Rapid sets of footsteps are gaining distance to a single pair of running ones. The normally quiet and serene part of the forest in the morning, is now lacking in light and is eerily quiet. The normally tranquil scenery is bathed in both the feeling of panic and fear.
Dried branches and twigs that fell on the ground breaks. Each broken twig made loud snapping sounds, alerting more people to the direction of the rapidly fleeing woman dressed in nothing but rags.
"Hurry! She went over there!" A man yelled at his other companions.
The woman could only gasp, scared out of her wits as she tried to run as fast as she could.
She has been weakened, dehydrated and fed only to be kept alive and to be tortured. They were looking for something from her. But she will not let them take what is rightfully hers.
There is barely any feeling in her feet as she ran. No shoes or slippers to keep her feet from getting hurt by the loose stones and the uneven ground as she ran.
A clearing is up ahead. She can feel her heart beating faster at the sudden burst of hope that there is chance for her survival. It was short lived, however. By the time she got at the end, she immediately stops, finally realizing that it is a dead end, a high steep cliff with a raging river can be seen below.
Huffing and puffing to try and catch her breath, her eyes stings. But she couldn't cry. No tears fell down her cheeks but it was enough. Everything in her body hurt. There was nowhere else to run.
Sets of footsteps stop behind her. She didn't need to turn around to know that these people were the ones trying to pursue her.
"There's no need to run away, lady." One of the men says. "Come back with us and just give us the information about the pearl. It didn't have to go through this."
She kept her back at them, not wanting to respond. That pearl was the one thing that her parents have left her, a necklace that was passed down for generations.
"You gave us no choice but to torture you. If you have given us the information, we didn't have to hurt you or there would be no need to escape in the first place. Come now. Where is it?"
She still didn't speak. Instead, she steps a little closer to the edge of the cliff. If she jumps down, all this hurt will be gone. There is no reason for her to stay. If they want the pearl, they will never find it.
There is so much suffering when she agreed in that arranged marriage. If she didn't let her hand be wed to that bastard Dominic Goldern, her parents would still be alive. There would be no chance for that man to have taken everything that she had.
She turns towards the men behind her. It doesn't matter if they don't and have never answered if they were Dominic's men. She knew. She looked at the man closest to her, probably their leader. Every single one has their faces covered after all.
"You are all in luck. I'll talk."
The men each looked at each other and nodded their head. The leader huffs, but didn't move forward. "Then, tell us. Where is the pearl?"
The rain suddenly began to make a heavy downpour. It made visibility difficult but they knew where each other were. The woman still did not have a clear way to get away even if she wished it.
"Let it be known that I am Esmé, the last person left of the family Thornblood. The pearl? Gone!" She laughed maniacally. "You'll never find it, not in a million years!"
The leader stepped forward in anger. "What did you say!?"
She laughed even more at his reaction. Lightning graced down the sky to illuminate the darkness for a brief moment. "Tell Dominic I have a message for him. Fuck you all! If I have another chance in life, I will bring you all with me down to hell. Heck, even if I don't, I will crawl up myself to pull you all down with me. Mark my words!"
As Esmé's declaration rang loud even through the heavy rain, her oath seemed to have been heard by the skies above. A strong lightning and a booming thunder followed through in response.
She closed her eyes, as she felt the men closing in on her. She can tell they are speaking, but her mind is elsewhere, not understanding what they are saying. It felt as if nothing else mattered.
This is it. This is the end of her line. No matter what happens now, she is the last of her family. Their line will truly end today.
Her only regret? Not being able to say goodbye to the only person that stayed with her for the longest time.
That doesn't matter now. She felt peace dominating within her, even if anger and revenge surrounds her.
"Mother and father above." She mutters to herself. She placed a hand above her chest, closing her eyes as the rain poured down on her. "Thank you for keeping your watchful eye on me. I shall join you soon."
With her final words, the men watched in horror as Esmé leans back, falling down from the cliff to the raging river below.
As the storm rages on, Esmé felt as if she is falling in slow motion. Perhaps this really is the end.
Even if those men tried to find where she hid the pearls, they wouldn't be able to find it unless they try to look for her dead body. She gulped down the necklace after all. The best way to hide it is to make sure it is within her.
Her vision is facing directly at the sky. The rain didn't feel cold, just numbing in her skin as she plummets. The last thing she saw were the clouds covering up the moon before the river takes her and everything goes dark.