Chapter three

XENIA'S POV.

I have to escape. My hands grabbed the grass, the air, anything at all, trying to stand. My body is trembling.

Nothing good ever happens when you meet hunters. I could not afford to get caught.

I managed to get on my feet, lunging forward, attempting a run. Another arrow hit me Penetrating my leg. I let out a loud yelp, crumbling to the ground again.

My scream must have alerted them for I heard footsteps rushing towards me.

“It's a lady, I told you to stop shooting you stupid idiot.” One of them cursed. As their footsteps grew closer, my heart started racing, saliva gathering in my mouth.

The voice was just behind the big tree beside me.

My heart sank. They caught me. Suddenly, my limbs refused to move.

'Please move, please I beg you' I pleaded with my broken legs, my eyes blurry from the tears rushing down my cheeks to my lips.

“Well, let's check on her,” I heard a smug voice making its way towards me. The leaves broke ferociously beneath his boots.

I looked, and what I saw first was a hunting gun, my eyes grew wider, and the man came into full view. Tall, sturdy, and lean with a slight sign of a pot belly, his clothes torn and dirty. He was looking down at me, I dared to look back.

“Well look what we have here. What are you doing in this woods all alone lovely, or could you be her?.” His hands ran to my chin. I pulled away, arching my eyeballs at him in confusion, unable to speak.

' Her, who, who did they mean?' I pondered.

“What are you yapping about,” I heard other voices and other footsteps. His friends soon appeared behind him, looming over me. All three of them.

“Oh my, what a catch there Lago,” one of them said, licking his lips, making me feel disgusted, like thousands of bugs were crawling all over my body.

My eyes move to stare at the ground, tears dripping. What am I going to do? I can't run with this leg. I thought my powers were back, why were they not working now?

“She is crying,” one of them noticed. I felt his presence near me, as he bent over.

This forest was so dark, except for the lantern in their hands. If I break out and run to the left, the night can conceal me and I might just be able to escape.

I saw his head from the corner of my eyes, his fingers touched my cheek and goosebumps filled my body.

“Don't cry. I promise we will treat you nicely. We are sorry about the wounds. Where does it hurt eh,” his brutish voice was scarier than his face.

I had to leave and it had to be now or who knew what could happen? Beads of sweat formed on my head as I found guts and hit my head against him in the face.

' Damn! It felt like my skull was about to split open '. I thought, feeling like my head was on fire, due to the intensity of the hit.

He arched backward and I sprang to my feet, feeling little strength. I limped, gasping in pain. But I still attempted to run.

His friends tried to grab me, but they failed but they grabbed the long robe instead. Pulling me down, I fell with my back landing on a tree stump.

“Ahh!!”

The pain cut through me and all my strength left with that yell.

“The bitch broke my nose,” I heard the big, lean guy grumble.

“She is so paying for this,” I felt hands grab my thighs and My body curled in disgust as I struggled not to puke.

He pulled me and straightened me on the ground. I wanted to fight, to scream but my eyes were closing. I was losing consciousness.

I breathed with difficulty, my body aching but not as bad as the sharp pain I felt below my abdomen.

Once again, I was proven how worthless and useless I was. The three men all took their turns. I was raped, without remorse, without regard, like I was the trash everyone said I was.

When they were done, they touched me a few times to savor a meal well eaten,  the tallest amongst them asked the skinny one what they would do with me. He cocked his hunter gun and the last thing I felt was a metallic taste in my mouth before my eyes shut.

In that dying moment, I prayed.

‘Moon goddess, don't let this happen to me. Don't let me die like this. Please don't let my enemies win. Pls, grant me a second chance. I need to make them pay. I need to…”

A last tear rolled down my cheeks as I gave up to the dark with one last thought.

“please save me.”

* * *

I gasped, eyes flipping wide open as I sprang up from the bed.

My heart beating fast, it hurt my chest. I grabbed it in pain. My eyes are on the ground. I was crying, the water dripping on the floor but I was breathing.

‘Wait, I am breathing’

I looked up from the floor and around me immediately.

'No trees, no grass.’

My hands went to my head that instant. I felt around my face looking for wounds. I was shot, there should be a scar, right?

But I felt nothing, not even a bandage.

'Where was I?’ I pondered, hearing the sound of my heart beating loudly against my chest, as I swallowed the saliva gathering in my mouth.

I looked down again. The room was dark, the floor was wooden and I was on a bed.

'No way. I died. How come, How can I still be breathing, What the hell happened to me?’

I heard a voice growling at someone as heavy footsteps made their way down to the door. I was alert immediately, eyes pinned to the door.

“She cannot be sleeping at this time. That useless girl. That little…”

'Wait, I know that voice'

I cupped my mouth. No way, impossible.

The door broke open and The man stormed into the room.

'It's him. It's really father. How? I died.’

“Get out of bed you lazy, good for nothing,” he grabbed me by the hair, yanking me out of bed.

I groaned in pain grabbing my hair.

'Wait, this happened on my wedding day. But I am already married. Why is it repeating itself unless....' I gasped, realization hitting me.

The prayer to the moon goddess came to mind immediately.

Father was still pulling me by the hair but I was suddenly numb to the pain.

“She gave me another life. I have been reborn.”

He threw me on the floor, I did not crumble, instead, I stood still, like a rock. Everyone stared at me in shock.

I knew it was going to happen. I know everything that is going to happen and I will never let it happen again.

I turned and looked at him. My eyes glinted with anger and hatred.

' I am not the Xenia you bullied all these years. Not anymore. I will pay all of you back for everything you did for me. Starting with you.’ I thought within.

The side of my lips, curling into an evil grin. My father's eyes widened as he took a step back immediately.