Darkness is my only accomplice now. The shadows hide truth, honesty, and coat them in the slickness of lies and deceit. With my eyes closed I can escape the world of shadows and find comfort in the darkness. Or so I hope.

The warmth from the sun filters through in broken fragments from the dense forest canopy above. Joyful chirping of birds’ drifts along the air with their heartfelt songs. Grass blades gentle prick and tickle my skin. Everything feels calm and steady again after the storm. Its only reminders being the dampness soaked into my clothing and skin. The wounds have stared to heal in places, my body aching all over from the events over the past few days.

Gradually opening my eye and looking at the canopy above be. Birds dart in and out again, their feathers shimmering when they catch the fragments of sunlight. Gently turning my head to the side, the grass beneath pricks into my skin. I prepare to roll myself over and sit up. A short gasp escapes through my dry cracked lips as my whole body stretches its muscles and I feel some of the wounds start to crackle open. My skin feels like it is too tight and small to fit my body as if it is being pulled out to its limits. My bones feel centuries old after the abuse they have been under, like they could crumble in a strong breeze.

The faint trickle of fresh blood down my back and arms is cooled by the slight breeze that weaves its way through the trees and bushes carrying with it a desolate icy void. It feels heavier, denser as if it trying to force me to feel something that is not there. It does not belong here. Standing on shaky legs, clutching possibly a few broken ribs. Sending sharp reminders with every breath I take.

The birds above follow and continue their tunes, bobbing and weaving through the trees, in and out of the canopy. They seem unusually cheerful compared to the breeze that haunts my slow and painful stumbling walk. After hours of walking in circle after circle I trip over another protruding tree root and tumble down finding myself rolling into a small clear area by a stream that I could hear for hours but never find. Deciding its best to stop and catch some much need rest I drag myself over to a fallen log just on the edge of the clearing near the stream, few minutes with my eyes closed is just what I need to help my body feel rejuvenated enough to keep going.

♠

Did I say to stop?!’

‘No Papa.’

‘What did you call me?’

‘Papa.’ The sting from the slap causes tears to form in my eyes, but they do not fall. I cannot let them fall.

‘Let us try that again. Did I say to stop?’

‘No Sir.’

‘Then why have you stopped?’

‘Because I’m tired Sir.’

With another slap to the other cheek, I squeeze my eyes shut as hard as I can to hold back tears that threaten to fall.

‘You will continue until I say to stop, otherwise the punishment for disobeying will be far worse. Am I clear?’

‘Yes Sir.’ The words tumble out of my mouth as an automatic reply.

‘Good. Now Again.’ I stand in position and grab the weights, holding them out away from my body. Sweat already starting to form on my forehead and the back of my neck. The heat in the room from the raging fire, intensifying more with the strain.

♠

I felt my fear before I hear my own strangled cries. My nightmare pulses around me, shaking me out of what I was hoping to be a dreamless sleep. Images tumble through my mind: fire and blood, the smell of smoke and sweat, the twisted turmoil strung tightly in my stomach. The memories wrap around me, my ears ringing from the aftereffects of the slaps. The heat from the fire curling up and around my face, hot enough to burn. The smoke suffocating me, making me gasp for each breath; until some rational part of my mind unaffected from the memories reminds me that this is not real. That they are just memories.

I wake up, strands of long dark hair sticking to my forehead; the sun that was once blazing down on me is now replaced by the ghostly glow from the crescent moon. Its haunting light quietly creeps through the strangled twisted branches above. The illusion of a tranquil forest gone. Replaced with its true nature. I could still hear my own strangled cries and the ear ringing slaps from the nightmare, slowly fading back into the depths of my subconscious.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Shuffling to my right makes me bolt straight up and move a few slight feet away from the noise. All the while I try to keep the painful cry of moving too quickly from slipping through my cracked lips.

‘Easy, gentlemen… keep focused, she cannot have gotten too far.’ The shuffling soon turned into more distinguished footsteps. The crunching of decaying underbrush beneath the heavy boots thundering in time to my heartbeat. The steady thumping of my heart slowly increases as the footsteps come closer and closer. Fear crept little by little into my bones, paralyzing me in place.

They followed me in. This was not good. My gaze flickering around with each new sound that my ears catch. It takes everything in my power to focus on what is going on around me, I sluggishly regain movement of my limbs and begin to move away from the approaching soldiers. I gradually make my way along the soft, muddy bank of the stream, to the other side of the clearing. Just as my hand touches the bark of a tree; an arrow shoots past me, just kissing my cheek opening a new gash to join the old ones, before implanting itself into the tree a few inches higher than my hand.

My head turns so quickly from the arrow in the tree to the other side of the clearing where I see a young solider; swiftly knocking a new arrow into his bow.

‘She is over here!’ He shouts as he takes aim. His eyes squinting with malice intent as he calmly inhales with his draw of the arrow. The sliding of the wooden arrow being drawn back along the bow is silent, as the thundering stampede of boots and the dull shouts of other men fill the air.

A lone tear slides down my cheek, stopping on the fresh cut from the arrow. Caught hanging precariously on the jagged edge. The thundering stampede of the soldier’s boots and shouts slow down and quieten as they all make themselves known at the edge of the clearing behind the bowman. The measured draw of steel being removed from its home inside its sheath rings loudly through the quiet clearing. The solid wall of soldier’s part without command behind the bowman, making way for their leader. His sword held firm in his hand. Catching fragments of the moonlight as it falls through the branches. Glistening as if covered in diamonds. His careful steady walk comes to a stop a couple of feet in front of the bowman.

My eyes finally leave the glimmering sword and meet the eyes of its owner. The cold fire that shines brightly force me to hold my gaze. The need to look away and back down is strong, but it only causes me to continue to defy him, to show no weakness. I will not fold. Not to him. A sadistic smile slowly makes its way onto his face as he notices my condition. One hand supporting most of my weight stretched out onto the tree just below the arrow. The other curled around my chest to try and reduce the burning pressure of a few broken ribs. My whole torso slightly hunched over from the pain. My legs visibly shaking in effort to keep myself from collapsing into an unceremonious heap on the ground. Clothes torn into tattered rags, hanging hazardously to my frame. Dried blood, mud, and sweat caked to my visible skin.

‘Now… you do not look so powerful to me,’ his icy tone echoes across the clearing to my ears. ‘In fact, you almost look pitiful….’ His eyes gleam in merit at this.

For the first time I look away from his gaze to the young bowman. His face shows only the slightest hint of strain. His knuckles clenched so tightly to the bow and arrow. The force of his grip seen only ever so slightly, as the string from the bow gradually starts to cut its way into his fingers. The little trickle of blood noticeable in the moonlight. Arms quaking lightly in fatigue. Eyes flicker once from me to his leader, hoping for some sort of signal to either stand down or release the arrow; before landing back on me. A sheen coat of sweat gathers on his forehead, shimmering in the moonlight. He inhales with relief as a small gust of icy frigid wind cools him. I shiver when the icy gust swirls around my body.

The Crown Prince chuckles lowly when he notices my shiver. Unaware of his young bowman struggling to hold his weapon. I flicker my gaze back and forth to the prince and bowman. My concern now being the young soldier rather than his leader. I carefully start to straighten my body in preparation, carefully sliding one foot behind, ready to move when needed. The prince notices my change in stance and the direction of my gaze no longer focusing on him. He carefully turns his gaze away from me to the young soldier. Just as he catches a glimpse of the bowman, he releases the arrow with a curse.

The prince’s head whips around to follow the arrow in disbelief. I catch a quick glimpse of pure rage in his eyes before I remember the need to move. I was not quick enough. The arrow just misses my heart only to lodge in my shoulder. I scream out in pure agony. I look up at the prince before deciding that I would rather take on the forest than him. Gathering my remaining strength I take off into the shadows of the forest.

Shouts of anger, the quick wet slice, and heavy thud that follow behind me only spur me to move faster. Heavy footsteps soon follow, crunching leaves and snapping fallen twigs. My lungs burning in pain for more air. Black spots slowly start to appear in my line of sight. The warm blood flowing steadily down my arm, curling around my motionless fingers.

‘Leave her. She is not worth it. The Forest will finish her off!’ The prince’s command resonances through the trees. The footfalls behind me fade away as I continue further into the forest.

Gradually the black spots start to take over more of my sight. My breathing starts to turn shallower than before. I stumble over a tree root and collapse into a heap on the ground. Pushing the arrow further when I land on it. A scream passes my chapped lips into the dirt. I turn my head to the side to try and catch some more air for my laboured breaths. As my eyes start to fall shut against my will, I see a yellow glow form. Quiet footfalls reach my straining ears. A blurred shadow appears in the light as I try to move away. A hand reaches out and cups my face. My body gives out and stops struggling as the warm hand turns my head to face them. The blurred being even more unrecognizable as I start to drift off to unconsciousness.

‘You are safe now…’ The shadow gently whispers into my ear as I finally give into my body’s demand and allow myself to be swallowed into the darkness once again.