I'm sorry Aurora

Aurora woke up to her horror staring bluntly at her ceiling, she couldn't believe it...

After everything she did to convince her grandmother to let her leave the house and now she is moving away, from all those things she built for herself and all those memories that she loved with all her heart... And what's worse - She has no idea where she will end up, she's never been outside of this city before so who knows where she'll end up in a place like that but if she were lucky maybe there' would be something she could do to make her life worth living again

Aurora sighed and reached over to see the clock on her wall, it was 4 AM and her body was screaming at her to go back to sleep, but she couldn't find it in herself to close her eyes again when she already knew what she had to do today

She got out of bed as quietly as she could and slipped into her slippers and grabbed her keys and headed towards her grandmother's room to take a look inside, she slowly opened the door to see her grandma sleeping soundly in bed, her hands were curled under her chin and one hand rested on top of her chest and Aurora smiled sadly as she walked past her to grab her luggage from the shelf near the door ...

She hurriedly went outside to do her early chores, she has to go all the way to the nearby stream to fetch water to take her bath, she needs to get started before anyone else gets up, she heard a noise from her backyard and looked over in confusion to see what was making the noise... It's nothing unusual, just a small owl hooting loudly and getting some wood from the stack by the shed... she just ignored it and went her way 

* * * * * * ** * * * * * *

Eventually, Maltida woke up, looked around for Aurora, and figured that she could have left to do her chores.

She felt bad that she is letting Aurora leave again, she knew eventually that she is going to tell Aurora the truth but it was so hard! Aurora will hate her and not want anything else to do with her. Matilda thought about how much she wanted to hold Aurora's hand when they walked together or just talk to her, she can feel how she is still hurt by what happened that night.

Maltida went outside to chop some wood and cook before they leave for their new home, she tried to take her mind off of everything as she did this. It wasn't working as she didn't like it when her life feels sad instead of happy. It didn't matter that the reason why her happiness depends on Aurora, even if Aurora hates her she can't imagine a life without Aurora in it. She loves Aurora.

While working she heard a noise coming towards her place, it sounded more like a group of men riding a horse than a couple of people but she couldn't be sure yet. She was getting worried because she hasn't seen anyone she knows from the village in months, they never ride into the village anymore, so who were these guys? Suddenly voices are coming closer and a few horses are entering and they stop right next to where Maltida had been chopping logs at the edge of the clearing. The riders dismount from their steeds and all of them approach her

"Hello Maltida, you missed me?"

She heard a familiar voice behind her.

Maltida curiously looked back and to her horror, Ryan and a bunch of men surrounded her holding her by the arms. She didn't have to look at his face or hair for any confirmation that it was him. He sounded exactly like he always did. He still had the same smirk on his lips, and his eyes were still bright red and filled with evil energy, but now they were just playful.

Ryan's smile disappeared immediately when Maltida screamed and struggled against their hold. The men who held her chuckled darkly, tightening their grasp, before dragging Maltida away from them and towards the front of her house.

"Let go of me! Let go of me!!"

She said trying to break free from the men but she was no match for them, all of them were bigger and stronger than her. It was impossible to escape their grip and even if she did, she knew where her freedom would lead her. And it wouldn't be good. Not good at all. She felt tears prickle in her eyes as the men dragged her across the pavement. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks without any attempt of wiping them away, her breathing became more and more rapid. Matilda couldn't breathe properly, she was hyperventilating. Her chest heaved with uneven breaths until one particular breath hitched.  

Her chest hurt.

"Ahh, you know damn well that I don't hurt old people"

Ryan said and slightly bent down to see Maltida's frightened face

"Where is she?"

His smile dropped which made Maltida cry harder. Tears continued streaming down her face.

"I have no idea what you are talking about"

 Her vision started to blur as he moved further away. Ryan crouched beside her. His expression morphed into one of concern and confusion as he took in her appearance, his grin returned

, "Hey, hey, hey, it's okay, I won't hurt you, that's if you do exactly as I say"

He smiled again and reached out to touch her. But Maltida pulled away, sobbing harder and shaking uncontrollably

"No, please!" She cried. "Please don't touch me, you disgusting devil!"

Ryan frowned but didn't make another move to come near her, not even after the tears had subsided

"Alright, alright, I'll take it, I'm a devil, Now, listen up, we're going to meet your husband"

He stood back up and grabbed her wrist again and pulling her through her yard and around the corner. He then stopped abruptly

Suddenly she saw George held with a sharp knife on his neck by one of his men

"No... George, no"

 she wailed, pushing herself between Ryan and George who was looking at her worriedly, "Please, please let go of him"

Ryan gently tugged on her arm. He was still smiling at her, but there was also something dangerous and dark in his eyes.

"Why are you doing this, why?!" She cried.

He shook his head and laughed softly, 

"I hate stupid questions"

His voice deepened as he used his gun to wipe his sweat, yes he had guns 

"I'm gonna ask this one more fucking time and if I get an honest answer, maybe I might not kill you all"

He raised the pistol higher making Maltida whimper softly, her entire body trembling uncontrollably

George's eyes flickered over Ryan's shoulder briefly. They widened ever so slightly but otherwise remained completely calm. There was no panic, no fear in those big brown eyes.

Just... resignation. 

"Where the fuck is she?"

He asked calmly once again

He wasn't expecting an answer. His question wasn't a direct demand but a question for consideration and maybe the chance that she could give a real answer. 

"Fine you asked for it"

Ryan aimed the gun at her temple

Ryan's expression hardened into stone. His mouth curled into a sneer

"I'M HERE" 

A loud voice yelled behind them all and they all saw Aurora coming towards them with an angry look on her face

Ryan smirked again. He lowered his gaze and turned his head slightly toward her

"It's about the time my love, I've missed you so much"

He said in a low yet mocking tone

She snarled at him, shooting daggers at him with her eyes.

"Yeah right, just say you missed the fact that I almost murdered you yesterday"

She smirked and saw the anger in Ryan's eyes grow bigger

Then Aurora spoke again in a cold and serious tone, "Let her go".

There was a long pause, during which Aurora slowly approached Ryan. Ryan stared at her intently, like he was trying to solve a problem he had been having for years.

Ryan's expression softened a little.

He glanced back at Maltida and she flinched as he stared at her, his expression turning to one of disgust

"No...no...no, I can't, unfortunately, do that, your grandma kept you away from me for years"

He said taking slow steps toward her

Her heart was pounding in her ears. She tried to control the erratic rhythm to hear his next words.

Aurora stopped several feet in front of Ryan, their faces still an inch apart. Ryan narrowed his eyes

"What the hell do you mean she kept me away from you"

She asked and watched him laugh loudly

"You didn't fucking tell her"

He said and turned around to both Maltida and George

"You bastards"

He ended his statement with a laugh

He shrugged it off and turned back to Aurora.

"Your fucking grandparents were supposed to hand you over to me before you turn eighteen, but now that you are older, you made it even more complicated for me"

Ryan said and watched the blank look Aurora

"That's why the gem in you was stronger"He muttered and sighed to his guards to take Aurora away

"You knew my grandma before"

She asked trying so hard to not let the tear fall from her eyes

"Know them, they are my future in laws"

He answered and watched the blank look on her face

"Come on Princess, it's time to take you home with me"

He smiled at Aurora

The girl stared at him in disbelief and crossed her arms over her chest

"No!!"

He smiled wider and pulled her by her arm toward his body

"Nobody in their goddamn lives can say 'no' to me"

He whispered against her ear and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer, but he still felt dizzy from the power in her ...

Immediately he pulled towards himself, and took a breath, trying to regain himself.

He was so close to having Aurora all to his own, no one is going to ruin it.

Aurora looked into Ryan's eyes and knew he was not joking. She looked around them and saw the other people looking at her.

"She must be in the castle in the next fifteen minutes or I'll burn you all alive, I'm tired of this family drama"

Ryan said to his men and went his way without looking back a single bit 

He thought of how weak he is getting, there is no way he will let Aurora weaken him like this.

 He shook his head and kept walking. He will deal with this another time when he's sober and less of an asshole than usual

Aurora looked up at her grandparents and frowned. "So how long is 'this' going to last?"

"I'm sorry Aurora, I'll explain everything later but now you have no choice but to go with him for a while"

Maltida said avoiding eye contact with her granddaughter and turning to leave the place.

George, who stood behind her, nodded and put a hand over her shoulder, trying to comfort her. "Don't worry little princess, we won't let anything happen to you"

He said and smiled down at her as he left the scene...

Immediately the men grabbed her to the cartage...