Chapter 5

The sun shone brightly without mercy, the chirping sound of insects filled the woods as squirrels ran past the grass up to a tree trunk. 

Lilia's eyes flickered around as she walked on, she had been wandering around for hours but couldn't find a nearby village. Every moment she felt thirsty, she brought out the bottle of water in her bag, took a sip, and dumped it back into her bag just to preserve it. She doesn't know when she will find a village so she shouldn't be wasteful. 

As she walked on, her feet stepped on dry leaves as the rustling sound occupied her, she looked up at the tall trees before her, some of them had dry leaves which fell drastically to the ground but the rest were green and filled with fruits of its kind. She must find a way through these trees and get to someone as soon as possible but the more she walked, the more she became confused and paranoid. 

Lilia bit her lower lip with puzzled eyes, at a point, she began to feel weak and her feet began to hurt. She surveyed her surroundings, found a huge tree, and walked towards it. Not wasting another minute, she sat beside the tree and rested on it, her eyes fixed on the open sky. It isn't even up to a day that she ran away from the palace and she regrets doing such an act. What if she doesn't find her way, how will she survive with little water left with her. There is even a sign of a river, nothing! The woods are just filled with trees and dry leaves. 

Lilia inhaled deeply, opened her bag, and brought out an apple which she began to eat slowly, her mind occupied with thoughts. Gently, she touched the necklace on her neck. She wondered why Mama Gunda would give out such a priceless necklace, a family possession. "Maybe it is because she takes me as her daughter," Lilia thought as she touched the necklace admirably. 

Slowly, she began to feel tired and sleepy from the long walk, not able to keep her eyes open anymore, Lilia yawned and gradually fell into tired sleep. 

The touch of a gentle breeze calmly woke her from her sleep. Tiredly, Lilia rubbed her eyes as she scanned the woods vigorously. It was almost sunset and she wondered how long she had been asleep. 

Quickly she got up and dusted her clothes that were covered in leaves and dirt. Lilia picked up her bag and continued her journey deep into the woods. The cry of wild birds filled her as she wandered deeper not knowing where she was going.

An hour ratified and it was already dark, quickly she lit the fire stick and walked deeper, the howl of an owl filled the woods. The atmosphere became very chilly and Lilia regretted ever leaving the palace, she should have accepted her fate in becoming prince Philip's wife. She wondered how her mother would feel right now in her absence. Her father will be filled with rage and the whole kingdom and neighboring kingdoms will be in search of her right now. 

Lilia sighed loudly as she prayed to be found by the soldiers as soon as they could. Running away is a bad idea and she swore that if she survives these woods, she will gladly marry the prince and won't do such again. 

Filled with thoughts, Lilia walked further, soon, the woods became very dark and her fire stick began to fade. Lilia's eyes were filled with fear as she gazed at the fire stick that was about to quench. She should have brought extra, she thought that she was going to find a village immediately when she got out but everything she hoped for was the opposite of the reality she is having now.

An hour passed by and the fire stick finally went off, Lilia was left alone with nothing, just herself, her bag, and the darkness around her. She could hardly see through the thick fog and bushes. With her hands wrapped together, she forced herself to see through the darkness but the area surrounding her was so dark that she couldn't see her feet.

A cold wind passed by her, Lilia's scared eyes glittered around as she rubbed her hands to warm herself up. She had no idea of the direction she took and her throat was becoming dry. 

Suddenly, a thought came to her mind, she turned back at the trail she had walked through and decided to find her way back to Mama Gunad's tunnel, back to her kingdom and she would apologize to her father for being the prodigal daughter that she is. 

With a full heart, Lilia turned around, and suddenly, she let out a loud cry as she fell into a deep long pit filled with nothing but stones. 

Lilia's eyes flicker around in panic as she gets up, she looks up but sees nothing, just darkness. 

"Hello!" she screamed with all her might but her echoed voice bounced back at her. She began to shiver in fear as she felt pain around her leg ankle, her mouth unable to find words. 

"Where am I?" She whispered to herself as she felt the thirst for blood in her mouth. She spat out in fear and noticed that the side of her mouth was bleeding. 

With panicked eyes, Lilia gazed up but saw nothing, the ground beneath her was hard as a rock and the pain in her ankle made her limp as she tried to find her bag. She began to be terrified when she couldn't find her bag in the darkness. What was she going to do? Everything she had on her is lost except for the matches box in her pocket.

Quickly, she lit a stick and gazed around as fast as she could before the light faded, but, still, she couldn't find her bag nor a way out. 

With trembling hands, she lit another stick and noticed that there was a way at the side of the wall. She quickly lit another stick and saw the same thing, a light of hope appeared in her eyes and she began to walk down the stony part lighting matches sticks as she walked. 

The part looked more like a cave filled with spider webs that obstructed her way. Lilia sauntered deeper as the spider web covered her hair but that was the last thing she cared about, all she wanted right now was to find a way out of the cave and go back home, nothing else.

Minutes passed by but as she wandered deeper, Lilia began to notice how moist the cave became and she hoped to get water soon as her aching throat gave her so much discomfort. 

Her footsteps echoed as she walked on, her hands throwing each matchstick one after the other. 

All of a sudden she felt a weird feeling building within her. Her heart skipped instantly as she felt a knot in her stomach. Lilia scanned around with shaky lips, her hands trembling so much that she felt she was going to drop the matches box. Her panting became heavy and louder and her heart couldn't stop beating faster.

A strange smell filled her nostril as she searched around in the darkness. She felt the presence of someone next to her but she couldn't see who it was. Her heart began to beat so fast, her breathing louder than ever.

"Who are you?" She screamed with great fear in her voice, "Show yourself this instant!" She yelled as she tried to be brave but her strength was failing her. 

Filled with a terrific panic, Lilia began to run as she limped with so much difficulty. She couldn't see where she was going but all she wanted was to run away from whoever was with her. 

She ran fiercely through the cave, the sound of her panting filled the cave as it echoed. The pain in her ankle made it so difficult but she limped her way through the dark not knowing where she was going. 

Suddenly, she felt a great force around her, a strong hand pushed her to the wall of the cave, the hand rested firmly on the wall next to her face.

Lilia screamed with fear, her eyes flickering around with nothing but terror. Immediately, a strong hand covered her mouth and she could feel hairs on her face, and a pair of eyes staring at her.