Lucia retreated to the far side of the cave wall, her heart racing. This couldn’t be possible. All the bodies sent to her were dead. She’d never seen another living person besides Father.

With tentative steps, she slowly walked back to the still figure. She was ready to run at any sign of movement. There was no telling what he would do to her if he were to wake up. There was no movement as she stood over him, except for the subtle rise and fall of his chest.

Without hesitation, Lucia hurriedly found and removed any weapons the still bodies possessed. For the most part, there were few weapons on them. In total, she had only seen two daggers and an arrowless bow. As she searched him, it was hard not to notice the gaping wound in his right thigh, just above the knee. It didn’t seem too long, but it was deep. His trousers glistened and stuck to his skin.

Once Lucia was confident there were no other hidden weapons, she stood. She walked around the corner and set them down out of sight. She peeked back around at him, lying on the cold stone. She had never performed such a feat of medical expertise before. Over the years, she’d learned how to treat simple cuts by trial and error on herself. She knew the necessary ingredients were stashed in her living space. The question that plagued her mind was, should she save him? He had tried to kill Father.

A soft noise stopped her thoughts. She slowly walked back to see what it was. It almost sounded like someone speaking, but it could’ve been a stray water drip.

“Hello…?” Her voice was low and soft.

Muffled sounds were coming from the living man, too soft to understand.

“I can’t understand you,” she said. Reluctantly, she got closer, close enough to almost feel his faint breath on her cheek. “Did you say something?”

With a staggered, uneven breath, the man said, “... Help… me.”

An invisible dagger shot through Lucia’s heart. The voice was helpless, like a lost child searching for a loving mother.

She shot up with a new eagerness that she had never felt. She didn’t know if she could save him, but she would try. She couldn’t stand idly by and watch him die.

With a new sense of urgency, she returned to the room she had just been in with Father. Just to the right of the table was a small cabinet with a rickety door. She ripped it open and searched through the various glass jars of dried algae. She had always kept some of the gathered medicinal dried algae for herself in case of an unforeseen injury. No glow came from this long-since-dried plant. She found what she sought and stashed it in the deep cloak pocket. The last thing she grabbed was her small, simple dagger. She knew she would have to cut the bloodied trousers back to see the wounds' severity. She gently put it into her pocket with the hilt up. It was not sharp enough to pose serious harm, but she knew to retrieve it carefully.

Lucia ran back to the still figure. He hadn’t moved since she had left him in the few moments she had been gone. With shaky hands, she felt for his pulse, still hot to the touch and pulsing. At first glance, she saw no other life-threatening wounds except one on his leg. She hadn’t noticed before, but he was big. Based on her height, she guessed he had to be well over six feet tall. Large, defined muscles were previously hidden by the baggy clothing he wore. If he were awake, he would truly be a formidable man, easily able to overpower her small, petite size.

Taking a deep breath to steady her shaking hands, she pulled out the small knife. She knelt at his side and grabbed the blood-soaked trousers. A slight twitch made her pause and look at his face. Cold chills ran across her skin when her eyes met his. He blinked in a groggy haze as if he were trying to get his bearings. Lucia stayed perfectly still. Her heart was pounding so loudly that she hoped it didn't give her away. She knew it would be almost impossible for him to see her in this complete darkness, but with her eyes, she could see everything. He looked around with unsteady motions. His eyes were a breathtaking shade of blue. They seemed to shine as bright as a calm moonlit sea. For a single moment, all fear ebbed away. Then he focused on her in the cold, dark cave. Suddenly, he snatched the dagger from her, and in that same instant, Lucia saw those beautiful blue eyes turn red.

Before she could leap for safety, he lunged at her faster than she thought was possible. Lucia attempted to dodge but was a second too late. A sharp pain rippled across her side, causing her to yell in shock. She staggered back as fast as her frightened body would take her until she felt the comfort of the cave wall behind her. The man looked around. His breaths were ragged as he tried to hold back his anger. His dark red eyes searched the room, rage boiling in them.

“Show yourself, demon,” He said. His voice was dark as it echoed against the stone walls.

He continued searching the dark cave in a feeble attempt to see in its inky blackness. His unoccupied hand searched his empty boot for his dagger. Finding nothing, he turned his full attention back to the cave. “I know you’re still here.”

Lucia pressed her body as hard as she could against the cave wall. One hand held her side firmly while the other covered her mouth in an attempt to not yell out from the pain. Hot tears filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. She had never experienced anything like this before. The worst injury she’d ever gotten was the occasional cut foot on a sharp rock, nothing like this. Father was right. People were violent creatures.

The sharp sound of metal falling to stone almost made her jump again. The dagger lay half-submerged in a small puddle of water. The man had crumpled over, hands grasping at his wounded thigh. His eyes were scrunched tightly in pain. After a tense moment, his eyes opened to show the gentle blue as he slumped forward to the hard floor.

Silence fell. Lucia slowly took in silent, deep breaths. She gently removed her hands and looked at the one holding her side. A thin layer of blood had developed, leaving a sinister line down her palm. The cut was shallow and would heal quickly. She wiped the stray tears from her cheek and stood, using the hand without the cut. Lucia didn’t want a trail of blood across her face.

The man was still a crumpled figure on the floor. She still planned to treat him and send him on his way. How could she blame how he acted on her appearance? She truly was a monster. Different tears spilled down her cheeks. She forcefully wiped them away. There was no time for crying. She had a job to do.

First, she needed to restrain him somehow. She couldn’t treat him with the fear of further injury. She glanced at his two companions. One had a tattered pack on his back. She quickly opened the flap and, after some rummaging, found a bundle of sturdy-looking rope. With a hurried glance around, she found a sturdy-looking stone column nearby. With all her strength, she heaved him to the stone structure and quickly fastened the rope around his arms and torso. All the while praying to whatever god or goddess was listening, he wouldn’t wake up. His head hung limp as she tied the rope tight. With a last prayer, the rope would do its job; she sat back with a deep breath, relieved he hadn't woken up and killed her. Lucia winced as the cut in her side seared with new pain. The bleeding had slowed since the initial attack.

With him unable to attack her again, she retrieved the knife and quickly exposed his wound, cutting away at his trousers. What greeted her was a deep gaping slash. Fresh blood coated her fingers as she worked. Now, her only worry was if he would survive the night. Even though he’d attacked her, she would still give him a fighting chance. But as soon as he was healed, he needed to leave. He seemed too dangerous to have around. She was again thankful for her dark surroundings.

“Now, let's see if I can save you,” Lucia said. “Shall we begin?”

Unresponsive, he sat against the sturdy stone pillar, head hanging limply to the side, eyes still closed. His breathing was even, almost like he was asleep.

Lucia chuckled to herself. It was a relief he didn't answer. She’d had enough for one day, and she had work to do.