"Why is a little girl like you wandering around in the forest at night?" one of the men sneered, a menacing glint in his eye as they encircled Leila. She stood frozen, her heart racing, the chill of the night air biting at her skin.
The shortest of the trio, with a scruffy beard and a crooked smile, stepped forward and roughly grabbed the bags slung over her shoulders. "Boss, she seems to be a servant from some elite family who got lost," he said, rummaging through the bags with little care, pulling out the expensive items.
The man referred to as "boss" leaned in closer, his lips curling in a snarl as he surveyed the contents. He clicked his tongue in annoyance, his expression morphing into one of pure ferocity.
"Working for those dirty, greedy nobles," he spat as he glared at the items in the bag "They look down on us, treating us like we are nothing but dirt beneath their feet."
"Stay away from me!" Leila shouted, her voice trembling as she continued to step back, desperate to put distance between herself and the men.
"Or what?" the leader taunted, flashing a crooked smile that revealed his discolored, yellowing teeth. The glint in his eyes was anything but friendly.
Leila's mind raced as she assessed the three men before her. She knew she couldn't take them on alone; they were armed and dangerous. She had to be clever, she had to find a way to escape this dire situation.
The men exchanged glances. "Look at her," one of them remarked. "So thin and malnourished. Do you think she would fetch a good price?"
Selling her? The realization hit Leila like a punch to the gut. They were planning to sell her into slavery! Without a moment's hesitation, she spotted an opening and took off, she sprinted away.
But before she could make her escape, a rough hand seized her hair, yanking her back with brutal force. She was thrown harshly to the ground, the impact knocking the breath from her lungs.
Gasping in pain, she looked up, her eyes fierce, and glared at the men who were now laughing viciously at her predicament.
"Trying to escape?" the leader mocked, crouching down to her level, his face twisted in a cruel smirk. "You know, up close, you look even prettier with those big green doe eyes." He leaned in closer, his breath foul and hot. "We could have a little fun with you before selling you off."
Just as the leader reached out his hand to caress her cheek, a fierce light flashed in Leila's eyes. In one fluid motion, she drew a small knife hidden in the folds of her dress and slashed at the man's arm. The blade caught him off guard, slicing through flesh and fabric.
"My arm!" he screamed in pain as he stumbled back, clutching the wound. Blood oozed between his fingers.
Seizing the moment, Leila sprang to her feet, adrenaline pumping through her veins, and bolted away while the men stood momentarily stunned by what had just happened.
"She's getting away, you morons!" the leader bellowed, his voice filled with rage and disbelief.
"Catch her! I'm going to teach that little bitch a lesson she won't forget!" His furious shout penetrated the air, snapping his companions from their daze.
The lackeys shook off their shock and lunged into action, their heavy footsteps echoing through the forest as they pursued her.
Branches clawed at her arms, and the cold night air filled her lungs. She could hear them gaining on her, their shouts becoming increasingly frantic. The fear of what they might do if they caught her propelled her onward, fueled by sheer desperation and the will to survive.
Leila darted through the dense forest, her feet pounding against the ground as she ran aimlessly, desperate to shake off the men hot on her heels. Forget about the precious bags of clothes and jewelry she had carried; survival was all that mattered.
"Damn, she runs so fast on those short legs!" one of the men called out, a hint of admiration lacing his tone.
"We can't let her escape! Run faster, Daniel!" the leader shouted, urgency creeping into his voice.
"Yeah, yeah," Daniel replied nonchalantly, as if the chase were just a game.
Leila's mind raced as she spotted a massive tree ahead, its gnarled trunk offering a momentary refuge. In a split-second decision, she ducked behind it, pressing her back against the rough bark. Her heart thudded loudly in her chest, and she instinctively covered her mouth with one hand to stifle her ragged breaths. The other hand clutched the bloodstained knife.
This knife was the same one she kept hidden under her pillow. Today, she had brought it with her just in case of unexpected situations, it actually became handy.
As she held her breath, , Leila couldn't help but think that fate was cruelly twisted. After all she had endured in Brokley, the tragedy and the loss, she had finally mustered the courage to start anew. And yet, here she was, facing the very real possibility of being captured and enslaved by some depraved noble.
The leader's voice cut through the silence, his tone low and menacing. "She was just right here. Where did she go?"
His goons muttered among themselves, their footsteps echoing through the forest as they searched for her.
"Find her!" the leader barked, his anger and frustration palpable. "She could be anywhere."
Leila knew that one misstep, one miscalculation, could mean capture, slavery, and a fate worse than death.
And then, suddenly, the sound of footsteps faded away, leaving only an oppressive silence in their wake. The voices, too, were gone, swallowed up by the darkness. Leila waited, her senses on high alert, wondering if this was merely a ruse, a trick to lull her into a false sense of security.
After a while, she let her guard down, a soft sigh escaping her lips as Leila thought she had finally escaped her pursuers. Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind, pulling her into a tight grip. "I have found her! She's here!"
Leila struggled to break free, but the man's grip was like iron. She kicked and squirmed, but he held her fast. Was this it? Was she going to be dragged to a life of slavery? An image of those poor slaves she saw at the market popped into her mind. No, she refused to accept that fate!
A hard slap landed on her face, making her ears buzz with pain. "Stay still, you little bitch!" the man growled.
Fueled by her desire for freedom, she drove the knife she was holding into the man's chest, feeling a sickening crunch as the blade bit deep. She pulled the knife out with force, and the man's eyes widened in shock as blood quickly seeped out of his clothes. His grip on her loosened, and Leila took advantage of the opportunity to push him away and make a run for it.
By the time the other men arrived, Leila was long gone. The injured man lay in a pool of blood, his breathing weak. "Shit, that wound is too close to the heart!" Shorty cried in alarm, kneeling beside the unconscious man to check his pulse. "Who knew a little girl could have such balls?! This girl had actually aimed to kill!"
A flash of lightning illuminated the gloomy landscape, and drops of rain began to fall on Leila's face. She felt like she had been running for hours, her legs aching and her lungs burning. Exhaustion threatened to consume her, and she stumbled forward, her vision blurring.
The rain grew heavier, drumming against her skin and soaking through her clothes. Her dress clung to her body like a second skin, weighing her down with every step. The rain obstructed her vision, reducing the world to a blurry, waterlogged haze. Leila's body felt heavier with each passing moment, her muscles screaming in protest.
Just as she thought she couldn't go on, Leila's legs gave out beneath her. She tripped and fell into the mud, her body crashing onto the wet earth. She lay there, motionless, all her strength drained from her. Her eyes struggled to stay open, and she could barely muster the energy to move a finger.
What was the point of struggling? She was just a weakling in a world that seemed determined to crush her. Leila felt a sense of resignation settle over her. Might as well just surrender to whatever fate had in store for her.
As the rain continued to plummet down on her, Leila's body shivered with cold. She had gotten herself scratched several times while running, and now the blood seeped out, staining her dress. Her eyes slowly closed.
A faint, mirthless chuckle escaped Leila's lips as she whispered, "When I die, I'll come back and haunt you, Juliana Williams. Mark my words."
As she drifted between consciousness and unconsciousness, Leila's mind began to wander. She wondered what heaven was like, if it was a place of peace and tranquility, or if it was just a myth created to comfort the living.
Just as she was starting to lose herself in her thoughts, Leila became aware of a distant sound, the rumble of wheels and the clip-clop of horse hooves. A carriage was approaching, and Leila's heart skipped a beat as she realized she was lying sprawled in the middle of the road.
Panic set in as she wondered if the carriage would run her over. She tried to move, to crawl out of the way, but her body felt heavy and unresponsive.
The carriage seemed to have stopped just a few feet away from her. Leila faintly heard a voice ask, "Why did you stop the carriage?" And then another voice exclaimed, "There's someone lying on the road!"
Leila heard the light sound of footsteps approaching, and she knew that someone was standing near her. She tried to open her eyes, to see who it was, but they felt heavy and uncoordinated.
"Is she dead?" a voice asked.
Leila felt a shoe nudging her roughly. "She seems to be alive." That annoying voice sounded so familiar!
With great effort, Leila opened her eyes, and two pairs of eyes stared back at her. One pair belonged to a man with a look of wonder and pity, while the other pair staring at her with dislike. As her vision cleared, Leila's eyes widened in recognition. It was the masked man and his servant, Benjamin!
A vein popped on her forehead as she struggled to contain her anger. Not these two lunatics again!
Benjamin's eyes narrowed as he stared at Leila. "Master, this girl looks familiar. Have we seen her before?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
The masked man's response was short and certain. "No." Leila's face reddened with anger. What did he mean by no? Did he seriously expect her to believe that he had forgotten about her again, after their two bizarre encounters?
Leila's eyes locked onto the masked man's, her gaze burning with indignation. How could he pretend not to recognize her?
"Really?" Benjamin scratched his head, his expression skeptical.
The masked man's attention turned back to Leila, and he kicked her lightly with his boot. "Can you get out of the way? You're blocking the road. We can't pass through without running over you." His tone was dismissive, and Leila's eyes flashed with anger.
"You stupid old fa..." Leila began to curse, but her voice was so feeble and weak that it was lost in the heavy rain. She struggled to sit up, but her body felt like lead, and she collapsed back onto the wet earth.
Benjamin felt a pang of pity for Leila. "I think she's asking for our help, milord. Maybe we should help her." He glanced at Leila's frail form, and his expression softened. "She might actually die if we leave her out here."
The masked man remained silent, his lips pressed into a thin line as he stared intensely at Leila. His eyes seemed to bore into her soul, as if he wanted to cut her into pieces. Benjamin shifted uncomfortably, sensing his master's hostility.
"Master?" Benjamin ventured, trying to break the silence.
The masked man's gaze lingered on Leila for a moment before he walked away, muttering, "Humans are so troublesome."
"Here. Let me help you get up, young miss," Benjamin offered, his voice warm and reassuring as he extended his hand toward her. Leila hesitated, her gaze fixed on his outstretched palm for a brief moment.
With a reluctant sigh, she placed her delicate hand into his grasp. With a gentle yet firm pull, Benjamin helped her to her feet.
As soon as he released her hand, Leila's body wavered unsteadily, her balance faltering as if she might tumble back to the ground. Benjamin swiftly stepped closer, his steady hands catching her before she could fall.
In that fleeting moment, he caught a glimpse of the knife she had been clutching tightly. Though the rain had washed away most of the blood, the glint of the blade still hinted at a harrowing story. "What happened to you, miss?" he inquired casually.
Leila took a deep breath, her expression shifting to one of guarded resolve. "I got lost and almost got kidnapped," she explained briefly, discreetly tucking the knife back into the folds of her dress.
"It must have been an unpleasant experience," he said softly as he began to lead her toward the carriage. "Where are you headed? We will take you home."
Leila took a deep breath. "I'm headed to the Williams manor," she said, hoping that Benjamin was familiar with the location.
"Ah, yes, we will take you there," he replied with a reassuring smile. "The master is feeling generous today!"
With a soft nod of acknowledgment, Leila climbed into the carriage. Benjamin then moved to the coachman's seat, his figure silhouetted against the dim light as the carriage lurched forward, setting off down the rain-slicked road.
Inside, the atmosphere grew tense. The only other occupant was a masked man sitting across from her, his presence looming like a shadow. An unsettling aura surrounded him, causing Leila to instinctively shrink back in her seat. His unblinking gaze remained fixed on her, amplifying her discomfort.
As the carriage rattled along, Leila's condition worsened. Feeling utterly drained, her body felt aflame with feverish heat. Each short, ragged breath echoed in the small space.
Wrapped her arms tightly around herself, a series of sneezes erupted from her, each one more forceful than the last, causing tears to well up in her eyes.
Why did she always have to encounter this man when she was at her weakest point?