The soft leaves crinkled beneath my feet, the branches breaking with a loud 'snap!' The forest was beautiful; with vast stretches of greenery. Billowy pine trees grew on each side. In the distance, you could hear the soft wooing of owls and bright chirps of crickets. The atmosphere was filled with a distinct smell of petrichor, as if it had just rained. And yet, with such a heavenly sight, I was too deep in thought to give it notice.
I chewed on my right thumb, my left hand folded behind my back. This was too much. Desya's alliance, whilst I was grateful, concerned me. How could he be so willing to turn his back onto a nation that has fed, clothed and sheltered him? I knew, so far, that he had friends and loved ones in Aolenoa. And that because of Burke's betrayal; they are probably dead. Which warrants his reason for choosing to side with me, but he was so quick to throw away his loyalties. Was everyone's loyalty here so cheap? Could they so easily promise a stranger victory for a seemingly unwinnable war? Would they throw away their lives so easily?
"Hmph." I chuckled.
That was what I was like to Love, anyway. Love… I stopped chewing on my finger, dropping my hands by my side. I, too, didn't know why I so quickly wanted to avenge her loved ones. Why I came to this world so abruptly and yet, I have fallen in love with Love. No pun intended. I had no visions of just settling down and surviving and, in lieu, is willing to jump into the line of fire for someone I barely know. Agh, I can't help it. I see a lot of my younger self in her. The stubbornness, quick temper, the constant need to advance ahead. It was like I was staring in a mirror.
When I was 13, living in that hellish household; where I had to step on eggshells each day. It sickened me. Every day, I didn't know whether the fighting would occur again, the thrown hot cups of coffee, the police knocking on the doors- it was shit. All I ever wanted, all I hoped for back then, was revenge. Freedom and revenge were a frequent longing of mine. They were a friend that motivated me when the going gets tough. I clenched my jaw as I recalled those bitter memories.
Whilst I was suffering behind closed doors, my oppressors had the biggest smiles on their faces. They fattened up their bellies while complaining about my body. They drank, fucked and smoked their days away and chasten me under the guise of 'God's' cause. I swallowed the lump in my throat.
For the longest time, I hated God. His believers made my life hell and yet, no matter how much I prayed to Him, no matter how sore my elbows and knees would get from me praying to Him for help, he did nothing. Well, I guess He had better plans for me since He put me here. He let me find Love.
Love; who was no different. She has had to suffer similar to how I had. And instead of mourning and hurting like she does, her oppressors are fattening their bellies up and drinking their nights away behind the castle doors. But the person I am now differs from the person I was then. Then, I was helpless. Now, I'm reborned with knowledge and experience I had.
I could grant Love her wish of revenge. And I will, just like how I wished someone would have done for me when I was little. Just like I would for any other young child who wished revenge and justice for their pain.
I flipped my head back. How long have I been walking? An hour perhaps? Maybe two? In the past, I used to get tired so easily. Then, I had little stamina but was very strong. Hiking mountains whilst carrying 20 kg worth of baggage was an easy feat for me back then. I balled and unfurled my hands repeatedly. I could never get used to this new body. It felt different. I had more stamina than I did back then, but I've gotten weaker. I closed my eyes and sucked my teeth. I hate this feeling of weakness. It's so-
'swoosh.'
My feet halted. What did I just hear? I closed my eyes and strained my ear.
'Swoosh.'
There it goes again! I opened my eyes. I'd recognise that sound anywhere. There must be a large body of water here somewhere. I scanned the horizon, desperate for any sign of a pond, reservoir, or lake. But alas, there was only a vast stretch of tall pine trees. I closed my eyes again and listened out for the smooth sloshes of water.
I shuffled my feet one in front of another hastily as my ear became my guide. I'd turn left and right, walked forward, then reversed as I tried to listen out for the water.
'Swoosh.'
It was getting louder, and louder and l-
My eyes opened as I tumbled down. The left side of my body cushioned my fall as I slid up from wherever I was.
"Agh." I groaned.
My body hit the grainy sand with a loud thud. I sat up, inspecting my left side. My clothes were torn, and I was grazed badly. Claret liquid seeps out from my wounds. I threw my head back into the sand. Fuck, it hurts.
Wait. I furrowed my eyebrows. Sand? I took a deep breath in. A sharp scent of moss and water hit me quickly. I instantly stood up and looked at what was ahead of me.
"Fuck me, it's a river!" I exclaimed.
All my pain and regrets were instantly washed away. Sweet heavens, it was water! Clear water at it. I undo the doings on my dress and stripped myself. Not wasting a moment, I ran to the river. Its colour was bluer than any sky you've ever seen. It was so clear that I could even see the riverbed. As I hit the surface of the water, the fishes at the bottom skittled away.
God, you don't know how refreshing it is! I finally can bathe after 3 days of walking around in the dirt. Rubbing the water against my face repeatedly, I was eager to wash any stubborn grime. I welcomed the water gleefully as it wrapped around me. Sure, it was icy cold, but I rather bathed in ice cold water than in none at all. I held my breath and submerged my head underwater. After a few moments, I came up, shaking away the water from my hair. I had plastered a huge smile onto my face for as long as I'd been in the water.
I tilted my head back and floated on my back. There was absolutely no fear in me that a fish or something could come and bite me in the ass, since the water was so clear.
God, I used to wonder how people used to smell back then in mediaeval days. If you have the same curiosities as I do, let me cut you some slack. They smell like unwashed genitals. But ten times more severe. After the first day in that mine, I didn't have the heart to tell Love, but she didn't smell lovely at all. She smelled like an ass. After the second day, I realised I smelled like ass, too. Being in that tight enclosed space, with that nasty smell circulating, made my nose numb. Now that I can finally bathe, maybe my nose can smell again.
Sure, the river wasn't the most ideal bathing place. I had no shampoo, body soap or face wash. But I've learnt these past few days to be grateful for whatever resources you have on hand. Even if you don't have a Victoria's Mystery* soap collection to wash the smell of ass from you.
I swam for what seemed like ages. Diving deep in the freezing cold water, my face stinging when I swam up to the surface. But after seeing my fingers get pruny and feel my skin wrinkling, I knew it was time to pack up and go. I submerged my head again and this time; I readied myself for a longer time under water. I closed my eyes and brought my knees up to my chest. The water embraced me like a mother. It isolated me from the surroundings and its noises. It gave me quietness… peace. This may sound funny, but after a few moments, the water hugging me felt too much like a hug. I tilted my head. Why do I feel hands?
I opened my eyes and trashed around in the water. The hand-like embrace released me. Fearful that something was in the water with me, I ran up to the surface for air.
"Hah!" I gasped.
What was that? Initially, I thought it was just the water surrounding me, but then it became tight and warm- just like an actual hug. My feet grew numb with apprehension. I wasted no time swimming ashore. Just as I was 10 metres away, I felt a tug.
"Agh!" I shrieked.
I trashed around and looked down in the water. There was nothing. Was I just imagining things? I tilted my head in confusion, but got back to swimming. Just as I raised my arms to swim again, something tugged me again. But this time I wasn't able to resist.
"Agh-blurp, blurb!" I tried to scream for help, but before I knew it, I was already underwater.
I closed my mouth and opened my eyes, ready for whatever will come to me. Scratch that, it scared me shitless. I wanted to close my eyes, but floating in the middle of a river, naked and blind, was scarier than seeing whatever monster, creature, or human that pulled me.
"Child." A voice called.
I flipped my body back. Who's there? Who called me? More importantly, how can you talk in HD underwater?
"Gatecrasher." The voice echoed.
It sounded distorted. Like there were a million voices and at the same time only one.
"Cursed and hated by Him. I pity you." It continued.
Him? Who's him?
"When time comes, you'll soon know enough but heed your destiny;
Gatecrasher, you hold the destiny for millions to come and millions more.
At your behest, the blood of many would spill.
But with true power comes great sacrifices.
Your path will be full of treachery and pain.
You will possess no happiness." The voice stopped.
I covered my ears. A loud ringing emitted from the bottom of the river, piercing my eardrums. I hastily swam up to the surface, no longer feeling anything pulling me back down.
I dressed myself and ran back to Desya's home, not once looking back. My feet ached with exhaustion, but fear kept me going. What was that? Who was that? What were they saying? Pain, sacrifices, happiness- I don't under-
"Your highness." I looked up.
By a miracle, my feet had brought me back. Desya stared at me in front of his door. He had his arms folded and was leaning against the doorway. I lowered my head and walked past the man and into his house. My chest heaving with pants.
"Where have you been?" He asked.
I stopped in the middle of the hallway.
"Walking." I answered sternly. My mind still muddled with what just happened.
"Wet?" He asked, eyeing me.
"I-It's!" I took a deep breath in.
Anger rose in me quickly, but I desperately tried to calm myself down. Shouting at Desya won't help. I'm upset, frustrated and confused, but I mustn't take it out on him. I balled my hands into a fist.
"I will tell you about it tomorrow." I answered, stressing on each syllable.
Desya took a deep breath in and smiled at me. He released his folded arms and extended it in front of him.
"Well! Off you go to bed then!" He chipperly responded.
I swung my head and took one last look at Desya before turning and walking back to the guest room. I felt his eyes watching my every movement.
Who was I supposed to tell about my strange encounter? Love? No, she's too young to understand. She will incessantly worry about it then. Desya? No, I don't know just how loyal he is. I carefully unturned the doorknob. Looking over to Love's bed, I realised she was still asleep. I crept up behind her bed and snuck into mine.
Pursing my lips,I ran through the strange incident at the river again. What was that?