ADELE
Thump!
I stepped through the underbrush, dry grasses and sticks crunching beneath my feet. A twig broke loudly. The air was thick with tension. Birds shrieked in protest, their wings flapping wildly. The sound echoed through the forest.
Suddenly, the ground began to rumble, a low, ominous growl that vibrated through the soles of my boots. The earth was stirring, rotating before my very own eyes and I'm just left running away from a monster.
I couldn't feel my heart.. It had stopped beating the moment the devil began to chase me. I have no life to live after all, but I could at least wish to be spared.
"Run! Kitten.. Run!"
The earth trembled when he growled loudly.. His voice scared the night birds away. I tripped and fell.. He appeared right before me. His dark aura peels my skin away.
I was terrified to the core.. His fire blazing eyes made me shiver. Fire emanated through him.. I let out a deep sharp cry when the heat burned through my skin.
"We meet again, kitten"
He pulled out a sword which burned with red flames of fire.
"Kill me.. just kill me!" I cried.
"As you wish, kitten"
He raised the sword up, the night owls howling and flapping their wings over my head casting an eerie shadow. I closed my eyes waiting for him to slit my throat open.
______________
I jerked up, eyes snapping open and mouth gasping for breath. I had balls of sweat tickling down my body, my heart pounding and my head becoming a rollercoaster of drumrolls.
This nightmare.. Terrifying and horrible.
The world seemed different. Dark and scary. What was I running from? A monster? A devil?.. I had no courage to look at his face because his eyes alone were enough to rip my soul off.
"You are finally awake, Kitten?"
I flinched, snapping my head to the side. My skin turned pale, life gradually slipping away from me. I froze.. my heart stopped beating.
Those eyes.. The voice... and the aura.
I shifted. My eyes briefly scanned the room I was in. This isn't my home. And this isn't another dream, is it?
I pinched my cheeks as hard as I could and winced from the pain that hit me but nothing changed.. absolutely nothing.
He stood up, I moved away from the bed - stretching my hands out.
"Don't come any closer.." I warned shakily. "Who are you? Why am I here? How did I end up here?"
Why does his eyes and tone match that of the monster in my dream?.. The only difference is that his eyeballs aren't red flames of fire.
"Too many questions, don't you think, kitten? You're becoming too noisy" He didn't stop walking.. slowly and calculatively towards me.
With each step he took, I moved back until my back hit the wall and I'm left caged between his arms.
"You are mine now, Kitten"
He touched my cheeks. I shivered, then pushed him away because how dare him touch me? How dare him say that I'm his?
His eyes darkened.
"Stay away from me.." I rushed to the door and began to twist the door knob but, it's locked.
Have I been kidnapped? How?
I felt a wave.. Almost immediately, like a flash of light, he pinned me against the door. His hands gripped mine tightly behind my back.
"You seem clueless, how pathetic.".
"What am I doing here? How did I get here? Who are you? Once my stepmother finds out I've been kidnapped, she'd call the police and have you arrested.
I thought threatening him with the police would make him flinch but he didn't seem bothered.
"You are repaying her debt, little kitten. That makes you mine now"
"That's a lie. My stepmother would never do that. I'm sure I was kidnapped. Let go of me now before the police find out.."
I have no idea why I keep threatening someone like this man before me with the police when he seems to have control over everything.
He suddenly let go of me, stepped back and tucked his hands into his black coat.
"I'll give you the benefit of the doubt"
I didn't understand what he meant, but he stepped out of the room. The same door which I couldn't open, became easy for him with one twist.
I went back to twisting the door handle but all to no avail. I banged, screamed and yelled.. But I got no response.
Repaying her debt? What debt? Did my stepmother use me as a collateral? I thought within, leaning my back against the door.
I might be worthless, but my stepmother would never do such a thing to me. Never!!
________________
I was seated on the floor with my head lowered against my knee and my arms wrapped around my legs.
Deep in thought.. Refusing to believe I was used as a collateral. For hours, I remained that way until a thought suddenly struck me.
I stood up immediately and rushed towards the open window. I looked out.. the coast was clear and it didn't seem much of a distance.
I quickly looked around for anything... Just anything to serve as a rope. I immediately grabbed the curtains, turning it into a knotted rope.
Once I was sure it was firmly tight on the window, I threw the remaining part out, watching it go all the way down to the very end.
This might be dangerous but I really have to risk it. My stepmother might be worried sick about me and this opportunity, I could finally escape and leave whatever this place is.
Slowly, I grabbed onto the rope and began to go down, hoping the rope remained firm enough until the end. I don't want to die while trying to escape.
Again, I wish no one finds me or I'm a dead meat. Surprisingly, there's no one in sight.
I remained hopelessly scared until my feet touched the ground and a wave of relief washed over me instantly. But then, I knew I didn't have to waste anymore time.
I ran.. As fast as my legs could take.. Out of a place I have no idea what it's about. But, saving myself is the right thing to do.