Chapter 1-3

Hello

I was warned about the vast world. Everyone said it was a scary place but despite the warnings, I had always dreamed of going beyond the castle walls. I wanted to roam the crowded streets of the capital and explore the world just like everybody else.

"Run…" a whisper came out from my mouth, along with my ragged breaths.

They were right.

The world stretched far and wide that even though I had been running all night, I couldn't see an end to it. I also quickly realized it was far scarier than I initially imagined.

"There she is! After her!"

I looked back while running, my teeth clenching at the sight of thick smoke and fire engulfing the capital. Tens of people chased me with desire to kill me in their eyes.

I had dreamed of going beyond the castle walls but now that dream was falling apart. How did I end up being chased by rebels who had killed my family, my friends, my servants, and now they were after me.

'You have to survive.' A voice in my head rang loudly in my ear, spellbinding me to run as fast as I could. All my family sacrificed themselves so I can live, I couldn't just give up.

I gazed ahead only to see the dark and gloomy woods. I shivered at the mere sight of it but the cries and yells behind me only pushed me to run faster. My mind screamed in fear as I jumped into the darkness yet I could only move forward if I wanted to survive.

"Give up! You can't escape us!"

I ran in a random direction as sharp blades of grass dug into my numb feet, causing each step to feel like walking on needles. I jumped through the bushes but the hem of my skirt caught on a lost branch.

All I heard was the sound of my skirt ripping when a cold chill ran up my thigh. I didn't stop to check it though. I couldn't. Multiple shadows coming into the forest pushed me to continue running.

Survive.

It was the last words my mother spoke as she chased me out of the castle. She wanted to save my life but despite the head start, those people still found her.

"Mother…" I whispered with tears in the corner of my eyes and clenched my teeth. "I will survive… I will escape and live on… I promise..."

Thinking of her gave me the energy to continue but my hopes got crushed a second later.

"Ah!"

I didn't pay attention to the ground and knocked my foot into something hard. I winced in pain as I stumbled down to my knees and saw a large root above the ground. I didn't hesitate to stand up but the pain paralyzed my body once again.

Was this the end of my escape?

Unable to stand up and run further, I could only wait for the rebels to catch up and slaughter me. I couldn't help but tremble thinking what else they would do to me before that.

"Somebody…" A desperate call left my mouth as tears blurred my vision. "Please help me… Anyone..."

There was nothing but quietness as a response to my cries. I knew it was futile, but every passing second felt horrifying.

I was on the edge of my life even before the rebels reached me. My knees trembled uncontrollably each time I tried to move and my heart raced, pounding painfully against my chest. Even my lungs were constricting from all the running I wasn't used to.

Hide.

I couldn't run but I scanned my surroundings for any sort of hiding spots. I saw a hollow tree nearby and awakened my last will to fight for my life.

"Just a bit more..." I whispered, punching my legs to move while crawling to my hiding spot. It was my only chance for survival.

I was at arm's length when I froze, hearing a sudden snicker in the darkness ahead. My head bobbed up in panic, looking around.

"Who's there?" I mustered the courage to speak, but the only response I got was a mere whisper of the night breeze. It was probably nothing. I had to move.

I reached forward to grasp the root and pull myself under the tree when I paused again, hearing footsteps. I wasn't imagining it. There was someone ahead.

Each step was careful but heavy. I pushed myself to the side to peek behind the tree only to jerk back with my eyes widening in panic.

I saw it!

Red glowing pair of eyes whose shadow wasn't human. It walked stealthily in my direction like a predator hunting for its prey. I forced my breath to pause and it crept out of the dark.

A wolf…?

No, it was far bigger than a wolf should be. Either way, I understood that my life was no longer in my hands. The chase was over. I was dead. I closed my eyes after its eyes pierced me and waited for its fangs to rip my head apart.

The pain didn't come through. I waited a few seconds to calm down and finally braced myself to peek. The wolf was gone, replaced with a ***** man, casually squatting on the tree root.

As soon as our eyes locked again, the corner of his lips curled up into a smirk.

"Hello."

Chapter 2

Claimed

"Hello."

The man's warm baritone voice made my head throbbed as my vision zoomed in and out. He was studying me, tilting his head from one side and then slowly to the other.

Where did that colossal wolf go?

I looked behind him to check, but nothing. Did it go away? Am I saved? I nearly celebrated at that thought, but the faint noises of the rebels brought the terror back to my heart.

"Can you help me?" I asked with desperation in my voice. I didn't sense malice from him but even if he had ill intentions, it didn't change anything. The outcome would be the same if the rebels caught me.

"Girl, are you seriously asking a suspicious ***** man you met in the middle of the woods for help?" he questioned while tilting his head to the side.

I clasped my ripped skirt tightly, trying to find a voice to respond. "They will kill me."

He watched me curiously as I tried to sit up to face him.

"Do you know why?"

"I… don't know?" My breath hitched as I suppressed my tears from falling. Everything happened so fast. My life was perfect but it all changed in a single night.

I had no idea why did the rebels target my family and put so much effort into hunting me down. All I knew was I had to run for my life if I wanted to survive.

"Should I help you?" he returned the question, and I nodded without a second hesitation. "That's a quick answer. I like it."

"Will you help me then?"

"Sure, why not," he replied casually, giving me the slightest bit of hope. It was short-lived though as his next query squashed it.

"But what will I get in return if I help you?"

My mouth opened and closed. What could he get in return? I had nothing valuable on me.

Before I could say anything, he sighed, clicking his tongue as he gazed down at my ankle. He poked it, making me wince in pain.

"You sprained your ankle. You can't run in this state," he pointed out while bending over to sniff me.

My face instantly flushed as I tried to back away but he only followed closely behind. What was he doing? I knew I wasn't in the best state to have someone sniffing me — I had dirt all over and I was covered in sweat.

The man gazed up, fixing his eyes to me. "Can I lick you?"

For a moment, I doubted my ears worked properly as my mind buzzed once again. "What?"

The man stared at me for a moment, hopping down from the tree root. I quickly drew my head back when his feet landed on either side of my thigh and he leaned his face closer while resting his arms over his legs.

"Nevermind. I will help you," he decided firmly. "You naturally have to agree to the reward I want."

"I don't have anything I can give you."

"Of course you do." He pointed his finger at me. "You. If people are chasing after you, that only means they want something from you or you are someone important, don't you think?"

The only thing they wanted from me was my death, but I couldn't miss this misunderstanding.

There was a brief moment of silence between us as a mild gust of wind blew past us. I didn't know this man, but if he could take me away from there, I would go anywhere, even if it was hell.

The voices from the distance slowly grew distinct, telling me the rebels were near. It was only a matter of time before they would reach us.

"Will you kill me?" I asked under my breath.

He shook his head. "Why would I help you just to kill you? Please don't be daft."

"Then, help me," I decided while staring straight into his golden eyes. "Get me out of here. If I live till tomorrow, I will agree to any reward."

His brows quirked in surprise before the corner of his lips stretched from ear to ear. My mother told me to survive. They all sacrificed their lives, so this minor sacrifice was nothing compared to their suffering.

"Great!" he exclaimed while sliding his hands under my armpits. I was already in the air before I could react and he carried me as if I was a doll.

"My! You're so light," he called out while grinning. "I can toss and catch you while we ran without a problem."

"Please don't do that," I blurted out as I felt like he would literally do it.

"Haha! Sure." He lifted me higher, making me hold my breath. "I like you."

I stared at him blankly as I could clearly see his face from this view. He was quite charming with that carefree grin on his face. It surprisingly gave me a sense of security.

"I don't… dislike you," I said as it seemed he wasn't a bad person.

"Good," he intoned before carrying me like a toddler. My weight was on his sturdy arms as I gazed at him in surprise.

"Hold tight, Bambi." He smirked, raising his chin arrogantly. "Else, I might toss and catch you to kill boredom."

I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck in panic. His low chuckles tickled my ears, but I didn't care. I had to survive, after all.

"Alright." He jumped a little like a warm-up.

"Where are we going, by the way?" I asked just as he took a step. The man leaned back to look at me in dismay.

"I don't know? Maybe, to hell?" he said in disinterest. "Worried now?"

"I'm not," I replied with pursed lips and tightened my grip around him. "Let's go to hell if that's the only place they can't follow me."

My request caused him to chuckle, and he whispered, "No one can take away what I already claimed."

Before his words could register in my mind, he launched forward without a warning.

Chapter 3

Dead, dead, dead.

I didn't know if the man carrying me was just fast or it was my dizziness blurring my vision. My head was constantly throbbing, and it was getting worse every second.

"Hold tight."

His soothing voice was the main reason I stayed conscious. I tried to listen and held his neck in my arms, but I kept sliding down while losing my strength. If not for his large palm suddenly holding my back from falling, my face would already meet with the ground.

"I'm sorry," I murmured, keeping my heavy eyes open. I focused on hugging his warm yet sturdy body when I looked at the path behind us and noticed something strange.

Multiple black shadows appeared and started chasing us at full speed. I thought it was my blurred vision playing tricks on me, but they grew more distinct with each second.

"Hey… There are—"

I tried to warn him when my eyes forcefully closed and the little control I had slowly slipped away from my hand. The view of the forest was replaced by a peaceful darkness.

I had a dream, a recurring one I had throughout the years.

I was standing in front of the tower's window while gazing up at the beautiful night sky. A lonely red moon stared back at me as I hugged my toy bunny. I didn't know how to describe it, but longing surged in my heart every time I saw it.

A feeling of someone missing their home.

If I blinked, my surroundings would change, and I appeared in the freezing woods with a wounded pup struggling to stand in front of me. It had glowing red eyes, the same color as the snow he was standing on. It pained me watching the blood still dripping down its paws.

He looked at me with hostility as I walked towards it despite its intimidating growls.

"It's alright, it's alright," I assured softly, but it snarled and bore its fangs at me. When I blinked again, he was already on my lap while yipping happily.

The pup licked my small palm, and I giggled softly while petting it. I enjoyed my time spending with the pup until it was time to bid it farewell.

"We will play again once you're all healed," I said with a gentle smile. "I won't forget about you."

The pup had a melancholic and reluctant look in its eyes, but it calmed down at my promise. It naturally wouldn't forget about our goodbye ritual and waited until I touched our noses together.

"Get better quickly."

Those words were always the end of our dream before I would return to reality. This time it was the same with the difference being the absence of my bed and the large arms holding me tightly.

"Wake up, Bambi!"

It took me a moment to grasp the situation while I gazed blankly at the handsome face staring at me. I was escaping from rebels and that man was trying to save my life.

"You finally woke up. Come up, I need a free hand," he ordered without giving me a break and my limbs wrapped around him on instinct. This time, I had enough strength to hold on to him on my own.

He supported my bottom with one arm, but I didn't complain as I focused on the five shadows stubbornly chasing after us. I opened my mouth to speak, but I froze when their glowing red eyes gazed deeply into my soul.

They looked human, but they had long fangs and ran faster than galloping horses. Only then did I realize we were running even faster than them with my savior skipping through the forest with ease.

"What are they...?" I murmured while lowering my head to hide from their gaze. The bloodlust in their eyes caused my body to tremble.

"We call them bloody bats or just annoying mosquitoes," he uttered while holding me closer to his chest.

I glanced at him, closed-lipped. Bats? Mosquitoes? In a human form? I wanted to ask more questions but couldn't when he suddenly cursed under his breath.

I turned my head out of instinct and my eyes squinted as I followed his gaze. The exit of the forest signaled more freedom, but I quickly found why he cursed when he came to a sudden halt.

A cliff.

"Oh, no…" I sucked in cold breath as I gazed down only to see nothing but dense fog and darkness. I could feel my heart start to race and skip a beat while I clutched his shoulder, unknowingly digging my nails into it.

We were screwed.

Some pebbles rolled down and I held my breath in anticipation of a small drop. The sound only came a few seconds later which could only mean a lethal drop.

"What now?" I asked as I gazed at him in panic. If we stopped now, we would become food to the monsters behind us. If we continued forward, it would result in an instant death unless we had nine lives.

As soon as I questioned, our pursuers stopped running as well and walked towards us in silent steps. They both gazed behind and I saw five creatures creeping closer with each second.

My savior took a deep breath as he shifted his gaze to me and then looked ahead at the forest landscape beyond the drop. His response was a helpless exhale while rubbing my back.

"We don't have a choice, dear."

I paused at his words while my eyes widened. Was he telling me jumping from this cliff was better than getting caught?

'We are so dead...' I thought in distress. 'Dead, dead, dead.'

My lower lip trembled as I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I gave up and closed my eyes with my embrace tightening around his neck.

He was right.

At the very least, we could die quickly and no one could torture us. I fought to survive until the very end.

"Just trust me," he whispered, securing my body with both his arms. "We won't die."

"Huh…?" I opened my eyes to look at him in confusion but that was one of the dumbest decisions in my life. He lowered his body to get momentum and suddenly launched forward.

I felt like time had stopped when a strong wind blew my hair in all directions and we fell into the mist. I have never screamed louder despite my stomach squeezing inside me.

"Don't let go!" he yelled as his palm settled on the back of my head and I clung to him as tightly as possible.

I was beyond scared. I couldn't die just yet. I wanted to survive and live for the sake of my parents who died for me.

"Hold tight and don't let go! I need my hands," he ordered again but my mind barely registered his words. My tears blocked my vision and the wind locked my ears.

All I could do was hold on to him and brace myself for the impact.

Ongoing

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