They were strong, but not strong enough to deter him. From his pack, he retrieved a tool and worked tirelessly to break the chains. Finally, after much effort, the girl was freed.
He lifted her in his arms as though holding something precious and fragile. Her frailty alarmed him, her lightweight a stark reminder of her condition. Carrying her carefully, he descended to the lower floor, moving silently to avoid making any noise that might alert others. Reaching a large window in a shadowed corner, he pushed it open, guiding the girl through first before following her outside.
The night was shrouded in darkness, broken only by a faint glow filtering through the surrounding trees. Bradley carried the girl cautiously, his senses alert. As he walked, he noticed his exposed bracelet and paused. Gently lowering her to the ground, he quickly wrapped his wrist again before resuming their escape. He had left his tool pack behind in the house but decided to abandon it, prioritising the girl’s safety above all else.
When they neared a grove of unusual trees, their twisting forms reminiscent of the fabled Life Trees, inspiration struck him. He remembered Elena’s stories of these trees’ miraculous properties and their potential to heal. Laying the girl down gently, he snapped off a small branch and returned, letting its sap drip onto her lips.
The liquid fell drop by drop, and slowly, her body began to respond. Her eyelids fluttered open briefly, and she looked at Bradley, only to slip back into a deep slumber. He watched over her, a glimmer of hope sparking in his chest. When he reached out to check her pulse, his fingers brushed against her faintly glowing blue bracelet.
Without warning, her bracelet erupted in a brilliant blue radiance, flooding the area with a luminous light that forced Bradley to step back, shielding his eyes. The intensity of the glow enveloped her entirely.
When the light subsided, Bradley opened his eyes, and what he saw left him breathless. The girl before him had transformed into a being of otherworldly grace. Her skin, once pale and drawn, now shone with a radiant purity, her cheeks delicately flushed. It was as though a master painter had crafted her features anew.
Her hair, previously tangled and brittle, now gleamed with silky smoothness, cascading in ebony waves that framed her glowing face. The faint light around them caught on her hair, casting a halo-like effect that made her beauty almost ethereal.
As their eyes met, Bradley’s heart raced uncontrollably. Her once-dull eyes were now a vivid, striking blue, glinting like serene lakes under a clear sky. The depth and brilliance in them were almost hypnotic, erasing any trace of exhaustion.
She was breathtakingly beautiful—a beauty unlike anything Bradley had ever encountered, as if she belonged to another world, impossible to resist or ignore. He stood frozen before her strange transformation, struggling to comprehend what had occurred. Breaking the silence, he managed a simple question:
‘What’s your name?’
The girl responded, her voice calm and resonant.
‘My name… is Shella.’
Her name echoed within him, sparking a deep curiosity about her story and the events that had brought her to this state. But before he could ask further, distant footsteps shattered his train of thought. Fear crept into his heart, and instinctively—an instinct he didn’t know he possessed—he grabbed Shella’s hand and pulled her to hide behind a dense cluster of trees. His mind raced with the possibility that the house’s owner had discovered their escape and was pursuing them.
Moments later, a familiar voice rang through the night air:
‘Bradley… Bradley!’
It wasn’t the voice of a stranger. Relief washed over him as he recognised it—it was Luca, his closest friend, seemingly out searching for him. Bradley gestured silently for Shella to remain hidden among the trees before cautiously emerging from the shadows.
Luca’s expression shifted to one of astonishment as soon as he saw Bradley stepping out of the darkness. He hadn’t expected to find him here, in such a remote place, especially at this late hour.
‘Where on earth have you been, Bradley?’ Luca’s voice was tight with concern.
‘Chris told me you were heading to the eastern region, but when you didn’t return, I figured you went to see her. I went straight to the house, but it was pitch-black and empty. What’s going on?’
Bradley answered hurriedly, trying to calm his friend.
‘I’ll explain everything, Luca, but not here. Please come with me. There’s something you need to see.’
Leading Luca cautiously, Bradley returned to the thick grove of trees where Shella was concealed. The tension in the air was palpable, heightened by the oppressive silence of the surrounding night. As the two approached, Shella emerged without warning from her hiding place, stepping into view like an apparition in the dark.
Luca froze, his face a mask of astonishment. His eyes widened as they fell upon Shella, struggling to process what he was seeing. The full moon cast its silvery glow across the clearing, illuminating her serene features and lending an otherworldly luminescence to her appearance. Her calm expression, radiant in the moonlight, rendered her almost unearthly in her beauty. Luca was transfixed, rendered speechless and motionless, as though caught in an enchantment.
Finally, after an agonisingly long silence, Luca managed to stammer.
‘Who… who is this girl? Who is she, radiating such beauty?’
Bradley, attempting to steady his friend’s racing thoughts, replied simply,
‘She’s the girl we saw in the house—the one we’ve been searching for.’
Luca shook his head in disbelief, his voice a mix of awe and incredulity.
‘Impossible—she was on the brink of death.’
Bradley, sensing the urgency of their situation, spoke with determination.
‘Luca, this is Shella. I know it doesn’t make sense right now, but we can’t stay here debating it. We have to move. The night is nearly over, and if her disappearance is discovered, we’ll be in grave danger.’
Still reeling, Luca glanced between Bradley and Shella, his face shadowed with doubt and anxiety. Finally, in a hushed, tense voice, he asked,
‘Bradley… what have you done? Do you realise the trouble you’ve brought upon yourself? They’ll be hunting for you everywhere, and no one will forgive this. Never in Desilta’s history has a girl been taken from her family’s home like this!’
Before Bradley could respond, Shella interrupted with a warm voice filled with emotion,
‘He didn’t abduct me… he saved me. I’ve waited my entire life for him—the bearer of the white bracelet. He is the saviour I’ve dreamed of since I was a child.’
Luca was stunned by Shella’s words. He turned to Bradley, his expression a mix of shock and anger.
‘You’ve revealed your secret, Bradley! How could you let yourself get involved in something this dangerous?’
Bradley responded calmly, attempting to pacify his friend.
‘Luca, please, let’s move now. I’ll explain everything on the way. Time isn’t on our side.’
Reluctantly, Luca agreed, and the three of them began their journey back to the village. Shella remained silent, her footsteps light as if she feared disturbing the ground beneath her. Meanwhile, Bradley whispered hurriedly to Luca, recounting the events. He explained how his curiosity about the girl’s mysterious words and her knowledge of his white bracelet compelled him to act. It wasn’t his intention to take her away, but he couldn’t ignore the desperation in her eyes. He felt he had no choice but to help her escape.
✧ ✧ ✧
Luca listened intently, his gaze occasionally darting towards Shella, who walked beside them, her expression serene. After Bradley finished speaking, Luca gave him a searching look before speaking in a deep, deliberate tone.
‘Bradley… I don’t know what lies ahead after tonight, but I promise you, I’ll stand by your side, no matter the cost. But you need to understand, we’re walking into a storm. They’ll search for you everywhere, especially since your name was written on the tool pack you left behind. Before we plunge deeper into this, we need to be sure she’s worth all this risk.’
He spoke with quiet resolve, his eyes fixed on Shella, who seemed unfazed by the gravity of their conversation. She strolled beside them, her face tilted towards the gentle night breeze, as if savouring its touch.
Suddenly, without warning, Shella looked at them both and said in a calm yet confident voice,
‘Luca… your name reminds me of a great man who once fought for Desilta’s freedom. I see much of him in you—courage and loyalty shining in your eyes.’
Luca felt her words ignite a quiet pride within him, though he tried hard to conceal the emotions now churning inside.
Shella continued, her voice gaining depth and wisdom.
‘Elena… she must have been very proud of you, Luca. I can see her spirit in you.’
Bradley and Luca stopped abruptly, their faces etched with shock. Luca turned to Bradley, his eyes wide with confusion and anger. His voice rose, trembling with emotion.
‘Did you tell her about my mother?! How does she know about Elena?’
Bradley quickly raised his hands in a gesture of reassurance.
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‘I swear, I didn’t say a word about you or your family. I’m just as baffled as you are!’
Shella interjected softly, her tone soothing, as if to dispel the tension.
‘Luca, there’s no need to worry. Bradley hasn’t told me anything about you or your mother. I promise to explain everything to both of you, but not now. Let’s focus on reaching a safe place first.’
The three of them resumed their walk in silence, each lost in their thoughts and unanswered questions. The night began to retreat, and the faint light of dawn crept over the horizon, hinting at the start of a new day—one that could change their lives forever.
✧ ✧ ✧
By the time they reached the house, the sun had risen, flooding the scene with its warm, golden light. The tranquil morning brought a momentary sense of peace after the chaos of the night.
Luca suggested that Shella freshen up and change into something clean. He offered her some of his late mother’s clothes, preserved carefully in an old chest. As he retrieved them, his expression grew sombre, his grief evident despite his efforts to hide it.
Shella accepted the clothes with quiet gratitude, her gaze softening as she observed the care with which they had been kept.
Bradley and Luca sat in the living room, the air heavy with unspoken questions. Luca studied his friend carefully, his gaze a mixture of curiosity and concern. Taking a deep breath, he broke the silence in a calm voice.
‘Bradley… what’s going through your mind right now? It feels like there’s a lot you’re not saying, and even more we need to figure out.’
Bradley met Luca’s gaze, his eyes clouded with deep thought. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke.
‘First and foremost, I want to understand Shella’s story—how she knows so much about me and even about you. It’s baffling, and I feel like we need to uncover more about her past.’
Luca nodded slowly.
‘And then what? What’s your plan once we have all the answers?’
Bradley considered the question for a moment before replying,
‘Well, I suppose it would be best to let her go her own way. That way, no one can accuse us of kidnapping her. Doesn’t that make the most sense, legally?’
Despite his words, Bradley felt the weight of an internal conflict. Deep down, he knew he couldn’t simply let Shella go. Seeing her alive and well stirred an unshakable sense of responsibility within him—a feeling he wasn’t accustomed to. The old Bradley might have walked away without a second thought, indifferent to the fate of others. But now? He was a man changed, striving to make amends for a past defined by apathy and wasted potential. This transformation in himself left him quietly astonished.
✧ ✧ ✧
A short while later, Shella returned from her bath, now dressed in Elena’s clothes. She carried herself with effortless grace, the simple yet elegant attire complementing her natural beauty. Bradley’s gaze lingered, admiration evident in his expression. Luca noticed, and eager to ease the awkward silence, addressed Shella in a welcoming tone.
‘Shella… are you feeling better now? We’re ready to hear your story, if you’re prepared to share it.’
Shella smiled faintly and replied in her calm voice,
‘Yes, I feel much better now.’
Taking the steaming cup of coffee Luca had prepared for her, she sipped it slowly before continuing,
‘My name is Shella, and I am from the Path of the Sages.’
Luca, intrigued, couldn’t help interjecting with enthusiasm.
‘Yes, that much is clear from your bracelet. It’s truly remarkable. But what I really want to know is—why were you chained in that house? It’s horrifying and utterly inexcusable.’
Shella turned her gaze towards Luca, her deep, steady eyes conveying an unspoken message: Don’t interrupt me. The look was powerful, carrying an unyielding wisdom born of hardship. Luca quickly realised his mistake and apologised, nodding for her to continue.
Her voice remained calm, but grew more resolute as she spoke.
‘I am from the Path of the Sages, and my specialisation lies in divination…’
Luca, unable to contain his curiosity, interrupted again.
‘I’ve never heard of that before. Is it some sort of rare ability?’
Once again, Shella fixed him with the same piercing look, and he hastily apologised. This time, he sat back, determined to remain silent. Shella continued, her tone now imbued with a deeper, almost commanding presence.
‘Yes, it is rare—so rare, in fact, that it only emerges among some individuals once every hundred years. Because of this, the leaders of the Paths often refuse to acknowledge it. They see it as an aberration, a flaw in the Path of life. They fear what they cannot control or comprehend, and unfortunately, my abilities made me a target of that fear.’
Bradley had been listening intently, and he couldn’t help but exclaim in astonishment,
‘A hundred years? How old are you, Shella? That’s incredible!’
Shella offered him a faint smile, her expression calm but tinged with a hint of amusement.
‘I’m eighty years old.’
Bradley blinked in disbelief. He felt an unexpected kinship with Shella, as though her life’s burdens mirrored some of his own. There was a mysterious sense of familiarity, a connection that defied explanation.
Luca, observing Bradley’s reaction, decided to intervene in a playful yet cautionary tone.
‘Bradley… you know it’s considered impolite in Desilta to ask someone their true age unless they offer to tell you. It’s a rather sensitive matter in our culture.’
Shella chuckled softly at Luca’s words but remained composed, her demeanour radiating serenity. The tension in the room eased as the conversation shifted back to a more light-hearted tone. Yet Bradley couldn’t shake the feeling that Shella’s revelations were only the beginning of a much larger story.
Shella continued her explanation, her tone measured, showing an appreciation of Luca’s patience.
‘That’s correct—these matters are considered some of Desilta’s deepest secrets. The Path leaders don’t want the full truth to be known. There is a hidden history, carefully erased from all the records. But seers like me can uncover those secrets and expose buried truths. That’s what makes us dangerous in their eyes.’
Bradley took a moment to process this information before asking, his curiosity evident:
‘And what’s your connection to all this? Why were you kept as a prisoner? It seems like a terrible injustice.’
Shella smiled enigmatically, her gaze steady as she answered.
‘Because of you, bearer of the white bracelet. You’re an important part of this story—far more important than you realise.’
Bradley’s eyes widened in disbelief.
‘Because of me?! How could I possibly be the cause of your suffering when I’ve never even met you before?’
Luca noticed that Shella seemed far more comfortable with Bradley’s interruptions than his own. There was a strange familiarity in the way she addressed him, as though she instinctively trusted him. Suppressing his frustration, Luca spoke in a firm tone.
‘Bradley, please don’t interrupt her. I need to know how she’s connected to my mother. This is too important.’
Shella acknowledged Luca’s urgency with a solemn nod, understanding the weight of what she was about to reveal. She resumed speaking, her voice calm but deliberate:
‘As I mentioned, I’m a seer from the Path of the Sages. I have the ability to perceive the history and hidden truths of others. However, my visions of the future are incomplete—fleeting glimpses that come to me in dreams. Sometimes they’re accurate, and other times they’re not. It’s a complex gift, one that often confuses even me.’
She took a sip of her coffee, pausing as though organising her thoughts. When she continued, her tone was tinged with tenderness.
‘That’s why, Luca, when I saw you, I also saw your late mother, Elena. I saw her holding you as a child, the pride and love she had for you shining in her eyes. She was truly an extraordinary woman. I also saw the dream you had as a boy—of becoming a warrior like the great leader Luca. And I saw the day you sat by the tree, crying after you were chosen for the Path of Builders. That must have been a difficult day for you, wasn’t it?’
Luca’s face flushed crimson with embarrassment. He stammered, his voice faltering.
‘Enough, enough… that’s enough.’
Bradley, sensing Luca’s discomfort, gestured for Shella to stop. She turned to Bradley, her expression softening into a mixture of concern and curiosity as she said,
‘Bradley, I couldn’t see any history or secrets tied to you. It’s as though you were just born, with no past to uncover. It’s… unsettling.’
Bradley knew the reason why, but he didn’t want to address it just yet. Instead, he deflected her observation with a careful response:
‘I’m not from Desilta. I’m a stranger to this land.’
Shella nodded slowly, though her expression suggested she wasn’t entirely convinced. She fell silent for a moment, as though reluctant to delve deeper into the subject. Bradley gently broke the silence, asking,
‘You didn’t do anything wrong to deserve to be locked away in that room, did you? This all seems like a terrible injustice.’
Shella sighed deeply, her shoulders sagging slightly as though carrying the weight of her memories. When she spoke again, her voice carried a sorrowful undertone.
‘Long before I chose my life’s path, I started having visions in my dreams. I kept them secret… I didn’t want anyone to know.’
Her gaze shifted to Luca as she continued,
‘My parents couldn’t accept that I was a seer. It wasn’t just my unusual abilities that frightened them, but the consequences those abilities could have on their standing in Desilta. As a seer, I began to uncover secrets about Desilta’s hidden past, truths that had been deliberately buried. When I shared some of what I learned with my father, he was furious. He feared that this knowledge might leak and be used against him, jeopardising his political and social position.’
Shella paused, inhaling deeply, as if summoning the courage to reveal the most painful parts of her story. Then she continued, her voice trembling with emotion,
‘One day, I had a long argument with my parents about my abilities and how I needed to hide them from everyone. That’s when I shared a secret I’d never told anyone before—a vision I’d had since childhood, even before I was assigned my path in life.’
Shella paused, her face softening with a faint, bashful smile as her cheeks flushed at the memory.
‘In my vision, I was bound to a bed in a dark room, teetering on the edge of death. Then, someone entered the room, illuminating it with the light of a white bracelet, bringing me back to life.’
Her voice dropped to a whisper as she continued,
‘When I told my parents about this vision—that the bearer of the white bracelet would come to save me—they were stunned. Their reaction was… strange, as though they knew something I didn’t. Not long after, my father ordered me to be locked away in that house so no one could hear what I’d said or learn about my abilities. It was a harsh decision, but they believed it was necessary to protect themselves and the system of Desilta they were so invested in.’
Bradley leaned forward, his expression a mix of disbelief and outrage.
‘How long were you kept there? That’s… unimaginable.’
Shella’s gaze shifted to Luca, sorrow darkening her eyes as though bracing for his reaction. Her voice trembled as she answered,
‘Since the day your heroic father was killed?’
Luca, who had been silently listening, shot up from his seat, his voice loud with shock.
‘What?! You knew my father? He was killed twenty years ago! Are you saying you’ve been imprisoned all this time?’
Shella nodded slowly, her voice calm yet laden with grief.
‘Yes, I knew him well. Your father “Liam” was my bodyguard. But more than that, he was my friend. He was a brave, noble man who believed my abilities could help Desilta, not harm it. Just days before I was locked away, he went and joined his revolutionary friend, Luca. If he’d known what was going to happen to me, he would never have let it happen.’
Bradley sat frozen, trying to absorb the torrent of revelations—Shella’s decades of captivity, the hidden history of Desilta, her role as a seer. It was overwhelming for someone used to relying on his physical strength rather than intellect or emotions. But this journey was already reshaping his understanding of the world—and himself.
Noticing Bradley’s unease, Shella offered him a gentle smile and said softly,
‘Bradley… thank you for freeing me. I’ve waited so long for this moment. But we need to leave here as quickly as possible. It won’t be long before the guards come looking for me.’
Still processing the gravity of the situation, Bradley straightened up and said with quiet determination,
‘Don’t worry. We’ve done nothing wrong. We freed you from an illegal imprisonment, and the truth will come out.’
Shella smiled faintly, but her eyes were heavy with concern.
‘Bradley… I appreciate your optimism, but things aren’t that simple. My father is one of the leaders of the Path of the Sages. He won’t take this lightly. My escape threatens his position, and he won’t stand for that.’
Her tone grew more serious as she added,
‘More than that, my escape means the vision has come true—the bearer of the white bracelet has appeared. This will upend all of Desilta and bring changes few are prepared to face.’
Luca, who had been following the conversation with mounting unease, exclaimed,
‘What?! What does Bradley have to do with this? Are you saying that—’
Shella gently interrupted him, her voice calm but firm.
‘I can’t explain everything now. Time is running out. We need to leave for the Green Mountains. There’s a safe place there, somewhere no one will find us. Once we’re there, I’ll explain everything. The truth is much bigger than any of you can imagine, and it will take time to understand it all.’
The three of them exchanged serious looks, the weight of their situation settling over them like a storm cloud. A monumental decision lay before them.
They stood at the threshold of a journey that would not only alter their lives but could determine the fate of all Desilta. Though fear and excitement coursed through them, they were united in their resolve to face whatever dangers lay ahead—together.
© Faris S. J. 2024. All rights reserved.