Hazel's eyes widened and her heart pounded in her chest wondering what was happening.
"Hold on tight!" she heard the Duke tell her and she held the seat tightly as the carriage swayed.
"What is wrong?!" she asked looking at him horrified. "I think it's an ambush," he said before calling," Bennett!!" On calling the coachman's name, he got no response.
After some time, the carriage came to a stop with a jerk and it seemed like it had knocked something. "Bennett?!" he called again. "He might be dead," he deadpanned and her eyes widened in shock. "Dead?! Why?!"
"They might have killed him," he said and she watched him bend before his hands searched for something under the seats. "Why would they kill him?" she asked.
He finally landed on the gun he had been searching for and he said," You're going to stay here. Don't come out until I tell you so." "You're getting out?" she couldn't help but get worried.
"Yes," he replied and before he could open the door, he felt a tug on his coat and turned to look at her. "Don't go. They might harm you," she said concerned. "I have to see what's going on. Stay here," he said and she reluctantly let go. When he opened the door, she said," Please be careful."
She watched him jump out and she fixated her eyes on him as he walked towards the coachman's side.
Raven reached the coachman and as he had expected, he had been shot with an arrow that pierced through his neck. Checking his pulse, he had none. This often happened, and innocent people died amidst the chaos they didn't know about. He quickly removed his coat and covered him. Corking the gun, his eyes looked everywhere in search of any possible suspect.
As he was still searching, he heard a sound of a twig breaking and he immediately turned to find a man who was readying himself to shoot him with an arrow. He immediately pulled the trigger and shot the man straight in the head who dropped dead on the ground.
At the firing of the gunshot, Hazel wanted to open the door and check if he was alright but she remembered his words. She had to trust him.
The next moment, she saw the door open and he said," Come out now. We have to go!"
"To go? Where?!" she asked and then saw his frustrated look and she realized that it wasn't the time to ask questions. She came out immediately and he got her hand before pulling her to follow him. Remembering the bag she left in the carriage, she pulled her hand away from his and she ran back.
"What are you doing?!" she heard him ask frustratedly as he followed her.
"I can't leave it behind," she said as she climbed the carriage and got the bag.
When he saw what she was referring to, he said, "That could wait!"
Climbing down, he got hold of her hand again and dragged her with him. When she turned to look at the coachman, she caught sight of him sleeping in his seat covered with his coat.
"Are we leaving him here?" she asked. "He's dead," he deadpanned. "What?!" she whispered, her eyes looking at the man she had just talked to a few moments ago.
"Yes, we got to go," he said pulling her away and she kept looking at the man.
She came across another body and asked," W-what about him?" "He was sent to kill me. He's dead too," he remarked.
"But who wants to kill you? And why?" she whispered. "We have to leave this place," he said and he dragged her into the forest. "Why did we come here?" she asked and he didn't reply. She decided to keep quiet assuming that she was irritating him with her endless questions.
As they were still moving, she saw something move in the corner of her eyes and when she glanced over, " Raven!!" She screamed but it was too late as the man had already shot the arrow and it came to pierce into his upper arm. He winced and fired countless gunshots in the direction but he had already escaped.
Hazel freaked out when she saw the arrow in his arm and blood gushing out.
"You're hurt!" she exclaimed. "Yes. We have to get out of here," he said before pulling out the arrow and dropped it on the ground. He then tore part of his shirt and handed the piece to her.
"Tie it tightly," he instructed and she nodded her head. Meanwhile, his eyes were moving everywhere. After tying it, he started moving and she followed him hurriedly. She looked at him scared wondering how he could keep on moving when he was that wounded. "Where are we going?!" she decided to ask.
"Anywhere but not home. They must be waiting for us ahead," he spoke and she nodded, her eyes fixated on his wound. She wished she had the strength to carry him on her back.
Luckily, they were able to pass through the trees and at the end, they found another road.
Raven who was starting to lose strength and becoming dizzy caught sight of an inn that was across the road. He stored the gun in his breech pockets. 'The Warren Inn,' he read and said," Let's go over there."
When they reached the inn, the man at the reception noticed the blood and he flinched.
He was yet to ask them to leave when he said," I am Duke Raven Atticus. Get us a comfortable room and call me the nearest physician." His eyes widened and he immediately came out of the counter.
"Please come this way, your grace," he said and he led them towards the stairs.
Reaching a certain door, he opened for them and stepped aside so that they could enter.
He then came after them and said," This is the remaining one. Do you like it your grace?"
"I need a physician right now," he spoke urgently and the man dashed out of the room.
Raven sat on the bed and Hazel dropped the bag on the floor. "What can I do to help?" she asked looking at him.