"Hello."
The man's warm baritone voice made my head throbbed as my vision zoomed in and out. He was studying me, tilting his head from one side and then slowly to the other.
Where did that colossal wolf go?
I looked behind him to check, but nothing. Did it go away? Am I saved? I nearly celebrated at that thought, but the faint noises of the rebels brought the terror back to my heart.
"Can you help me?" I asked with desperation in my voice. I didn't sense malice from him but even if he had ill intentions, it didn't change anything. The outcome would be the same if the rebels caught me.
"Girl, are you seriously asking a suspicious naked man you met in the middle of the woods for help?" he questioned while tilting his head to the side.
I clasped my ripped skirt tightly, trying to find a voice to respond. "They will kill me."
He watched me curiously as I tried to sit up to face him.
"Do you know why?"
"I… don't know?" My breath hitched as I suppressed my tears from falling. Everything happened so fast. My life was perfect but it all changed in a single night.
I had no idea why did the rebels target my family and put so much effort into hunting me down. All I knew was I had to run for my life if I wanted to survive.
"Should I help you?" he returned the question, and I nodded without a second hesitation. "That's a quick answer. I like it."
"Will you help me then?"
"Sure, why not," he replied casually, giving me the slightest bit of hope. It was short-lived though as his next query squashed it.
"But what will I get in return if I help you?"
My mouth opened and closed. What could he get in return? I had nothing valuable on me.
Before I could say anything, he sighed, clicking his tongue as he gazed down at my ankle. He poked it, making me wince in pain.
"You sprained your ankle. You can't run in this state," he pointed out while bending over to sniff me.
My face instantly flushed as I tried to back away but he only followed closely behind. What was he doing? I knew I wasn't in the best state to have someone sniffing me — I had dirt all over and I was covered in sweat.
The man gazed up, fixing his eyes to me. "Can I lick you?"
For a moment, I doubted my ears worked properly as my mind buzzed once again. "What?"
The man stared at me for a moment, hopping down from the tree root. I quickly drew my head back when his feet landed on either side of my thigh and he leaned his face closer while resting his arms over his legs.
"Nevermind. I will help you," he decided firmly. "You naturally have to agree to the reward I want."
"I don't have anything I can give you."
"Of course you do." He pointed his finger at me. "You. If people are chasing after you, that only means they want something from you or you are someone important, don't you think?"
The only thing they wanted from me was my death, but I couldn't miss this misunderstanding.
There was a brief moment of silence between us as a mild gust of wind blew past us. I didn't know this man, but if he could take me away from there, I would go anywhere, even if it was hell.
The voices from the distance slowly grew distinct, telling me the rebels were near. It was only a matter of time before they would reach us.
"Will you kill me?" I asked under my breath.
He shook his head. "Why would I help you just to kill you? Please don't be daft."
"Then, help me," I decided while staring straight into his golden eyes. "Get me out of here. If I live till tomorrow, I will agree to any reward."
His brows quirked in surprise before the corner of his lips stretched from ear to ear. My mother told me to survive. They all sacrificed their lives, so this minor sacrifice was nothing compared to their suffering.
"Great!" he exclaimed while sliding his hands under my armpits. I was already in the air before I could react and he carried me as if I was a doll.
"My! You're so light," he called out while grinning. "I can toss and catch you while we ran without a problem."
"Please don't do that," I blurted out as I felt like he would literally do it.
"Haha! Sure." He lifted me higher, making me hold my breath. "I like you."
I stared at him blankly as I could clearly see his face from this view. He was quite charming with that carefree grin on his face. It surprisingly gave me a sense of security.
"I don't… dislike you," I said as it seemed he wasn't a bad person.
"Good," he intoned before carrying me like a toddler. My weight was on his sturdy arms as I gazed at him in surprise.
"Hold tight, Bambi." He smirked, raising his chin arrogantly. "Else, I might toss and catch you to kill boredom."
I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck in panic. His low chuckles tickled my ears, but I didn't care. I had to survive, after all.
"Alright." He jumped a little like a warm-up.
"Where are we going, by the way?" I asked just as he took a step. The man leaned back to look at me in dismay.
"I don't know? Maybe, to hell?" he said in disinterest. "Worried now?"
"I'm not," I replied with pursed lips and tightened my grip around him. "Let's go to hell if that's the only place they can't follow me."
My request caused him to chuckle, and he whispered, "No one can take away what I already claimed."
Before his words could register in my mind, he launched forward without a warning.