The town nearby the home was not as lively and awe-exciting as the city, but it was a little for Abigail as she was able to leave the little house they had.
Abby was just delighted to be outside and exploring, even though she no longer was a little child anymore, she couldn't help but feel that way. She would skip around to adventure, often forgetting she was with her father.
Her father on the other hand was hellbent on finding what they needed and leaving as soon as possible. He disliked being in the town, for reasons unknowingly to Abby.
" Now remember Abby, we are only here to get a few items. Do not wander around where I cannot see you clearly, understand? "
" Yes — yes father I remember, but I am no longer a child you know I can take care of myself now. " She would point it out to him.
The man would shake his head at his strong-willed daughter.
Abby noticed something in the commotion of the crowd, as she looked and peeled through the crowds. Seeing someone dressed in rather unusual attire tossing things up in the air.
Catching them with ease, as they seemed to be standing on one leg while wobbling around on a ball it would seem. They looked goofy and intriguing towards Abby.
Her eyes pulled further into the crowd, as she would disappear in the blink of an eye. Her father was still around the stands, as he was speaking to merchants who were telling him what he should get.
The town had never seen something like this before, and frankly it's what brought everyone to the center of the town. The town itself wasn't very big either, a few houses here and there, with a bunch of merchants.
The movement style and unique design of the person meant that they came from afar. It wasn't something Abigail had ever seen before as she was hypnotized by what they were doing.
Others within the crowd watched in silence, while others clapped and smiled at the person. The stranger would then jiggle higher and eventually catch them all and stop.
Everyone within the crowd clapped as Abby would join in the clapping. Overhearing others speak aloud as Abby listened in.
" Wow, that was great! Who is this guy? "
" What you don't know? This man I saw like four times now, he always comes on the hour of the dragon. "
" What really? "
" Yeah, he works in the castle and there are tons of these — whatever they are around all the towns, they try to draw in more people to the city… "
Abby, hearing them turned and looked towards another group discussing.
" Tch. Here he comes again trying to recruit more of us to sacrifice. "
" What do you mean? It's just the festival again going on at the castle. "
" What? A festival? "
" Yeah. They hold one every year for ' His Majesty ' kinda like an annual party, but I heard they are always hoping he'd choose his queen there too. Although, he never picks any of the women there— even though they come from wealthy families. "
" I heard the women reject him because His majesty is hideous to look at and has a long face with a beak. "
Abigail watches the males talk about what is going on, as they laughed at the male's comment about the king. Abby would then get stepped on by a person, as she felt a pain.
" Ouch! … hey… I — sorry.. " she would speak as the male would roll his eyes and dismiss her and walk away through others.
Abigail then would proceed to overhear others speak about similar things.
" I heard this person is called a jester, who entertains our king himself ! "
" Whoa really? Tch, and he comes to this dump of a town? — psh— more like he got the shitty job if you ask me. "
" I heard in the city they have ten-thousand pounds of barriers filled with wine for the festival! "
" Same I heard that they also are going to let townsfolk in this year! "
" What?! No way… "
" It's true! If you are able to get in before they close the castle outer gates, they said you could get in if it's not over crowded. "
" Yeah, but they said you gotta have something to wear to get in there. "
" Tch, true— and the king doesn't give a damn about us, which is why we are wearing raggedy ass clothing. "
After some time Abby's father finished his shopping and sighed with completion as he spoke aloud.
" Alright, Abby sorry for the wait but let's head back—" He stayed while turning in the direction of where Abby should've been, but to his dismay she was nowhere to be seen.
His orbs shot open, as within his vision he saw nothing but tons of people shattered about. Immediately his heart raced as he looked around and around.
" Abby! " He shouted in a panic.
" Abby! Where are you!? " He exclaimed again.
Moving quickly through the crowd, as he bumped into others every now and then.
" Hey, watch it! " an older man exclaimed, as Abby's father would swiftly apologize and continue to move deeper into the crowded markets.
Abigail eventually found the water fountain in the middle of the other side of the market area. Indeed she was now lost— as she turned each way to see her father.
She knew he would become hysterical once he saw she was gone. Though, she didn't realize how far she was away until she did.
Stopping in the middle, as male's turned to eye her every now and then, as they would tap others to look at her. Her long blonde hair that touched her back as her blue eyes looked around in a bit of a panic.
Her hues eventually landed on other women who sat beside the fountain as they were dressed in somewhat baggy and raggy dresses. It would seem they were somewhat torn and ripped off in a way.
Her facial expression became more cold, as she realized where she had ended up. Before she could fully process it though, she felt someone touch her arm roughly.
" Hey there little lady, hehe ya lost? " A man smelling of liquor would ask her, as Abby tried to take her arm away but his grip was tight.
" N—no .. le-let me go! " She would try and fight to speak as she continued to try and tug away.
" Hehe— yeah, I think she is a bit lost, Jimmy… " Another man would proclaim, as he stepped over towards them both and grabbed her other arm.
" Hey! Hey! St—" Abby tried to shout and scream, but the male's covered her mouth before she could finish as they started to drag her away from others.
The women watched as she got carried away by two men, as they turned their heads and looked back to what they were doing.
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Abigail's father would continue to search for Abby, as he would question others asking about her. He would push through where he assumed she would go.
Though, he had noticed someone who looked too fancy that didn't belong. It was the jester as they proceeded to head out of the town.
Abby's father took note that she must've gone to go watch, as he then had to think deeply to himself. He had to think of where she would go, nearby where the jester was, was the other side of the town, however that part of town was more repulsive.
His mind immediately went into shock— fearing that she must've continued to walk in a direction unknowingly.
" …. No… " He would softly say to himself, as it felt like time had slowed down for him. Pushing through the crowds, shouting for them to move out of his way.
Slowly he would draw out a dagger, keeping it hidden, in his right hand, as he glanced over noticing females sitting by the fountain.
" Excuse me! Have you seen a little young girl! She has long blonde hair, ocean blue eyes — She's my daughter, please she's in danger! "
The women would look at one another, before looking at what appeared to be the one in control of their little group.
" Nope.. sorry handsome.. " She would say with an ease, and blow some smoke from her cigarette.
The other women would turn and look at one another, as one of the girls seemed to feel guilty knowing that she herself could relate.
However, the one who spoke with Abby's father, got up quickly and tugged against her dress around her breasts.
" Although~ " She would begin to say, as she started to slowly rub on his chest and clothing, in a flirtatious manner.
" If you… wanna go somewhere .. privately, I'd be more than happy to perhaps… maybe.. remember if I've ever seen a little girl~ "
Abigail's father burst into a fit of anger as he gripped the woman's hand tightly, and took his other hand and placed the dagger to her throat.
The other women jolted up in shock, as the one who had the dagger to her throat froze in place. Abby's father's eyes gave deadly intent, as he was in no mood for this woman.
" If you know where my daughter is…. I'm going to give you three seconds to tell me— or I'll slit your throat and throw your body in that well over there… "
The woman felt the pressure of the dagger, as he drew blood from her throat a bit— as the other woman in terror burst into a huge comment.
" Ahh! Two men took her ! Over there! In the woods! "
Abby's father darted his orbs towards the other woman, as he looked back at the woman he was holding and tossed her to away. The other women coming to her comfort as Abby's father swiftly ran in that direction.
Time around him felt like a race, as he continued to push through bushes and shout for Abby every chance he got. His mind thought about her fear, and knowing his daughter.
How she would fight back as much as she could. Knowing what happened to his own wife, he didn't want that happening to Abby as well.
It seemed like the world was against him, as he continued to hope that she was still alive. After some time, her father reached the edge of the forest, and saw a vast open field.
Below a gigantic waterfall, as he heard rustling in the bushes, and quickly turned his head. Not too far from him he saw what appeared to look like figures running through the forest.
" Hey! Stop! " He shouted towards them, which only made them run faster, but Abby's father was much faster, as he heard one of them scream out in pain.
Her father managed to catch one of the male's who looked like he had been scratched by some fingernails. Immediately, Abby's father leaped on the male and began to punch him in the face.
Shouting at him as well.
" WHERE IS SHE !?! "
" WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY DAUGHTER YOU SON-OF-A-BITCH !? "
While he was punching the man to a bloody halt, the other one leaped onto him, and began to try and wrestle with him. Abby's father struggled, for a moment or two, before kicking the man in the nuts.
The other man was coughing on his own blood, as he tried to stand but couldn't, as Abby's father picked the other up and slit his neck. The blood gushed out, as Abby's father stabbed him repeatedly.
His blood spilling like water over Abby's clothes and face, as the man collapsed to the ground, as Abby's father panted in a huff. Turning his dead cold gaze towards the other, as the other put his hands up.
" No ! No wait, wait ! " He expressed as he shakingly pointed towards a pathway that lead somewhere.
" She's— she's over there… please… "
Abby's father tearing up in his eyelids a bit but choked on them a bit as he didn't wish to cry in front of the other. His voice hesitantly, and shakingly asking the man.
" ….. Did you do it…. " He questioned not looking at the man as he held onto his collar.
The man was confused, or pretending to be at least, but also afraid to answer the question. Looking at Abby's father, as he shook his head.
" …. Did… did what? … "
Abby's father only felt more livid, as he slammed the man's head into the dirt.
" Did you kill her?! " He exclaimed.
" Arrgggghh! No! No— she's still alive…. " The man stated struggling under the weight of the other.
Her father was somewhat relieved, but still felt broken, as he looked down at the other still, and inhaled deeply.
" …. Then… did you…. Rape her… " He would finally ask him.
The man went silent before he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. Abby's father is shouting it this time, to make sure the man heard him clearly.
" Did you rape my daughter you sick fuck!? "
" Aahhh! Y—yes, but— I " The man gasping to try and explain, as Abby's father orbs shattered completely hearing what the man said.
Without another word, Abby's father screamed uncontrollably in a fit of rage, and continuously stabbed the male again and again.
Blood spilling everywhere, as he stabbed him in the abdomen, the neck, the eyeballs, the head over and over again, crying and screaming out in pain.
Eventually, he slowly stopped, until the man was a pool of blood, the plants around them being soaked from it. As both the male's were unrecognizable.
Her father stiffly, and wobbly made it to his feet, as his lungs felt heavy, and feet were shaking. He sobbed as he slowly approached where the man said his daughter was.
Moving the bushes out the way slowly but surely, as he manages to see a blonde hair girl, laying stiffly on a large roundish rock. It looked as though she hadn't moved an inch.
She clearly heard the fighting, but didn't bother to come look, or come and watch. She didn't even bother to run away.
From the beginning he noticed bruises on her legs, and thighs, along with blood dripping from between her legs. He also noticed she looked lifeless, like a corpse, not even breathing.
Abby's father only fell to his knees, as he sobbed harder, and trembled at his mouth. Unable to form words, or think of anything to say to her.
For the first time, he had felt the same unbelievable pain he felt with Abby's mother. It was hard to breathe, as he tried to hold his chest tightly.
Slowly climbing back to his feet, as his voice cracked a bit trying to get her attention.
" A… Abby… baby girl… "
Silently approaching her after he tried to call out to her, as he looked down and removed her hair from her face. He noticed her eyes were opened, as she was staring at nothing.
Emptiness in her eyes, lifeless like a ghost watching others around her. He only cried as he picked her up, as Abby didn't bother to move at all, allowing herself to be lifted.
" Come on baby girl, daddy's gotcha. " Her father stated trying to reassure his daughter, as he headed out and took the long journey home with her.
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The entire way there, she laid in the back of the wagon, staring up at the stars in the sky, as she finally managed to at least move her head.
Although, still nothing, even with her now with her father, she couldn't bring herself to do or say anything. It was as if she didn't know she finally got saved.
She assumed she was dead, at least she wanted to be now.
Her father eventually reached their home, as he parked the wagon and their horse, as he quickly rushed to the back to get her. Immediately, he continued to try and soothe her.
They reached their little cabin house, as her father opened the door with a foot, and carried her all the way inside. Closing the door behind him, and placing her in a bed gently.
Slowly he would brush her hair back with his fingers, and try to speak to her, although he couldn't help but shakily do so.
" … A… Abby… sweetie… "
Abby finally met her father's soft and gentle gaze, as she would begin to feel a heaviness in her heart. Her mouth started to tremble, as she felt fear, anger, and despair.
" … I… I'm sorry…. Dad… "
Those words alone broke her father down, as he quickly hugged her as he continued to shake his head at her words. Once again, unable to contain his emotions, as he touched her face.
" No! No! My baby! Oh by the Gods Noooo! " Him mumbling to himself as he prayed aloud towards the divine.
" Don't ever apologize, okay? You did nothing wrong my sweet baby girl~ Daddy's here now, daddy's got you~ "
Abby squeezed her father tightly back, as the two cried together, as Abby had finally managed to cry and scream as she felt dirty.
" Da—th—they… they… "
" Shh-shhh I know, I know…. " He would repeatedly tell her, as he would rock her back and forth in his arms for the remainder of the night.
The sky became silent, as the waves gently moved back and forth in the ocean. The breeze becomes colder, as Abby and her father remain together.