Chapter 8: Escaping Aenon

[Roux].

The floorboards creaked under my restless feet as I paced back and forth inside the log cabin, the morning light sluggishly seeping through the small windows. Every muscle in my body tensed with the silent curses I hurled at Aenon for locking me inside.

Bringing in Adite’s name in vain as I prayed for him to fall wherever burrow he was now working for, leaving me here like a prisoner. I would never understand what upset him when I told him I would like to return to Bleaksburn.

I really thought he was a good Samaritan. How could he just confine me here like some unruly child under the guise of being protected?

The image of him from last night was impossible to shake. His laughter echoed in the hollows of my mind, drawing forth an infuriatingly attractive picture like a red cord tied around my insides, tugging me towards him.

“Adite’s mercy! What am I thinking?” I had to mentally scold myself. The thought of being attracted to my captor was as maddening as it was undeniably wrong.

“Gosh, Roux! You’re going crazy!” The words spilled from my lips like a mantra to stave off my unsettling feelings.

My hands tangled in my hair as I paced, the severity of my situation tightening like a vice.

“I need to get out of here. I can’t stay here.” If I stayed any longer, the overwhelming presence of that mountain of a man would surely chip away at my sanity.

I scanned the room, my gaze darting to the kitchen, where a glint of metal caught my attention.

Knife.

I propelled myself forward, clasping the cold handle and weighing my intentions. For a fleeting moment, I toyed with the idea of turning the blade on Aenon the minute he stepped inside his humble abode.

Yet, I knew I lacked the courage to carry out such a desperate act, especially when I could picture the knife snapping helplessly against his formidable muscles before it could even land a fatal blow on him. Given my size compared to him, I knew it would be a futile attempt.

Dismissing the absurd, murderous thoughts, my eyes drifted to the door. I peered through the gap. It was secured from the outside, with nothing but a simple latch standing between me and freedom.

“Come on, open up.”

My teeth clenched, my eyes focused on the barely visible latch.

Carefully meticulously, I slid the knife through the gap and manipulated the latch until I felt it give way.

The door swung open with a loud creak, exposing me to the bite of the afternoon air. I froze for a moment, half expecting to see Aenon’s angry flare marching from the corner to push me back in.

But there was nothing but the silent sound of nature.

I breathe, and my heart thrummed like a bird trapped in a cage, now set free.

My gaze met with the sprawling, intimidating embrace of the forest that stretched before me, inviting fear to lace through my veins. But it was either face the fear or face Aenon again, and my stubborn resolve favored the unknown wilderness.

With a determined push, I stepped out, the soil yielding beneath my feet, and without granting myself time to hesitate, I plunged into the forest. The instinct to follow the path was strong, but knowing it would lead straight to Aenon, I veered off into the underbrush, docking through the arching ferns above my head.

As I ran headlong across its rough terrain, the forest was alive with rustling leaves and snapping twigs. My breath grew ragged with the effort, every gulp of air sharpening the pain of my previously sedentary days confined to the cabin room. Regardless, I pushed on, powered by the raw need to escape, until my legs shook and my lungs burned for mercy.

The sun had already begun its descent over the horizon. I found shelter at the bottom of a huge tree, its massive roots winding up above the ground. My survival instincts surprisingly kicked in.

I gathered dried leaves and found a couple of flint stones, striking them against each other, creating a small fire to keep me warm and provide light as the darkness of night cloaked me.

I curled into a small ball pressed into the gnarling massive root. The sound of nocturnal creatures fills the air with life. It offered me a little comfort to let my guard down.

Exhaustion finally caught up to me, my eyes closing into sleep, my memories reaching back to the time when I had saved my sister from drowning by the riverbank.

It all happened too fast. I could still remember it too vividly.

It was late afternoon, with the sun hiding behind the clouds, and I was plowing our farm, readying the soil for cropping, when I saw Elmo running towards me, eyes wide in panic.

“Roux! Lotte has fallen into the river!”

My heart dropped in that moment. Countless things running over my head. Among them, all is a palpable fear of losing my dearest sister.

I wasn’t thinking straight. I followed Elmo, leaving my chore completely abandoned as I rushed towards the riverbank near our town. My eyes locked on the struggling image getting caught through the rip current.

“Roux! Help!”

My heart was pounding in my ears, sprinting towards the river's edge, where Lotte’s terrified screams echoed over the rushing rapids. Quickly thinking, I jumped over the water and braced myself against the powerful current.

With adrenaline pumping through my veins, my muscles straining against the force, I extended my arm towards Lotte’s, who clung desperately to a small rock protruding from the swirling water.

I reached out to grasp Lotte’s hand. With a surge of strength, I hoisted her up and out of the treacherous waters, pulling her safely onto the riverbank.

Both our clothes were soaked, our bodies shaking, but I held tight to her body, afraid that if I let go of her, the river would finally take her away from me.

A transient sense of relief and gratitude washed over me. Saving my little sister from the watery fate.

However, what came after that was far worse than I had expected.

“Roux…” Lotte’s shaking voice croaked, her eyes wide with sheer fear. “Your hair.”

What she said sends waves of icy terror through my veins, making my heart drop to my feet for the second time. As the cold gust of wind blew in our direction, the corner of my eyes caught the shade of crimson locks waving into the air.

My scarf has fallen off my head.

“Her hair!” one of the townsfolk screams. “It’s red!”

I haven’t noticed that people have flocked to the riverside hoping to aid us. However, the table has now flipped upside down.

My mind jolted me awake as though my consciousness refused to relive the haunting memories.

Immediately, one thing that came to my attention. Pricking the hairs on my neck with ice, cold dread.

It was too quiet, unnaturally so.

My pulse spiked, my eyes snapping open to pierce the darkness.

Like a floating entity, a pair of yellow orbs reflected the light from my fire, a silent testament to the presence of a new threat.

I could hardly breathe. My mind reeled, screaming at my own stupidity.

Adite’s mercy!

How could I ever forget…

…the beast?