The Knight aggressively ripped through the branches, flinging them aside to clear a path.
"You know, you could just move them to the side!" Chanel shouted, trying to keep up with his swift movements. He paused, gripping a branch, then, in an instant, he was behind her, resting his arms casually on her shoulders.
"Lead the way, hand-in-mouth," he teased, that infuriating smirk resurfacing on his face.
Chanel let out an exasperated sigh and moved ahead, playfully retorting, "Should I carry you on my back too, princess?" He nodded enthusiastically, flapping his arms around her neck like a child.
She shrugged him off and got to work, pushing the branches aside to maintain the path. "Let's focus on what we came to do," she stated firmly, though the Knight's whining was a constant distraction in her ears.
"What's your name?" she asked, her tone bored; she wanted a moment of peace from his complaints. He tapped his finger thoughtfully against his lips, gazing up at the sky.
"Umm…," he mused, "I think my mom said it was Rum."
Chanel was determined to avoid any questions; she had no interest in sparking another conversation with this man or wasting another moment staring at him.
"Alright," she said curtly, and resumed her journey.
Suddenly, he stopped and peered intently at a nearby bush. "I sense something," he exclaimed. "I think there's something in there."
With an exasperated sigh, Chanel made her way over, crouching to match the bush's height. She pushed aside the branches and grasped his head, shoving it forward, "See? There's nothing in—"
To her surprise, she felt the claws of an animal resting gently on her head—no harm, just an unexpected presence. She jumped back, drawing her sword with a mix of shock and irritation. "Your head was literally in that bush! Why did it have to touch me?!"
Rum, now standing beside her, couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Your unpleasant smell must be attracting it, hand-in-mouth!" Chanel stepped closer, parting the bush just enough to finally catch a glimpse of the creature hidden within.
With a surprising leap, it bounded out like a bouncing ball, landing on its two tiny feet. Its body and head were perfectly proportional, adorned with black spots across its fur.
Chanel placed her sword on the animal's neck, "Should I kill it?", She looked at Rum.
"It seems harmless," he responded. "But the safest choice is always clear: Kill it." Chanel nodded, ready to slice at the creature, but to her surprise, her sword wouldn't budge, and they were suddenly blinded by a brilliant white light.
When their vision cleared, the animal had vanished, replaced by a blonde girl with a lovely face and skinny jeans, who stood before them in a state of panic. She pressed her hand against her chest and inhaled deeply. "Thank goodness I transformed! How did you two even see me?!"
They gaped at her, a mix of confusion and curiosity on their faces.
"Who are you?" Rum asked, taking a cautious step closer.
"I'm not a bad person!" she replied urgently. "I just stepped out for a walk."
Rum swiftly drew his gun, aiming it at her head. "I don't care if you're good or bad. My rule is simple: 'Shoot on sight." The girl cried out, desperately trying to clarify her intentions, while Chanel merely shook her head, dismissing the situation.
There was no reason for the girl to fear, it was obviously a bluff.
Till she heard him pull the trigger.
"What are you—" A bullet shot out, zooming straight toward the girl's forehead. Chanel instinctively tried to pull her aside, but it was too late; the bullet made contact.
Chanel's eyes widened—not because of the impact, but because the girl remained standing, completely unharmed, with no blood in sight.
The girl sighed, lowering her head as the bullet gradually ejected itself from her forehead and clattered to the ground. "Please, calm down and listen," she pleaded again, avoiding any explanation for the bullet's casual exit.
Rum chuckled, casually slinging the gun over his shoulder, "I knew it."
Chanel seized him by the collar, her voice rising, "YOU KNEW WHAT?! YOU JUST ABOUT KILLED HER!" Rum's laughter echoed, his gaze shifting to the girl, who was now scanning the surroundings with anxiety. "I knew she was connected to one of the Five Dreams," he declared, causing her face to drain of colour.
Chanel released his collar, frustration evident in her voice. "What?! Can you even hear yourself?" She groaned, exasperated by his incessant foolishness.
He took the gun off his shoulders, "Kareen Julius, Daughter of the 15th Noble. Correct me if I'm wrong".
Kareen's shoulders tensed at his words, but she quickly took a deep breath, "You're not wrong, but it doesn't change anything".
He twirled the gun, "You're right, nothing changes. Except the fact that I know the Dream protecting you and how it happened, I also know you're not legally meant to be alive".
Kareen gritted her teeth and fled into the forest, moving at a ridiculous speed. Rum laughed and turned to Chanel, "Go find your sister, I'll find my prey", and he disappeared into the night.
Chanel scratched her head, tilting it to the side, What just happened?
She looked up to the moon, realising she couldn't waste any more time and ran towards the Thread of Ridge. She had to find Dove.
Rum loaded the gun, looking around, "Alright, prey, come out to play".
His eyes travelled to some trees at the far end where he could see a girl's leg jumping from one to the other. He followed behind, making sure he was as close as he could be, but still second; it built up more fear.
Kareen looked back, and her heart pounded. She transformed into a hare, hopping as fast as she could. Rum pointed his gun at her, "I love small things, y'know".
Kareen ran as fast as she could, transforming into a tiger beetle as her last hope.
Rum stopped in his tracks, that everlasting smirk of his appearing again. "I love small things, but they can be annoying". Kareen moved even faster not minding that he had stopped, she just needed to get to the middle.
Then she heard a sound, like the flick of a finger and a voice followed.
Rum smiled, hands in pockets, "Since there is no other stronger being here, I claim this territory as mine".
And the ground shook.
Kareen transformed back on instinct and watched as the ground shook, her heart beating fast enough to explode.
"I should have brought my weapons, " she thought, standing up despite the shaking ground. She leaned on a tree and looked at Rum, "What do you want from me?"
The shaking reduced as he walked closer, every step of his doing something she couldn't explain. "Answers, " he replied, now right in front of her.
"You never asked any questions, " she shot back, breathing heavily. "You never gave me the chance, " he replied, placing a hand on her cheek.
She pushed his hand away, trying to control her breathing and steady herself. The aftermath of the shaking still affecting her.
"I'm not in the mood to kill or torture, so answer my questions, and I'll let you be. But firstly..", He tilted his neck to the side.
"Pardon me as I kidnap you, " he said and attempted to lift her. She grabbed his hands and twisted them as he cried out in pain. "I'll follow you, don't touch me".
He laughed, "Well, you can't follow me cause you'll be unconscious, " he replied. She raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean I'll-", and she fell to the floor, now unconscious.
He grabbed her and flung her over his shoulders, "Time to take Rapunzel to her tower, " he murmured and laughed at his own joke.
The wind blew aggressively as Rum flicked his fingers again, "I no longer claim this territory".
He adjusted the sleeping girl on his shoulders and walked back to the path they had come from.
Suddenly, a certain voice kept ringing in his head, but he couldn't capture what it was saying, till he heard the words 'Stop'.
And for some reason, Rum couldn't move.