Finally free

My mind raced with fear, anger, and sadness as I ran through the woods, trying to escape from Maximus and his servants. The forest was dense, and I had to dodge trees and branches as I ran. My heart pounded in my chest, and my breaths came in short gasps.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps and voices

I spotted a small cave up ahead and made a beeline for it.

"Where did she go?" asked one of the servants.

"I don't know," replied another. "But we need to find her before she gets too far."

"Spread out and find her, she couldn't get far!" Ordered the first servant.

Panic set in as I realized they were getting closer. I spotted a small cave up ahead and made a beeline for it.

As I climbed inside, I held my breath and hoped that they wouldn't find me. But then I heard someone entering the cave.

I closed my eyes, trying to stay calm, as I heard the sound of someone breathing. It was so close, I could feel the warmth of their breath on my skin.

I clutched my fists, ready to fight if necessary.

" Did you find anything?" I heard one of them ask .

Just when I thought I was done for, the footsteps and voices faded away, leaving me alone in the cave.

"No, nothing to report, she's not here, let's go somewhere else!" Another one responded.

After a few minutes, I emerged from the cave and started running again, hoping to find a safe place to hide before Maximus and his servants caught up with me.

As I ran, I noticed a small cabin in the distance. I knew that I had to take my chances and knock on the door, hoping that whoever was inside would be willing to help me.

Without hesitation, I ran towards the cabin and knocked on the door. It took a moment, but eventually, a young woman with bright blue eyes opened the door.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"I'm in trouble," I blurted out. "I need a place to hide."

The woman looked at me for a moment and then opened the door wider. "Come in," she said. "We'll help you."

Feeling relieved, I stepped inside the cabin and was greeted by a group of strangers they were three one man with two women who welcomed me with open arms. They offered me food, shelter, and a place to rest.

As I lay down on a soft bed, I realized that maybe there was hope for me yet. Maybe I could escape the fate that had been chosen for me and create a new future for myself. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that Maximus was still out there, searching for me.

As I sat at the small table, eating the food that the strangers had provided me, the woman with the bright blue eyes sat down opposite me.

"I hope you don't mind me asking," she said. "But who are you hiding from?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of whether or not to trust her. But then I decided that it was better to be safe than sorry.

"I'm hiding from a man who wants to force me into a marriage that I don't want," I said, leaving out Maximus's name.

The woman nodded sympathetically. "I understand," she said. "Love should be a choice, not a duty."

I felt a sense of relief that she had understood my situation, but at the same time, I couldn't shake the feeling that I couldn't trust her completely.

The next day, as I was helping the strangers with their chores, one of them asked me my name.

"I'm Sarah," I replied, giving a fake name.

The woman nodded and smiled. "It's nice to meet you, Sarah. My name is Emma."

As the days passed, I started to feel more comfortable around the strangers. They were kind and welcoming, and I started to trust them more.

"I don't want to talk about it," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Emma looked at me with understanding. "That's okay," she said. "We won't push you to tell us anything you're not comfortable with."

I felt a wave of gratitude towards her and the others. It was a relief to be around people who cared about my well-being and didn't judge me for my situation.

As we sat around the fire, I started to relax, and we exchanged stories and jokes. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I belonged somewhere.

As the night wore on and the fire began to die down, something continued to nag at me. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Emma and her friends than met the eye.

Finally, unable to contain my curiosity any longer, I spoke up. "I have to ask - what are you all doing out here in the middle of the forest? It seems like an odd place to live."

Emma and her friends exchanged a quick glance before she finally spoke up. "We're trying to start a new life here," she said. "Away from the chaos and corruption of the cities."

I nodded, understanding the sentiment. "But what made you all decide to come out here specifically?"

Emma hesitated before finally answering. "We were looking for a place to escape to," she said. "A place where we could be ourselves, away from the judgment and expectations of society."

I nodded, sensing that she wasn't telling me the whole truth. But at the same time, I didn't want to push it. I had my own secrets to keep, after all.

As the night wore on, I found myself growing more and more intrigued by Emma and her friends. They seemed to be running from something, just like I was. But what, exactly, were they hiding from? And how were they able to survive out here in the middle of nowhere?

As I drifted off to sleep that night, I couldn't help but wonder what other secrets lay hidden within the walls of the cabin. And whether or not I would ever truly be able to trust Emma and her friends.

Days turned into weeks, and I settled into a routine at the cabin. I found myself enjoying the simple life of farm work and spending time with my new friends. But despite the peace and safety I felt, I couldn't shake the feeling that Maximus was still out there, searching for me.

One evening, as we were gathered around the fire, Emma spoke up. "Sarah, I know you've been through a lot, but I think it's time for us to start thinking about your future."

I looked at her, unsure of what she meant. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"I mean, it's time for you to start thinking about what you want to do next. Do you want to stay here with us, or do you want to leave and start a new life somewhere else?"

I thought about her words for a moment. The thought of leaving my new friends and the safety of the cabin was daunting, but at the same time, I knew that I couldn't stay there forever.

"I don't know," I said honestly. "I haven't thought that far ahead."

Emma nodded understandingly. "That's okay," she said. "Just know that we're here to support you, no matter what you decide."

As the days passed, I found myself growing more and more conflicted about what to do next. Part of me wanted to stay at the cabin with my new friends, but another part of me knew that I couldn't hide forever. And I still didn't trust them.

One day, as I was working in the fields with Emma, I finally spoke up. "Emma, I think it's time for me to leave."

She looked at me, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I understand," she said. "But know that you'll always have a home here if you need it."

I felt a lump form in my throat. "Thank you," I said. "For everything."

As I packed my belongings and prepared to leave, I felt a sense of sadness and loss. The cabin and my new friends had become my home, and the thought of leaving them behind was difficult.

The other girl Samantha approached me, "We're going to miss you, Sarah. But we understand that you have to go."

I nodded, "Thank you for everything. I'll never forget you all."

As I walked away from the cabin, I felt a mix of emotions - fear, uncertainty, but also hope. I didn't know what the future held for me, but I knew that I had the strength and determination to make the most of it.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around and saw a group of men in the distance, wearing the uniform of Maximus's servants. My heart raced as I realized they were heading in my direction.

I ducked behind a nearby tree, hoping to avoid detection. But as they got closer, I saw that one of them had a familiar face - it was Maximus himself.

Fear and panic took over me as they progressed.

I took a deep breath and braced myself for whatever was about to happen. The next few moments would determine the course of my future, and I had to be ready for anything.