The Dark Gauntlet Chapter 1

Blood.

It was the last thing I saw but the first thing I smelled, as I awoke. I tried to sit up but ended up gasping in pain. It seared up the right side of my body. Gods it was excruciating. How did I get myself into this situation? Where was I now? How long was I out? With a grunt, I grind my teeth as I attempt to sit up again. My blonde hair cascading down my face. Though it isn't completely blonde at the moment.

In the darkness, I can tell that my long hair is matted with dirt. There is probably some blood in it too. Lightly panting, I wrap my arm around my right side. It was crusty. Whatever wound I had was no longer bleeding but it was still serious. When I looked down, I noticed that there is a metal cuff on my wrist. There was another on my right arm as well. They must be cuffs to block my magic. Though it was kind of overkill considering my keys were no longer with me. I sighed heavily.

Things weren't supposed to have ended up this way. It was supposed to be a normal "clear out the nuisance monster" mission. A mission that I have done countless times on my own. I often did them when Natsu wasn't around or on another mission with someone else. Most generally I would have to take out a bunch of tiny weak monsters. They were either terrorizing a farmer or a family that lived on the outskirts of town. Little nuisances that would take me about a day to complete if not less. Depending on how far away it was. Sometimes I would even take on multiple and hit them all at once. It was a good way to make a lot of money fast. This mission was a lie. It was a trap to lure in wizards. As for why they were doing it, I haven't got the slightest idea.

All I know is that I fell right for it. Now I'm severely injured. In a dark, cold cell that had nothing but a door. Sitting in a dried pool of my own blood. If they wanted to keep me captive why hadn't they taken care of the wound? I could have easily bled to death. My keys are gone and I have no idea where they are. Oh man...If I find them again Aquarius is going to have my head. The image of her washing me away and flaunting her boyfriend status, gave me the energy to smile. I sighed again.

How long have I been here? With no windows, there was no way to tell if I had been out for a few minutes, hours, or days. Regardless, I'm going to be stuck here for awhile. I'm going to have to think of a plan of escape because I doubt help will be coming anytime soon. Though it was my fault. Natsu had wanted to come but due to him accidentally setting my bedroom curtains on fire during one of his pranks I had refused to team up with him. So I had stormed off to complete the task only to be overpowered by a dark guild in the guise of a farming village. Now here I am. Hopefully, someone will figure out something happened and come look for me. Natsu will probably be the first to notice.

He's probably going to blame himself for this as well. When that isn't the case. No one knew that this mission would be a trap and it was my own anger/stubbornness that made it so I refused to take him along. If he had come along, I doubt I would be in this situation. He would have burned the living hell out of all of them. That is one thing that I admired about him.

He had the power and the will to always protect his friends. Though I have the will, I know I come up short in the power department. Maybe if I was stronger, I wouldn't have put myself into this situation.

A strangled sob escapes my lips as I tried to stifle it. Tears started flowing down my cheeks. God, I am pathetic... Erza...Gray...Levi...Natsu... Why do I always have to depend on others? Noted I can often think quickly in a pinch but more often than not my friends to the heavy work for me.

I'm pulled out of my mental self loathing as I hear footsteps coming toward my door. I quickly wipe my eyes and look around to see if I have anything to defend myself with. There was a rusty old chain attached to the wall. Probably used a long time ago to hold prisoners. Taking the old chain in my hands, I pull hard and rip it from the wall. The stone brick around it gives easily. Before it cluttered loudly to the ground, I snapped it like a whip to me and caught it. It wasn't much but it was better than nothing. I hide it behind my back and turn to the door as the footsteps stopped right outside.

I wasn't sure what the fuck I was going to do. All I know is that I need to think fast if I don't want to lose this opportunity to escape. That is one thing I do know and like about myself. Because of what I look like and who I am people tend to underestimate me. Hopefully this guy will do the same...

Hello, everyone! This is the first fan fiction that I have ever written. So please give me honest reviews! Also I do not own the Fairy Tail characters. Though I wish I did!

Also the chapters will probably get longer as I go through this. I have a tendency to add more later. So despite this one being short it will get longer as I progress.