Oh God, please don't touch me...
He made me walk forward and we stopped in front of a fire, made by his demon ninjas. He pushed my shoulder down, making me sit down on the grass. I had no idea where we were. Still inside the forest. But I didn't know how far from the cave we were. I tried to analyze the surroundings, figuring out where should I go so I could return to Jessica and Caiden.
Not that I could've run away from his demons. But I could've tried at least, right?
As I was sitting near the fire, zoning out, the big man came next to me and lent me something. I flinched, scared by his sudden approach. I looked at his hand, realizing he was trying to give me food. My stomach growled and my mouth watered instantly. I was really hungry. I couldn't try to run away with an empty stomach, so, I bowed to him and took the food he gave me.
After a few minutes, the big man scratched the back of his head, yawning. He put himself on the grass, next to me and closed his eyes. I blinked slowly. He was sleeping there?! In the middle of the forest?! What if wild animals came and tried to eat us while we were sleeping?!
I threw a quick look towards his ninjas. Four of them, standing on their feet, looking around the forest. That was why he wasn't afraid. He had four demons who were watching him closely. I sighed.
I waited a bit until I could hear him snore and, with a rolling of my eyes, I got to my feet. All of them turned their heads towards me and narrowed their eyes. I grimaced.
This is going to be a lot harder than expected.
How could I make some distance between us...?
Oh! I have the perfect plan!
"Uh... Sorry guys... but..."
They threw me confused glances and something hit me hard. They didn't know English! Hell! How could I tell them they had nothing to worry about because I only wanted to pee?!
"What do you want, human?"
The ninja who was staying the furthest from me stepped forward, speaking in English. I sighed in relief. I had so much luck! "Thank God you're speaking English!" I said, smiling at him, but his red eyes got even narrower.
"What do you want?" His suspicious look made me realize that he was going to follow me anywhere I wanted to go.
"You see... I have to pee. And you guys seem nice and all, but I'm pretty shy when I'm around boys. Can I go a bit further in the forest? If I'm away for too much time, you can always haunt me down. It's not like I can run faster than you. Plus, I'm wearing a dress. Not very comfortable."
They all looked up at the single one who was speaking English. He explained them quickly my request, but they didn't say anything. I pursued my lips, trying to show them the most innocent expression I could made up.
The one speaking English sighed and scratched the back of his neck. "Fine. Don't go too far. I'm not in the mood to run after you."
I nodded and smiled. "Thanks! It's going to be quick!"
I pivoted quickly and ran away from them, knowing their eyes were glued on me. I sighed, stressed by those goddamn demons. Why couldn't he have some normal guards? Did he really need demons? Wasn't he afraid they could've betrayed him? I shook my head, walking slowly towards a big tree and hiding after it.
After I finished my natural business as fast as I could, I decided quickly in what direction I should've gone. I really hoped it was the right one. Maybe I could've met with someone on my way... or maybe I could've found a house so I could hide in it...
I just hoped for the best.
So, I started running.
I didn't have much time until they would've figured out I was running away from them. I had to think fast of my next move.
Should I hide behind a tree and hope they won't hear me or smell me? Or should I keep running, hoping they will lose my track?
A few Japanese shouts behind me made the blood froze in my veins. It was way sooner than I expected. I didn't even have time to catch my breath. There was no time to hide. All I could do was to run faster and pray. And, oh God, I prayed so much...
I'd never ran so fast in my entire life. I felt my lungs screaming for a break, for more oxygen, for me to stop. But I couldn't. I knew they wouldn't have killed me if they caught me...
Is that so? They are demons after all... They could kill me and then kill the big man as well...
Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale...
...and I tripped.
I was sure something like this would've happened. It was dark. I was in a goddamn forest, without any lamp guiding my way. I was lost and I had no idea where I was going.
The disgusting mud got into my nose, making me cough several times. I tried to clean my face, placing one hand on the muddy ground. I drew a deep breath, trying to calm down and to get up...
But it was too late. Two black shoes appeared in front of my eyes and I raised my head. A pair of angry, red eyes were staring at me and I paralyzed.
This is the end. He will totally kill me. I can do nothing now.
"Annoying brat. Get up now." He spat the words and I blinked twice, deciding fast if I should've listened to him or try to run away again.
It's impossible to run away from him now. He's right next to me! He's gonna catch me in one second!
Grimacing, I got to my feet, trying to ignore the mud stuck on my kimono, hands and face. He grabbed violently my arm and started dragging me towards the big man.
"I don't even know why I let you go by yourself. Now you gonna piss yourself for all I care, stupid woman. Move!"
I gulped, listening to him cursing at me in silence.
I failed. To be honest, I didn't have any expectations to begin with. It was a bad plan anyways. Actually, it wasn't a plan at all. All I did was to run away like an idiot, even though I knew demons were following me.
I sighed, staring at the ninja demon's back, hoping that they won't tell the big man about my idiot attempt of running away. He would've been so mad. And God knows what he could do if he was mad...
The ninja demon let go of my hand. I blinked twice, not sure what was happening. He stopped out of nowhere, looking around the forest with his narrowed eyes, checking out every movement, ever falling leave, every hidden rabbit with his bloody rivers.
"What are you..."
He pressed his finger onto his lips, throwing me a deadly glare. I pursued my lips. He heard something which I couldn't, because of his special ninja-demon powers.
I heard a few footsteps behind my back and I pivoted quickly, looking into the darkness. The thing, whatever it was, was so close that I could hear its movements as well. The ninja demon got his knives out of his pockets, ready for the enemy.
But... is it really an enemy?
It came out so fast that all I could see was a splash of color.
Red hair.
The ninja demon was pinned down and, on top of him, there was Jessica. My eyes filled instantly with tears of relief and I fell on my knees, feeling how all the stress I had disappeared in one second.
"Jessica..." I said while she was slitting the ninja demon's throat with one of her really sharp knives.
The ninja demon rolled his eyes and closed them. Jessica sighed and got to her feet, rubbing her hands. She came next to me and looked into my eyes. "Finally found you, Ivy Moore. Get on your feet. We have to go now until his friends come after us. They are pretty skilled if they have time to analyze the situation. Run!"
Even though my body screamed that it couldn't take more, I forced myself to run along with Jessica, who was clearly trying to run slower, so she could be at the same pace as me.
After a few minutes of running, I stopped. I couldn't do it anymore. My body was collapsing. I bent over, placing my hands on my knees. "I'm sorry, Jessica, but... this is... I... can't... run... anymore..." I said, panting. A huge pressure was on my chest and I could feel my whole body pulsing. I had a lump in my throat and the sweat was trickling down my face. Also, the mud stuck on the sweat of my body and it was so uncomfortable that I wanted to cry.
Jessica looked at me and sighed. "Goddamn, Ivy. C'mon. Get on my back. We have to go to the lake."
I nodded and she bent her knees, lowering her body and allowing me to get on her back. I felt kind of strange to be given a piggy-ride in this situation, but I couldn't protest. One more minute of running and I would've passed out. "Why the lake?" I asked as she raised her body and start running like she wasn't even carrying a person.
"Caiden is there. Fighting with Kasho. We need to hurry up... before it's too late."
Her tense voice made me take a deep breath. Caiden.
He needed our help.
Hang on, Caiden. We're coming.