Cling, clang. My feet pounded against the road. Hot sweat poured from my face. My body willed me to stop, but in my head I knew I couldn't.
I turned my head in hopes not to see him. He was still there, his eyes piercing my heart, trying to destroy my soul. I ran for the village, for the homes in my sightline. Someone had to help me.
"Help me! Somebody, please, help me!" I cried, running. No one answered in reply; no door opened to hide me. I was on my own with no sword to fight, and no strength left if I had.
My corset pried the air from my lungs faster than I could restore it. My dress caught underneath my foot and sent me to the ground. The taste of dirt and blood filled my mouth.
Cling, clang. His footsteps grew closer. I tried to claw away, but with no success: he was above me.
The burning smell of blood surrounded him and now me too. His eyes were so dark... as if they had once belonged to Satan himself. He raised his sword, preparing to kill me.
I kept my eyes trained on him, imprinting my eyes into his memory. He froze; something behind me caught his attention. Finally someone had come to aid me, was my only thought, and also my last hope.
I heard footsteps coming closer, the faint sound of sword coming unsheathed. I dared to turn my head to see my savior's face. In this instant I felt rough hands dragging me onto my feet.
The metallic cold blade of his sword pressed against my throat.
"Come to the lady's aid, I see," my attacker taunted him well, pressing the blade close against me. "Well, you're much too late."
He laughed. "I have her and there's only one way out of this for her, I'm afraid."
My savior only smiled and nodded his head slightly, almost unnoticeably.
A soft sound resembling wind came from behind. Then a thud as my attacker fell to the ground beside me.
My knees felt weak, my body drained, my mind racing. Someone caught me as I fell forward.
So warm were his arms as he lifted me off the ground.
"Thank you," I managed to muster between my gasps for air. I focused in on his face, wanting to remember what the man who saved my life looked like.
Long chocolate hair fell just in front of his eyes. His eyes were kind and loyal; they sparkled mazarine in the afternoon light. His face was stern but his cheeks hinted at relief. My eyelids grew heavy and my mind tired....
