My Bride from Another World

Chapter 8: Run.

Catina found herself lying on the bed, looking around to see, it was an unfamiliar bedroom. Unlike the previous room which she used; it was a bigger one with softer beddings and a clear view of the outside garden.

I remember after the day in the library.

*

*

*

I had been in a panic, and then I realized something was odd.

Something didn’t seem right no matter what I thought fear started to escalate.

I have to run away...

I was sure the guard was sleeping, but I continued to act asleep. I needed to be completely certain before I acted.

I listened closely. All I heard was my own breath and then of the guard, who was also breathing deeply. I didn’t hear any footsteps outside the door, but I couldn’t be sure if someone wasn’t patrolling the hallway.

I opened my eyes a little.

“…”

The room was quiet. Guard hadn’t been sleeping much for the last four to five days. He finally seemed to have given to his fatigue.

I got out of the bed like a mouse. I walked towards the door slowly

The door was locked. I prayed as I reached for the metal latch.

* Click *

It made a small noise, but to me, it sounded like thunder. My heart pounded as I looked around. Thankfully nothing happened. The room continued to remain silent.

It was a good opportunity for me to jump out of the empty stairway balcony.

The wind felt cool. It was probably because I was standing on first –floor balcony, looking down. If I jumped from here my legs won’t farewell.

I slowly stood on the balcony guardrails. The cool wind blew.

I hesitated. I knew I would get hurt but if I stayed here. I murmured in one breathe to gain courage.

“This is my last chance.”

Instantly jumping without being caught by guards. I ended up getting a few scratches but it wasn’t as painful as it was staying here where I was afraid and suspicious of everything.

I ran and the first thing I saw was a thick dark forest covered with colourful bark and different shades of green leaves.

There were no clear paths, so I walked carefully around rocks and tree stumps. It was a good thing I was wearing my sandals instead of being barefoot.

I can’t remember how long I was walked. I could see the moon rising. A full moon night. It provided enough light for me as my eyes adjusted to the darkness I continued to walk. I stayed up all night with nothing to eat today to stay awake.

As I walked passing each tree and made a small cross mark with a stone. It took me lots of strength while making a mark, as the stone was not sharp enough.

Blisters started to form in my fingers.

It was starting to get hurtful as I did more marking.

I stopped making markings as I was tired of wandering in the wild.

Despite my fatigue, I continued to move. I was afraid I may die if I stop moving. My brain was not working, but my feet continued leading me.

Then suddenly I felt it.

Someone ran towards me hurriedly. I could hear growling.

Hearing the bushes shake, I got frightened. A chill travelled through my spine, my eyes started to dart in the dark.

I saw a pair of eyes glow. Seeing something dark jump out of the bushes, I ducked my head in dread instead; I heard a woof sound.

‘Woof?’

“Huh?”

“Woof!”

I saw a tiny cute little silver coloured puppy wagging its fluffy tail at me looking all happy and cute. I touched its fur it is so soft, squealed in excitement. It is so cute all my tension went away.

“Are you too lost like me little one?” as if it could understand her it shook its head side by side.

“Wait aren’t you the same puppy I saw back there,” I said while looking at the dress piece tied on its leg.

“I’ll call you Pluffy do you like that?” tilting its head sideways and continuing to wag its tail at her

‘Your too cute, way too cute it should be illegal for it to be so cute!’ I hug Pluffy. It licked my face with its small little tongue; I started to laugh feeling ticklish.

“Swoosh”.

Something hit the ground near me. Dirt and leaves flew everywhere. I screamed as I fell backwards.

“Ahh!”

“Woof Woof!”

Just then I felt another whoosh right above my head my eyes widened as I looked up it was an arrow. I turned around to see who it was but I couldn’t see because of the darkness.

I was in the middle of the forest. I sat down in shock.

The entire forest shook.

Birds flew above me. Still seated on the ground a few seconds passed it was so quiet that I could hear the creaking voices of insects around me. The ground was covered in thick layers of brown leaves, cushioning me.

This situation didn’t make sense.

I felt as if I saw its wings but I thought am I hallucinating.

Don’t tell me it’s one of those p*****t cosplayer psychopath killers I hear in the news!!

I had no idea what it looked like, but it didn’t matter because I knew if I got hit by one of those arrows. I am done with it.

I don’t want to die like this!

I’m very scared. I don’t want to be here anymore, but I can’t go back to my home or anywhere else for that matter.

“I’m not going to let you kill me!” I screamed.

The attacker didn’t respond, instead just continued to attack.

“Pluffy no stop we need to run!” He growled at the attacker, an arrow came pointing at Pluffy. Picking a nearby branch, I hit the arrow.

Homerun!! I hope someone would have seen that move.

Just as I was feeling happy about the hit another arrow came right beside my ears hitting the tree.

NOT YOU ATTACKER.

I picked Pluffy and dashed away from the mysterious attacker.

Haha…

Haha…

I can’t do it anymore… how much more will this manic Follow me!

I ran but still, the attacker was behind us.

Can they leave us alone!

Waah!

“Oww”

I trip on a stone, falling face first into the dirt. I yelped in pain as I hit the ground and rolled on the dirt. My knees started to hurt as I tried to stand up. And they went weak and fell down. I heard a noise and looked back to see that he had already turned his attention to my fallen state.

The attacker had stopped shooting arrows and looks directly at me. I feel my heart hammering in my chest as I realize that it's slowly approaching me...

I looked down at Pluffy in my arms he looked safe.

“RUN! Pluffy” I threw Pluffy in the bushes.

Pluffy continued to growl “don’t waste your time for me, no one would come to help us now.” I couldn’t tell him, that how funny it was that my last talk is with a dog. But hey at least a beautiful one.

“You’re wrong Miss. Ellison” I heard my name and I looked up and saw a dark manly figure walking towards me.

I knew by the voice it was Kronos.

“Are you done?” He lifted up my chin with his index finger asked me mockingly. No, I’m not you bastard if I wouldn’t have gone through that psycho-murderer or killer whatever that was!

“I-I..” my words started to stammer. It was frustrating how I was trying to get away from him and now seeing his face is making me relieved.

“You don’t have to say a thing” even though his voice had no emotions in them but it was a relief to hear.

After a while, Dustin came towards us.

“Harold get all those arrows around her. And do it quickly.” Kronos said in a cold commanding tone.

“Your Highness! There are no traces of the attacker around.” Two guards said in unison. He just nodded at them.

We walked together along with the other two knights one back and another front. We were already approaching towards the palace gate my fear started to increase.

“Harold bring her to my study as well as those arrows,” Kronos said in an angry tone and left leaving me and Dustin behind.

Dustin gave a comforting smile before mouthing, we'll sort it out. But that didn't calm me, not even one bit. The two guards on either side opened the white gate immediately after they caught sight of us.

I walked past them nervously. I can't help this poor guy Dustin right now as he was struggling with my bag, arrows and his weapons. I'm too worried about my fate. As we reached the door, I took a deep breath and turned around to face Dustin

“Dustin I’ll hold all these things and you open the door," I said while giving him a sweet smile.

But hell, he didn't fall for it.

"No it’s okay dear Catina, I'll hold the bag and arrows. You open the door." I instantly shook my head ignoring the fact that he'd call me Catina this time,

"No I'm not going inside first; you go first then I'll come after you," I started giving him my best puppy look.

"No, you first." He said stubbornly but I wasn't going to back down. I'm not going inside first; His Highness could be waiting there with a g*n ready to strike for all I know. The wait is there a g*n here?

.

.

We kept on fighting like cat and dog for what seemed like hours.

"Get in already you two." I gasped in fright as I hear his voice. Dustin's eyes widened, he pushed me on the door causing it to open widely and I bumped into a chest.