Finding Love In Darkness

DANGER ZONE( NO TRESPASSING)

Iris traveled to another village named Ronda to sell the portrait. Fortunately for her, she was able to sell it and make the money. The following day, she took her father to Greenville Land. The land was lush, with everything around her bathed in green. She met with the physician, Mr. Edward, and explained her father's condition. He promised to care for him and ensure he recovered. Iris paid him extra, asking that he look after her father in case she didn't return as expected.

As she journeyed back, a sense of unease tugged at her mind. It felt like something was wrong, but she pushed the feeling aside and kept walking. When she arrived home, the dread she had feared awaited her. She saw the guards standing at her doorstep. As soon as they spotted her, they told her not to run, informing her that she was suspected of something missing and must come with them to the palace. Before the head guard could finish speaking, Iris fled. They pursued her, but she ran without knowing where she was headed.

Eventually, she saw a signpost in bold italics: "DANGER ZONE. DO NOT TRESPASS." She disregarded the warning, pushed open the gate, and ventured inside. The area was eerily dark. She could hear the guards discussing her fate, mentioning that she wouldn't survive because the beast would likely feast on her. Iris didn't fully understand what was happening, but as the guards' voices and footsteps faded into the distance, she made the decision to leave. However, there was no way out. Feeling frustrated, she wandered aimlessly through the woods.

The silence was broken only by ominous sounds that filled the air. The darkness made it impossible for her to see, yet she kept walking, following the direction her feet led her. Eventually, fatigue and thirst overwhelmed her, so she sat down to rest for a while. After some time, she stood and continued her search for water. Moving farther from the woods, she found a stream. Kneeling beside it, she began drinking. Just as she was quenching her thirst, a noise caused her to stop. She looked back toward the woods and froze, unable to make sense of what she saw. Blood dripped from the trees, and a cheetah-like creature was being torn to shreds.

Iris couldn’t comprehend the scene until the figure turned toward her, its bloodshot eyes locking onto hers. Her heart raced as she screamed and ran for her life. The unknown creature pursued her, but she couldn't stop. She had fled the palace to escape danger, only to put herself in even greater peril. She didn’t want to die—not yet. She ran, but after a while, she realized the creature was no longer following her. She stopped in her tracks, cautiously scanning her surroundings. Seeing no sign of the creature, she sighed in relief. However, the momentary calm was shattered when her heart leapt into her throat. She froze, unable to move. The creature approached slowly, its face obscured by the darkness. It drew closer and began sniffing her.

"Please... don't hurt me," Iris sobbed, her voice barely audible.

The creature's hand reached toward her face. In that moment, Iris could no longer hold on, and she fainted. She expected to crash to the ground, but instead, she found herself falling into the creature's arms. Her mind raced with thoughts of her impending death, as she feared the creature would kill her by morning. Although she couldn’t clearly see the creature, she had witnessed it tearing apart the animal and drinking its blood, a gruesome sight that left her disgusted.

---

Meanwhile, back at the palace, the king was enraged. "What do you mean you can't find her?" he shouted at his guards.

The head guard, Thomas, replied, "My king, we are deeply sorry, but she ran into the danger zone, and you know what happens to anyone who ventures in there."

The king’s anger flared. "All of you are incompetent! Get out of my sight! I'll find a better way to punish you all. Get me the head maid and the guard who was on duty the day she trespassed!" he ordered.

Thomas quickly left to find Prisca and Collins.

Collins's punishment was severe: he was to receive 100 lashes from the head guard, Thomas, for his incompetence. Prisca’s punishment, however, was left to the king’s discretion, and no one knew what it would be. At around 10:00 p.m., when all the maids had gone home, Prisca remained, waiting for the king’s summons. She entered his chamber and did as he instructed. That night, Prisca was forced to sleep with the king, a task she didn’t want to do but had no choice in. She blamed herself for not noticing Iris's intentions, and it pained her deeply.

---

Meanwhile, Iris stirred awake, feeling surprisingly refreshed. She opened her eyes and realized she was in a room, unfamiliar to her. "Where am I?" she muttered, asking herself. She stood up to leave, but as she reached the door, it suddenly opened. What she saw made her heart race, and unease gripped her. She felt fidgety and full of dread.

"Why do I have to be in this situation again?" she thought, her mind clouded with worry.