1. Into the Darkness

Valencia Nightingale.

Run

Run Valencia

My legs pushed harder as I sped through the forest, the only sound I could hear was the forceful pulsation of my heart and the blood rushing through my veins. My eyes scanned through the dark emptiness but there was nothing but a vast array of trees and gnarled shadows casted by the moonlight. The scent of rotting, damp and dirty soil filled my nostrils as I pushed through the tangled grasses and leaves. The ground beneath my feet was no longer sturdy, it was soft and mushy, threatening to swallow me hole, the earth was unstable.

Just like my life.

I was practically robbed of my sight, the darkness was too intimidating, too cruel. I was innocent. I didn’t do anything. Was my existence really that much of a threat? I wanted to yell, to cry for help, to curse the heavens and whatever supreme being played boss over there for putting me in this situation once again but I couldn’t, I was stuck in this nightmare. Running away from a fate that was hellbent on claiming me. I had escaped the quixotic embrace of death once and now it was back again, armed and ready.

A flash of light behind me

And the snap of branches...

My hair flew with the wind as I dared a glance over my shoulder and in that moment, a stifled yell escaped my lips as my legs gave way, and my ankle twisted brutally, My foot caught between a mass of roots. The snap resonated deep in my lower limb and for a space in time, I was momentarily paralyzed by the pain as I lay face down on the ground, mouth filled with sullied earth. The taste of fear- bitter and strong.

A choked sob escaped my lips as I could feel the ache spread through my entire body. The fear began to fully settle in.

Someone, please help me

Hot tears dribbled down my cheek as I gripped aimlessly at the air, trying to find support. My breath came in hollow gasps, each one punctuated with the rising panic I was feeling. Somewhere behind me, the sound of heavy footsteps grew louder, deliberate, and unrelenting. They weren’t running anymore. They didn’t need to.

A bold flash of light cut through the darkness, the beam sweeping over the trees before settling just a few feet away from me. My body froze, my mind screamed at me to move, to do something—anything—but fear held me hostage.

No. I couldn’t just sit and wait for them to catch me

I bit down on my lip hard enough to draw blood, the metallic taste felt like a slap in the face, grounding me back to the situation I was in. Slowly, I dragged myself forward, wincing as a fresh wave of pain shot up my leg. If I could just reach the hooded end of the forest ahead, maybe I could hide, buy myself a few precious seconds.

The beam of light swept closer and I ducked instinctively,

"She’s here!" a deep voice bellowed, sharp and commanding, almost mocking.

Panic flared like wildfire in my chest. My fingers clawed at the earth, desperation fueling my every movement. The thorns and stones scratched at my arms, and the sound of snapping twigs beneath my weight and scuffle felt deafening. I could hear them laughing,

Hear his rich velvety laugh in the background.

Then, silence.

The footsteps stopped.

I held my breath, my body pressed flat against the ground as I tried to will myself invisible. The world around me seemed to hold its breath too. Even the wind had stilled.

"Come out, Princess."

His voice was smooth, almost mocking, yet dripping with menace. I felt a chill crawl up my spine. They knew exactly where I was.

"You can’t run forever, Valencia," He continued, closer now. Too close. "There’s no use running. You know how this ends. You’ve seen it play out before"

He paused, his voice echoing like a reminder.

“If you come out now, I won’t hurt you. You know i care a whole lot about you, Val”

My hands curled into rage filled fists, dirt caking beneath my nails. The old Valencia would’ve believed him. She would’ve crumbled under the weight of his meaningless words.

But I wasn’t her anymore. Not after what I had heard with my own ears.

I would rather die than go to him.

Summoning every ounce of strength I had left, I reached for the thick branch just within arm’s length. My fingers closed around its rough bark, and I shifted slightly, gritting my teeth through the pain as I rose to my feet.

“The offer is off, princess” The mock sweetness in his voice had been erased, replaced with his true intentions, murderous and cunning.

I pushed forward, my leg dragging behind me like it had given up. I couldn’t walk.

The only choice was to fight.

My chest heaved as I leaned against a tree trunk, a heavy branch clutched between my palms, I could feel him getting closer, smell his million dollar cologne, hear his dress shoes pressing crushing everything in his path.

I closed my eyes, willing myself to be still.

I could hear my father's voice in the back of my head.

Don’t think. Just go for it, Valencia.

“Got you, princess”

The hair on my back stood on it’s end and for once in my life, I didn’t think twice. With a guttural yell, I swung the branch to the side with all my strength. Without wasting a second, I pushed forward. Even after hearing his startled groan as he stumbled to the ground, I didn’t look back.

“Don’t let her get away—”

I heard him call out, pained etched deep into his voice. His words only seemed to fuel me, I could hardly feel the strain in my leg anymore as I ran faster, the footsteps behind me faded into the background as I broke into a full sprint, weaving through the darkness with new found agility.

I must survive…. To exact my revenge.

A deep breath escaped me as I stumbled unto a clear part of the forest, where the moon shone brightly, blessing me with the gift of sight. A strange but insistent sound stopped me right in my tracks. I glanced around, trying to make sense of what I was hearing.

It sounded like a…..a trickle.

Water……

My heart leapt at the thought. I followed the sound, stumbling through the twisted path, my ankle screaming in protest with every step.

The trickle grew louder, morphing into a deep, roaring rush that sent vibrations through the ground beneath my feet. I slowly walked forward until the earth spread out before me seemed to have disappeared and I came to a halt, my heart in my throat.

Before me was a cliff. The moonlight illuminated the edge, its bright glow reflecting in the torrent of water cascading far below. A vast river swirled at the bottom, its surface churning and writhing like the contents of my stomach.

My chest heaved as I stared down into the abyss. The sheer drop was dizzying.

I couldn’t swim. Jumping was suicide.

I took a few shaky steps back, my foot brushing against loose stones that tumbled into the abyss below. The faint splash of water followed seconds later, and my stomach twisted at the thought of plunging into the dark, churning depths.

Turning, I scanned the forest for another escape, any path that didn’t lead to certain death.

"Valencia."

His voice cut through the silence like a whip, sending a jolt of terror racing through me. He emerged from the bushes, his suit impeccable, as if this chase hadn’t fazed him in the slightest. I stilled in my tracks, my breath catching. The urge to run warred with the grim knowledge that there was nowhere left to go.

He stopped a few feet away, his lips curling into a predatory smile. "What’s it going to be, Princess?"

I glanced around, looking for some way out but there was none. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. His men moved forward, as if reaching out to grab me.

I took a few steps back and the helplessness I tried so hard to hide brimmed close to the surface.

Why me?

It was a question I had always asked myself.

Now i didn’t even think i would live long enough to find out.