Chapter Four: My Failed Escape

Now I was outside of that posh looking building and into the warm heat of the sun, I was beyond shocked to see the location I had ultimately, found myself in. I did not know what I expected when I walked out those doors, but it definitely, was not this. A beautiful grand palace sat before me, many people seeming to walk around the grounds as though they were working, some seemed to be maids and butlers whilst others seemed to be in horse riding attire. This only caused such confusion as to how I ended up in this situation to litter through my body, how did I manage to go from a battle in the middle of Alpha Curtin’s decrepit pack to standing in the forecourt of a grand palace?

Shaking the confusion from my mind and realising I’d need to try and link the dots when I wasn’t so out in the open, I began to scan my surroundings for any sign of escape. Three sets of small staircases sat in front of me which led into the main entrance of the palace, but entering the building would only limit my escape routes even more. So, turning away from the palace I begin to watch the surrounding areas but to my horror, huge stone walls which matched the walls of the palace to a T stood around me preventing anyone from coming in but for me, prevented me from getting out.

Scrambling a little out of worry and fear, I walk deeper through the forecourt of the palace, the jagged rocks from the pathways threatened to cut my bare feet, but I couldn’t allow my mind to worry with that. I hoped each person was much too busy getting on with their tasks to notice me but even in my injured pain, I knew how out of sorts I seemed to everyone, I looked beaten and bruised whilst everyone was all poised and polished.

If I wanted to hide out until it was safe for me to leave, I needed to get out of eyeshot, so holding even tighter onto my shoulder as it caused such a painful sensation to rush through me, I used the last of the energy I held and began to run over to the side of one of the high walls, I hoped the towering structure would offer me some shelter until the coast was clear for me to leave.

My body seemed to give way as I reached my desired destination, the jagged stones from the pathway also spread across this area as I landed on the floor with a thud, my shoulder hurting even more and my brain hazy from it all.

Leaning with my back against an old and seemingly unused staircase that led down into the ground, I curled up into a ball with my head placed against the old stone wall and allowed the tears I had ordered to say back during my first plan of escape to cascade down my face.

The thought of Daniel refused to leave my brain, none of anything that happened was making sense, this wasn’t part of the plan! He’d promised me that day that no matter what happened, he was going to come home, he promised he’d never leave me as like everyone else did. He knew better than anyone the kind of deep scars I held due to my past and he’d always say he’d be the one to help them heal, but he’s gone and in doing so, has opened even bigger wounds within me which I thought were healed. The same disgusting animals that took everyone I loved away from me all of those years ago, have done it again. I was completely alone.

As like when I first heard the news of his death, I seemed to lose all control of my body as I lay against the wall and wept uncontrollably. Maybe this is really my fault, everyone I love seems to end up dying the same way, maybe I should simply live alone for the rest of my days, loving anyone in anyway is obviously, too dangerous for them and myself. Everything I touch always leaves in the end, no matter what I do, I’m always back in the same situation lost, injured and alone.

Through my muffled sobs, I neglected to notice the once busily forecourt of the palace and each person seeming to get on with their days had suddenly become silent. Not a single person moved or spoke a word, it was as though through my grieve and pain, the rest of the world had come to a complete halt.

Between that silence that I’d neglected to hear, a single sequence of footsteps on those same jagged rocks seemed to erupt and with each slow step, seemed to draw closer to me and my somewhat concealed hiding spot. My eyes closed as I brung my knees up to my chest, I didn’t care anymore, nothing mattered.

The hairs on my body seemed to stand on end out of nowhere, it was as though something was close which sent my entire system into haywire. At first, I ignored it, my brain was to overcome with pain and grief for all that had happened but soon, the same feeling I felt back in that battlefield clung to each sense, it was as though I was sitting in the shadow of some powerful being.

Slowly lifting my head up to take a glance at my surroundings, I soon discovered my hiding spot had been unsuccessful and I was no longer alone. Standing in the entrance of the bushes and stone walls I had hidden within, stood the same muscular man with the most beautiful green eyes which as like before, were locked on little old me.

“This is where you have been hiding.” The deep voice which escaped his lips sent shivers to run down my spine, a sensation I had never felt before which led my body to beg me to run into his arms.

“What do you want?” My shaky and weak voice asked as I remained in my curled-up position against the wall, I was much too weak to run or fight, all I could do was sit there.

“You.” Was all this man responded locking eyes with me.