the once crore Deal

Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Trapped in the Wilderness

​Five hours of grueling driving brought them to a place that felt cut off from the rest of civilization. It was a valley hidden within the embrace of the mountains, lush and verdant, dotted with ancient trees. Esfand parked the car in front of a rustic, stone-walled cottage.

​"Where are we?" Zartash asked, stepping out into the biting mountain air.

​"Home," he said simply. "For now."

​It looked like something out of a fairytale, isolated and serene, yet it felt like a fortress. There was no one for miles.

​"It’s beautiful, but... are we really the only ones here?"

​"The town is thirty minutes away. Here, we are invisible."

​Inside, the cottage was impeccably clean. A fireplace stood in the corner, glowing with a gentle, crackling fire that chased away the damp chill.

​"Did you have this place cleaned?" she asked, watching him set their bags down.

​"Everything is taken care of," he replied, pulling a cigarette from his pack.

​Without a second thought, Zartash walked over and plucked the cigarette from his fingers. He froze, standing tall, his eyes narrowing in surprise.

​"What do you think you’re doing?" he asked, his voice low.

​"From today, you’re not smoking," she said, her tone unyielding.

​He looked at her, stunned by her audacity. Most people wouldn't dare breathe in his presence, let alone dictate his habits. A flicker of something soft crossed his features. "And if I do?"

​"Then I’m not talking to you," she said, deadpan.

​He stared at her for a beat, then let out a laugh, pulling the lighter and the pack from his pocket and dropping them into her hand. "Fine. If that’s what you want."

​The bell rang, signaling the arrival of the food he had ordered. As the evening deepened, the isolation became more pronounced. Outside, the sounds of the wild—rustling leaves, distant howls—made the cottage feel like a small, glowing island in a sea of darkness.

​"Lock the doors," he warned as he arranged the fire. "Wild animals roam here after dusk. And don't step outside after sunset."

​Zartash paused, her footsteps toward the kitchen halting. "Why did you bring me to such a dangerous place?"

​"Because it’s beautiful," he said, turning to look at her, his eyes dancing with a hidden meaning. "And because it’s safe from those who want to hurt you."

​They ate in silence, the weight of the day’s journey settling over them. When it was time for bed, the cottage felt different—intimate and claustrophobic.

​"Which room is yours?" she asked.

​"Take whichever you like. I’ll sleep here," he gestured to the sofa by the fire.

​She went to the right-side bedroom, but sleep didn't come. The silence was too loud, the darkness too heavy. Every creak of the cottage made her heart skip. Finally, unable to bear the anxiety, she slipped out of the room.

​Esfand was leaning against the sofa, eyes closed, but he opened them the moment she appeared.

​"Can't sleep?"

​"I’m scared," she whispered. "There are strange noises outside."

​He smiled, gesturing for her to sit near him. "They’re just animals, Zartash."

​She sat, curling up near him. "Was this the only place you could find?"

​"It’s the only place they won't look," he replied softly. "I have too many enemies, Zartash. I couldn't bear to let them catch a glimpse of you. I can withstand anything, but the thought of anyone looking at you with malice... that, I cannot bear."

​"Why?" she breathed, the word hanging in the air.

​"I don't know," he confessed, staring into the flames.

​She smiled softly, watching the firelight dance in his eyes. Exhaustion eventually claimed them both. She drifted off, her head lolling against his shoulder. Esfand didn't move. He sat motionless, letting her rest against him, his own eyes closing as he guarded her sleep.

​The morning brought a grey, cloudy light. Zartash woke up first, her head still pillowed on his shoulder, his hand intertwined with hers. She pulled away gently, breathless.

​Outside, the air was crisp, the valley singing with birdsong. Esfand’s jacket was still wrapped around her. She stepped out, feeling the peace of the wilderness.

​"It’s breathtaking," she said when he joined her.

​"Wait until you see the waterfall," he replied, pointing toward the dense trees.

​They hiked for a few minutes, finding a hidden spring where the water cascaded down with crystal clarity. It was pure, untouched, and stunning.

​"It’s perfect," she gasped.

​"Beautiful, yes. But cold," he said. He sneezed. Then again.

​Zartash looked at him, concerned. "You’ve caught a cold."

​By the time they returned, Esfand was sneezing repeatedly. His face was flushed, and his eyes were bloodshot. Zartash took charge, her motherly instincts kicking in, organizing the cottage to her liking. He didn't argue; he was too weak to fight.

​By evening, the fever had set in. He lay on the sofa, his body radiating heat like a furnace.

​"Are you okay?" she asked, pressing a hand to his forehead. He was burning up.

​"I’m fine," he rasped, his voice barely audible. "Just... fever."

​"There’s no doctor here, Esfand! We have to go back."

​"No," he groaned, closing his eyes. "I’ll take the medicine. I’ll be fine."

​She watched him, her heart aching. The man who could face an army was brought to his knees by a simple illness. She sat beside him, pulling his head into her lap, her fingers tracing his temples.

​Suddenly, a tear escaped her eye, landing on his cheek.

​His eyes snapped open, looking at her through the haze of fever. "You’re crying?"

​"You’re in so much pain," she whispered.

​"I can endure anything, Zartash," he said, reaching up to wipe the tear from her cheek, his voice soft, almost tender. "But I cannot endure your tears. Never yours."