Chapter 14 - The escape

The man standing in my doorway was not anyone that I recognized. He had a terrifying look in his eyes. The way he looked gave me a shiver. He snickered at gave me a devilish look. He looked at me as if I were a prize. I could tell he was thinking of many bad things he could do to me. Just from the way his eyes looked over me as he licked his lips. All my instincts said to run. I watched him closely as he slowly walked in my direction. His eyes never left mine. Only it did not comfort me in the slightest way. The closer he got to me, the more I tried to keep myself out of his direct line. To ensure that he could not grab me. He was about five, maybe six strides away from me. The way I kept moving gave me an opportunity. He was so focused on me that he didn't notice. I was slowly rotating us, so that I would be closer to the door than him. The door was wide open. He took a leap towards me and I sprinted out the door. I shut it behind me and kept running. I didn't stop to look back, I just kept running. Down the hallway, most of the doors were opened. I looked only to find there was no one in the rooms. I finally reached the room that I first woke up in. I shut the door and searched my room. There was no one around. I was terrified. Where did everyone go? Eventually I found a closet and decided I should stay in it. So I entered it, closed the door and stood there. I had picked up a broken pole. It had a sharp end and I was holding it in front of me. I figured if I am going to die, I might as well give it my best. I was looking out the tiny holes in the door. I saw my escort walk into my room. I dropped the pole and ran to him as fast as I could. He swooped me up and my arms grabbed hold of his neck. Tears began to stream down my face as he asked if I was okay. I nodded and then when I looked back at him. I realized that it was not my escort. This man that was holding me wasn't dressed like anyone that was here. My mind was playing tricks on me. I wiped my eyes and looked again. It was the man from earlier. I tried to fight him. I couldn't get loose from his grip. It must have been luck because, my leg got loose. I kicked him in his groin and he dropped me. I tried to run out of the room but he caught me by my hair. I started kicking, punching and scratching. I was going wild. Though I was not getting anywhere. Then I saw there was blood on his hand and I began to really panic. He yanked me down towards the ground. My body followed my hair. He was trying to undo his pants. He was over my body and I was still fighting. This man was strong and he was heavy. I could not break free on my own. I saw one of the male entertainers. He saw what was going on and hit the man very hard on the head. The man fell on top of me. I tried to roll him over but the Entertainer helped me get free. He grabbed my hand and said follow me let's go. He started to run first and I quickly followed behind. I kept pace as we neared the room I was in just a moment ago. We were in the ballroom. Blood was splattered everywhere. We stopped for a moment as we took in this horrible sight. Men, women, children all lying there. Some were dead and others were injured. I'm sure some of them were just unconscious. There was one dancer he was particularly checking. I think it was his wife. He shook her awake. She stood up. We were walking through the room very carefully. Trying not to step on any of them. We were getting closer to the door on the other side of the room. That is where I saw my escort. He was not dead. I ran to him and tried to wake him. He was not responding at all. I could see he was breathing and it was even breaths. Then I noted that there was a lot of blood coming out of him. I ripped my dress and wrapped it around his arm. To help stop the bleeding. I looked around and noticed all different kinds of colored splatters everywhere. My stomach sunk and we heard some men shouting. The dancer grabbed me and said we will come back. We all started to run for the door. There was still fighting going on outside. We saw men in dark colored uniform and we hid behind a wall. Just as soon as the coast was clear we ran for it. I tripped over a person and hurt myself. I tried to stand back up but couldn't. The girl never stopped. She just kept running. The male dancer ran back towards me. I tried to wave him off and tell him it's okay to leave me. He didn't care. He made his way to me. He picked me up and said I really needed to be more careful. Look around you. You see all these people. They fought for you, to protect you. What good would it have been if you were captured? Some of them are dead. What would their death mean if you were taken by our enemies? Don't worry about the man you were trying to wake. He will be fine. You will see him again. Lets keep going. He had me standing beside him when we both heard the crack. I fell to the ground trying not to make a sound. He sighed and picked me up. He carried me for a very long time. I was holding my ankle and crying because of the pain I felt. I suppose the pain was just too much for me to handle. As I was there in his arms looking around. My vision became very blurry. I heard the girl call but then my hand was getting nippy. I let go of my hand. Only to realize there was blood on it. I thought maybe it was one of ours but I couldn't be sure. So I tried not to panic. I let my already heavy eyes shut but only for a moment. Then we both fell to the ground. WE were both bleeding. He was bleeding on his back and my foot was bleeding. I rolled over to check on him. He was shot with an arrow. I looked around and saw a man coming towards us. The man that was carrying me sat up and said something I couldn't make out. The man that shot him came running to us. Then I noticed he was wearing a piece of my dress on his arm. I knew exactly who he was. He looked at the dancer and immediately helped him up. Then asked him where I was. I was sitting right in front of him. How could he not see me. Then the woman came out of nowhere and screamed stop. My brother was only trying to protect us. Shes here and said a few words I could not understand. We just needed to make sure you weren't going to hurt her. Speak true and she will appear to you. There were many shapeshifters there tonight. So If you speak the truth and mean us no harm, we will become visible again. Then we all were invisible. He stood there and said I am the rightful Heir and She is my promised. I do not wish to harm her. She will be the queen and will lead us to a better tomorrow. It was like a weight lifted and he was looking down at me. When he tried to pick me up though I said stop. How do I know You are really you? I have already been tricked by another. Who tried to take from my very own rights to virginity. He stopped frozen in his place. As if he were worried I was touched by another. I said not that it is your business as you don't see it fit to prove me who you are. I have not been defiled. Her brother saved me. He leaned down and whispered in my ear. I am the one who locked you in the safe room. One of the men That was given the key has died. We did not know he was dead. He was killed by a shapeshifter. The shifter used its magic to deceive us into believing he was the real man. I told you in the room something only you and I know of. I promised you that if you stayed you would be safe. Here you are and you are safe. You listened and though you left the room one of my men saved you and here I am to protect you. I nodded my head and then he held out hi hand, picked me up and wrapped me in his arms ever so tightly. I began to cry uncontrollably as he held me in his arms. The dancer and his sister were now walking beside us. I just held onto him/ I never wanted to let him go again. Not now not ever. From the moment we touched I knew it was him. I'm not sure why but I just needed to really confirm it was him. When he has spoken in my ears it sounded of angels. When we touched a warm shiver would embrace my body. It was like I was being pulled into him. My hand on his chest feeling the steady beat of his heart. It just wasn't enough. So I moved about until I was close enough to hear his heart in my ears. Then I stayed there for a long while. We started to slow down and I was no longer tired. I put my arms around his neck to help him carry me. I knew I couldn't walk because I could no longer feel my foot. As we were going I noticed the bushes behind us move. I stiffened as I watched. Then a human jumped out but they were running. There was bunches of them. I recognized some of them from the party earlier. Others I did not recognize at all. Was the fight following us? He stopped and turned around. Then he said. Do not worry they are our people. The first man spoke and said they are coming. We picked up the pace and made it to a crossing. Once everyone made it across the dancer said some words and the crossing disappeared into thin air. We kept going until we reached a really large clearing. We stopped in front of a fallen tree stump. He nudged me a little, I guess to see if I was awake. I looked up at him and smiled a bit. Once he placed me down a sharp pain shot up my leg. I screeched from the pain. My eyes were watering. He took a step back and asked if I were okay. I said yes. Iv'e been off my feet for so long that it gave a shooting pain when i stepped on it. My eyes were watering and I was beginning to get dizzy. I looked down to see why I was in such pain. There was some kind of tiny weapon in my leg. I slid my leg behind and reached my hand out for assistance as I sat down. He had a worried look on his face. I was crying uncontrollably. He asked if I was injured and I shook my head no. I mean if it hurt this much without being touched. Could you imagine how much it would hurt if someone touched it. Why would I willingly give someone permission to touch it? A breeze blew right passed us and then he looked down his side. Where my legs rested. He looked even more pale this time. He looked me over without touching me. I guess he knew I was injured but I was not going to let anyone touch it. Not with me awake and not without medicine. So I quickly added. I am crying because of all of this. All this pain and destruction. None of this makes sense. Who would do such horrible things? Why are they trying to get me? Before he could say anything the dancer walked over. Without even acknowledging me. She is injured in several places sir. The one on her foot and shoulder are the worse ones. They are the deepest. It was then that I reached over to touch my shoulder and realized there was blood there as well. My fingers were glistening with my blood. My escort just looked at me. The dancer looked him in the eye and said I;m more worried of the one on her shoulder. The man that tried to have his way with her. He was saying something I could not make out. Then he kissed her shoulder and it began to bleed. That's when I reached him and hit him as hard as I could. I tried to get there faster sir. I was running to her and tried to hit him before he kissed her shoulder. In the midst of conversation another gust of wind blew towards us. This time it smelled of death, blood but a single aroma that I recognized. It was sweet and reminded me of my mothers perfume. It was something she created a long time ago. A mixture of gardenia, rosemary, lavender, sage and jade. My head whipped and my body lifted. I searched the field trying to pinpoint where the smell was coming from. I saw a woman standing over a child. She was beautiful, graceful, she looked and smelled like my mother. I started to walk towards her as fast as my body would carry me. I finally made it midway and I'm standing in the center of the field. I hear these horrible screeches and screams. I cover my ears and look around to see where it was coming from. Only to find nothing but darkness. Another bout came only this time the earth beneath me seemed to move with it. I fell to my knees in outrage. The pain in my body seemed to be getting worse. I can feel all of it. It's getting worse by the second. My body began to shake and I felt as if my spirit was leaving my body. I was feeling cold and a bit weak. I wondered if I was dying. If this is what it really felt like to die. Only I didn't feel free or at ease. I was terrified and the pain. Oh this pain, it's killing me slowly. Heat rushed over me in many different spots all at the same time. Maybe I'm going to hell. Then a massive jolt hit me like a tidal wave. I opened my eyes and tried to get up. I couldn't move at all. The pain was so overwhelming. Then my escort placed his hand on me and I grabbed it. I was squeezing but not too hard. I tried to use his hand to lift myself up but then he put his other hand on my head. Lightly pushing me back down as he says to stay put. The doctor is almost finished with my wounds and I'll be free to move again. Another bout of pain ans my body trembled from it. I passed back out. When I opened my eyes up I noticed a large group of people surrounding me. I turned my head to see who it was I heard screaming. When I moved I felt this searing pain. I realized all that screaming I heard was me. I tried to speak but no words came out. Not a single sound formed throughout my body. I truly felt weak and lifeless. Silence all around me but a familiar feeling. He was still there holding my hand. I continued to fight myself. I wanted no I needed to see him. Make him see I am okay. My body refused me solace. I laid there praying I could move or speak or just fall asleep. Tears formed in my eyes from the writhing pain I was in. This pain is most enduring I'm .feeling weak and exhausted. Sleep must come and conquer me. After fighting for what seemed forever I passed out. When I woke this time, the pain had almost completely subsided. This man that swore me no harm. He was there still holding my hand. Watching me as I slept. I squeezed my hand a little bit but not for long. Holding my grip seemed almost painful. I loosened my grip and opened my eyes. I was back in my chambers, where I first woke up. In the corner of my eye I saw the woman from earlier. She looked so much like my mother. She sounded like her as well. I tried to lift myself but, I could barely life a fingers width without severe pain running through me. My head fell back on to my pillow. I drifted back off to sleep. I don't think I have ever slept this much before. I'm just so tired. Once I was asleep I felt so much more better than before. Then I felt as though I was falling.