"We got to run, my brother Aidan is here. She cried out in panic"
Ashton turned back and saw a fiery eyed guy heading a group of aggressive faces coming in their direction. Liza kept on pulling his hand and insisted on running.
"Didn't you tell that the guy chasing you were your brother?" He asked in haste.
"Brother or not. I can't let this chance get away."
"You two! Stay right there!!" Aidan cried out in anger as he paced towards them.
"Okay. Out of options. Runnn…" Ashton shrieked and started running in the direction Lyza pulled him. He had never taken the lane in the woods even though he always wondered where it lead to.
"I know you have got your reasons, but why the hell are they chasing me??" Ashton exclaimed.
"I think you are an accomplice in their eyes"
"A what?? I had only known you for what? Two daysss??"
"Okay...Not the time for catching up Ashton! We got to be quick!" Lyza led the way while running not knowing where to go or what to do.
The night had started to grow darker and deeper, so was her fear of being caught. She didn't want to lose this adventurous world for her original one. She wanted to do greater things.
"Oh my God! They are catching up!" Ashton didn't know what to do.
"It's okay. Don't panic. I have a plan" Lyza told reassuringly.
All of a sudden she took her free hand up, the other one still gripping on to Ashton's hand, to grab her hair and started clipping it using her nails.
"How is she doing it??" Ashton couldn't believe his eyes.
"This will keep them off for a while" She told as Ashton followed her in disbelief.
The people who chased him were more mystifying than the inexplicable act he saw next to him.
[11.11]
"I know this route" He told with certainty as they reached the lane curving into a new road. He slowly took out his hands from hers and held on to it while he took the lead and ran.
The night was cold but she felt a heart racing warmth beside him.
'What is this weird feeling? Why am I flushing? Is it fear?' She thought while she curiously observed his perspiration roll over his side face to the already sweat drenched shirt. She could see his chiseled shoulders and chest while she sensed the wet musky smell emanating from him.
'It looks different from mine.' She thought.
"We lost them". He spoke as he halted. He turned towards her in relief trying to catch his breath but accidentally caught her green eyes.
Her heart started pounding. She was not able to figure out the sudden changes going on with her.
"My house is nearby." Ashton told to lighten the awkwardness and pointed to an aged house standing nearby a huge tree whose sturdy branches twisted and turned in almost all directions as if it was trying to brag about its age. It was ancient still standing tall with its coral red flowers in full bloom.
"My house is a bit old. It is kind of an ancestral property." Ashton remarked while walking towards it.
"Don't step on the flowers." Lyza shouted suddenly seeing him about to step on the fallen red flowers on the road. She kneeled over and carefully picked up the flowers one by one. Ashton stood nearby watching her. 'She is more beautiful than the bed of red flowers before me'. He thought with a smile.
"No one really cares about the little things, you know. Everybody see the long trodden road, the beautiful trees in full bloom, the star beaded sky and all those obvious things but turn a blind eye to everything minute; the withered flowers and leaves, the little lives running around in haste and the moths fluttering in the dark. It's as if they are irrelevant with no purpose at all." Lyza said cheerlessly looking at the wilted flowers on her hand.
Ashton felt a tinge of pain in his heart as he tried to sympathize with her.
'She is helpless. I must not leave her alone here in the dark. Even though the mystery around her is dense, it doesn't seem to be as dense as the ones that I have heard before. Even rainbows and the winter frost were all considered mysteries once. At times I must believe what is in front of my eye.' He tried to reason his feelings.
Lyza stood up and grazed her arms slightly over the pink jasmine vine which has grown long and vigorous eventually falling over the fence around his house. Its small reddish- pink flowers were so densely packed that it seemed like a pink cloud of cotton candy. Lyza stood amidst the pink cloud of flowers like an angel.
Ashton held on to the cold rails of the small iron gateway of his house thinking what her answer might be for his next question.
His watch struck 11.11 as he spoke hesitantly.
"Do you want to come inside?"