I Reincarnated as the Villainess and I Refuse to Follow the Plot

I lost consciousness as they were dragging me down the halls. The last thing I felt was wind on my skin. How long I had been unconscious for – I had no idea. When I opened my eyes a few things became painfully obvious; under me, the ground was cold and rough, the strong scent of dust filled my nose, I hurt all over, and the loud chirping of birds echoed in my ear drums.

I groaned, opened my eyes, and blinked at the unfamiliar room. Room was a generous word for where I was. It was very small – around the size of a toolshed. A single crooked door sat closed across from me. To my left, a tiny window, covered in grime and dust lazily reflected mid-morning sunlight.

Where the hell am I? I pushed off the ground, flinching. Damn it my stomach and face are throbbing.

I stood up slowly and walked toward the window – brushing it off. I stood on my tiptoes to peer out and sighed. The view was stunning; lush trees blowing gently in the wind, soft green moss at their bases. The faint sound of water trickled beyond my line of sight. In the distance, the mansion stood – shimmering in the sunlight.

How peaceful – but why am I here? I shifted, lowering myself back to the ground and turned to the door. I thought I would be in that dingy cell again.

I padded toward the door and reached for the handle. I attempted to turn it, but, unsurprisingly, it was locked tight. Getting out of here is going to be impossible.

I glanced back at the window, considering if I could potentially crawl out it. I was too short and too tall to even attempt it. Unless I could shrink myself down – it's not a possibility.

"I wonder if someone is outside." I raised my hand, rapping it hard against the door. "Hello? Is anyone out there?"

No response came, but I heard the faint sound of fabric shifting. So there is someone there.

I pounded on the door harder, rattling the frame. "I know you're out there." I called. "I can hear you."

"Shut up." A gruff voice spoke.

"Why am I here?" I asked, lowering my hand.

"How the hell should I know?" The man grunted. "Now shut up. You're giving me a headache."

"How long have I been out here?"

"Didn't I tell you to shut up?" He growled.

"Answer my questions and I'll be silent." I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes. "How long have I been here for?"

"...since last night." He huffed.

"How long am I to be kept in here?"

"I don't know."

"When will I be fed?"

"Gods, you're annoying." I heard the sound of him moving, before the sound of a booted foot kicked the door. "I don't know anything other than I'm here to watch you. Good enough?"

"What if I have to use the bathroom?" I asked, tilting my head. "Surely you'll let me out."

"There's a bucket in there." He said, voice drifting as he moved away. "Now be quiet already."

I glanced over my shoulder to see there indeed was a bucket shoved into the corner. What a shitty jail cell. I thought, scanning the room. There has to be a way out of here.

I turned from the door and searched the room, checking for any items I could use to potentially escape. Unfortunately, besides the bucket there was nothing. I moved along the walls, running my hands over each spot I could reach – hoping there would be a weak point. When I found none, I searched the dirty floor. For hours I scrubbed across the surface only to come out empty and defeated.

I huffed and sat down, resting my head against the wall. I wanted to check the door, but with the guard awake, that wasn't an option. I could potentially dislodge the handle, depending on how tight of a fit it had. For now, all I can do is wait and hope it's a possibility.

Time ticked by slowly. I watched the occasional bird fly past and the sun as it dipped lower in the sky – casting shadows. As night set in I heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

Faint voices – too low to hear – sounded outside. One of them laughed, and then I heard the sound of someone walking away.

Damn it. I groaned. They're doing shifts. I should have considered the possibility, but the way the Duke normally ignored Kyla it didn't cross my mind. Idiot. I closed my eyes, rapping my head against the wall. If I didn't stand up to him, I might have been able to escape after time in the cell. I didn't regret it, not at all. The man was vile and even if I could go back in time, I would still make the same exact choice.

The night passed by slowly, with the guards chatting amongst themselves. Around what I assumed to be near midnight, another set of guards replaced them. Not even giving me a chance are you?

I laid down on the floor, pondering my next move – and coming up with nothing. After a few hours, I started to drift to sleep when a small light appeared flickering followed by a tiny pop. Sayvren appeared, yawning.

"I'm back." He grinned. "Did you miss m-"

"Where have you been?" I sat up, grabbing him. "You've been gone for days."

"I was busy." He shrugged, snapping his fingers. A small light floated between us, and Sayvren – upon noticing my face – scowled. "What happened to you? You look like you got into a fight."

"I did get into a fight." I hissed, keeping my voice low. If the guards hear me talking they're going to think I'm insane or cause a problem. "Can you help me get out of here?"

"Hmm." He leaned forward, touching my face. "Do you want me to heal you some?"

"That depends if you can get me out of here or not."

"I can open the door." He said, avoiding eye contact. "But I can't magically get you out."

"Of course you can't." I released him and laid back down, turning my back to him. "I should never have agreed to a contract with you."

"Kyla," Sayvren floated over, gazing down at me. "I'm doing my best. I just can't-"

"Leave, Sayvren. I'm not in the mood to talk to you right now." I closed my eyes, pulling the dress higher up my body. Would it have killed the Duke to give me a blanket at least?

"I will help you." Sayvren insisted. "I just can't right now. It's not that I don't want to-"

"Do you understand my situation?" I opened my eyes, glaring at him. "Do you understand why I even agreed to the contract?"

"I-"

"You don't know a damn thing." I sat up, pointing a finger at him. "This entire world is a nightmare. If I don't leave I'm going to die. Do you get it?"

"Once you fully-"

"Get. Out." I swatted him away.

Sayvren swirled through the air – catching himself before he collided with the wall. "Fine. I'm leaving." Sayvren snapped. "I'll be back once you control that piss poor temper of yours."

He didn't wait for an answer and disappeared – taking the small light with him.

"My temper isn't the problem." I grumbled, laying back down. "You are."

Sleep took a long time to come that night, but when it did, more nightmares plagued me.

I stood alone in an empty barren field. Grass and flowers that had once been littered across the surface were scorched and charred. The sky overhead was no longer blue – instead it was a faint bloody shade of red.

A soft breeze rustled my hair, but I didn't notice it – I only saw the figure standing before me. Whether they were a woman or a man, I couldn't tell. But I knew for sure that they were angry at me.

"Why do you keep getting in the way?" Their voice screamed out. "Why, Kyla?!"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" I shouted back, hands clenching at my sidies. "What is the point of all of this? Why did you-"

"Because I hate you." They hissed. "I've always hated you."

"I don't understand." I found myself saying. "Why do you-"

"Don't act like a fool." They screamed, holding up something small and translucent. "This is all your fault! Everything!"

"What are you-" The words died on my lips when the ground beneath our feet began to shake.

The sky above us split apart – revealing an empty black void. I felt the color drain from my face and my hands began to shake.

"If you had just stayed-" The person cut off when a loud roaring noise filled the air.

I didn't have time to think or react, but neither did they. The air swirled wildly around us and we lifted off the ground.

As my body flew toward the sky – I closed my eyes. Knowing that death was coming for me.

I woke groggy and confused, with a booted foot tapping my shoulder.

"Wake up." A man's voice spoke. "You're being summoned to the estate."

"What…?" I turned my head and looked up at the man.

"I'm not repeating myself." He bent down and hauled me to my feet. "Let's go. Now."

Dazed, I stumbled after him – trying desperately to recall the dream.

Unfortunately, as we walked away from the shack, it faded to the back of my mind like a forgotten memory.