"I dare you."

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I could only hear the sounds of my feet tapping the ground and my heart pounding in my chest. I had one goal and one goal only: get away. My blue eyes frantically searched for a place to hide as sweat dripped down my wavy, blonde hair. I knew it was idiotic to lead them to my apartment, but this meant I didn't know where else to go. The place was a one-way street, and they blocked the path back to any public areas.

"Hey sweetheart!" I grimaced as I heard one of the brutes call out to me, sounding closer than before. "We just wanna talk is all..." The other one snickered. I felt myself starting to panic as the street lights died away.

"Yeah babe! Just come to us. We'll take real good care of you," the other one tagged on to the first guy. I knew what they were insinuating, and it made me want to gag and cry all at the same time. I should've expected this. I should have brought something, anything with me to defend myself. Their footsteps got louder and quicker, their laughter haunting my ears. Oh my God this is really happening to me! I sped up, hoping to run into someone, but the trees were getting thicker.

"We're trying to be nice here. Don't turn us into the bad guys..." They laughed at their jokes and I felt my skin crawl. "Alright, we're done messing around." I heard one say to the other.

Their footsteps suddenly stomped on the ground, speeding up. I didn't think twice and started running down the path, debating to rush off into the forest. If I did, they wouldn't find my body for days. They were gaining on me and I knew it. Fuck, I knew it. I burst into tears as my lungs burned. Their laughter filled the air, suffocating me. I couldn't breathe. I just couldn't.

Shit!

There was nowhere else to run. The gate and walls of the castle loomed above me. I stared up at them in shock. I was about to be raped and killed in front of an abandoned castle.

"Damn lady, you really wore us out," I heard them catch up to me as I wiped my tears. I didn't dare say anything to them. I whirled around, they were looming over me. I looked to the moon above me and prayed for a miracle. I flinched as one of their hands started to caress my cheek. "Aren't you something.." I heard him whisper and tried not to gag at the smell of his breath. He had been drinking.

"Touch her again," I heard a voice from the forest. "I dare you."

"Who said that?" The guy removed his hand from my cheek, looking around but not moving his body. "Jacob, did you hear that?" He asked the guy next to him.

"Of course I heard that Kyle! It was like it was in my brain. I don't like this. We should leave," Jacob started trying to grab Kyle.

"Don't touch me!" He threw Jacob off of him. "Are you seriously chickening out now?" He moved his hand to move some hair away from my face, as it had clung there from sweat.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"I warned you," the voice, etched in malice, loomed over the area once more.

"Yeah? And I'm warning whoever's out there to get out of here before I- AH!"

I had only blinked, but now Kyle was ten feet away, ass on the ground. With a whirl of wind, a cloaked figure stood between us.

"Shit Kyle, he's real!" Jacob cried and started running.

"Don't leave me here dammit!" Kyle scurried to get off the ground, and tripped slightly as he started running.

Once they were only a spec in the distance, the figure turned to me. My hyperventilating increased as I saw red eyes, and then, I saw nothing.

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My eyes slowly fluttered open and I sneezed as the light hit my face. I rubbed my eyes and looked around to see I was in what appeared to be a royal bedroom. The bedsheets under my arms were dusty and a deep red color. Gold was etched into the bed frame, or at least it looked like that. To my right was a black dresser with a full length, dusty mirror sitting next to it. Light spewed into the room on my left, revealing a grand closet door and a bedside table. My glasses were on it. The only question was:

Where was I?

I slowly and quietly stood up, my sock-covered feet hitting the cold ground. I quickly put on my shoes. I didn't know if I had to run yet. I snuck over to the window and looked out it to find... the village? I let confusion bestow itself upon my face. I was in the castle, but it was supposed to be abandoned.

That meant there was someone here, possibly tied to that man from last night, and I could be in danger more so than with those goons. I searched the room for my messenger bag. I would have left it if it weren't for the fact my ID was in there. I gently placed it over my shoulder and walked back over to put my glasses on.

Knock, knock, knock.

My head snapped to the door. The knock was gentle, but stern all at the same time. Fuck. I backed away from the door, ready to jump out of the window if necessary. Slowly, the door opened.

In the doorway stood the man from last night. He was dressed in what looked like wizard robes, red accenting the black. He was pale, very pale. His eyes were a deep, fiery red and strong brows rested perfectly above them. His hair was long, wavy, and black. It fell behind his cloak in ripples. There was a bun that sat on top of his head as well, further revealing his strong jaw and pointed nose. His hair framed his face and pointy ears... wait. What man has pointy ears?

"Are you done looking, miss?" My eyes widened at his low, baritone voice. He spoke in a monotone way, almost as if he were bored. His eyes certainly showed that. I nodded slowly. "Good. Now follow me." I debated jumping out the window one last time before following the man.

Now walking behind him, he was nearly a foot taller than me, but he wasn't broad. He was rather slim but toned in his build. It was certainly odd.

He led me through the castle, making so many turns that I couldn't keep track of it. Then, he stopped in front of a grand door. I gathered that this was the entrance to the castle.

"The gate is unlocked for you, but if you want to leave, you must promise to never speak of this place or myself again, lest you want to appear a fool," he looked down at me, his body still facing the door. I felt compelled to at least thank him.

"Thank you, for saving not only once or twice," I had to say. He almost rolled his eyes.

"Don't expect me to do it again. You must be more careful in the future." I nodded and he opened the door for me.

"May I ask for the name of who saved me?" He stared into my eyes for a few moments.

"No. Now leave me be. Do not come back."

"I am Lucille. Again, thank you." This time he did roll his eyes.

"I did not ask for your name, now leave before I make you." Getting the hint, I left.

The door immediately shut behind me and I walked down the path to the gate. Like the man said, it was unlocked. I gently pushed it open and made my way back to my apartment.

I opened the door to be greeted by my kitten Luma. She screeched at me, like she usually does, and pranced around my feet. She immediately jumped on the kitchen counter, yelling for treats.

With a sigh, I closed the door behind me and sighed. This was going to be a lot to think about.