I was warned about the vast world. Everyone said it was a scary place but despite the warnings, I had always dreamed of going beyond the castle walls. I wanted to roam the crowded streets of the capital and explore the world just like everybody else.

"Run…" a whisper came out from my mouth, along with my ragged breaths.

They were right.

The world stretched far and wide that even though I had been running all night, I couldn't see an end to it. I also quickly realized it was far scarier than I initially imagined.

"There she is! After her!"

I looked back while running, my teeth clenching at the sight of thick smoke and fire engulfing the capital. Tens of people chased me with desire to kill me in their eyes.

I had dreamed of going beyond the castle walls but now that dream was falling apart. How did I end up being chased by rebels who had killed my family, my friends, my servants, and now they were after me.

'You have to survive.' A voice in my head rang loudly in my ear, spellbinding me to run as fast as I could. All my family sacrificed themselves so I can live, I couldn't just give up.

I gazed ahead only to see the dark and gloomy woods. I shivered at the mere sight of it but the cries and yells behind me only pushed me to run faster. My mind screamed in fear as I jumped into the darkness yet I could only move forward if I wanted to survive.

"Give up! You can't escape us!"

I ran in a random direction as sharp blades of grass dug into my numb feet, causing each step to feel like walking on needles. I jumped through the bushes but the hem of my skirt caught on a lost branch.

All I heard was the sound of my skirt ripping when a cold chill ran up my thigh. I didn't stop to check it though. I couldn't. Multiple shadows coming into the forest pushed me to continue running.

Survive.

It was the last words my mother spoke as she chased me out of the castle. She wanted to save my life but despite the head start, those people still found her.

"Mother…" I whispered with tears in the corner of my eyes and clenched my teeth. "I will survive… I will escape and live on… I promise..."

Thinking of her gave me the energy to continue but my hopes got crushed a second later.

"Ah!"

I didn't pay attention to the ground and knocked my foot into something hard. I winced in pain as I stumbled down to my knees and saw a large root above the ground. I didn't hesitate to stand up but the pain paralyzed my body once again.

Was this the end of my escape?

Unable to stand up and run further, I could only wait for the rebels to catch up and slaughter me. I couldn't help but tremble thinking what else they would do to me before that.

"Somebody…" A desperate call left my mouth as tears blurred my vision. "Please help me… Anyone..."

There was nothing but quietness as a response to my cries. I knew it was futile, but every passing second felt horrifying.

I was on the edge of my life even before the rebels reached me. My knees trembled uncontrollably each time I tried to move and my heart raced, pounding painfully against my chest. Even my lungs were constricting from all the running I wasn't used to.

Hide.

I couldn't run but I scanned my surroundings for any sort of hiding spots. I saw a hollow tree nearby and awakened my last will to fight for my life.

"Just a bit more..." I whispered, punching my legs to move while crawling to my hiding spot. It was my only chance for survival.

I was at arm's length when I froze, hearing a sudden snicker in the darkness ahead. My head bobbed up in panic, looking around.

"Who's there?" I mustered the courage to speak, but the only response I got was a mere whisper of the night breeze. It was probably nothing. I had to move.

I reached forward to grasp the root and pull myself under the tree when I paused again, hearing footsteps. I wasn't imagining it. There was someone ahead.

Each step was careful but heavy. I pushed myself to the side to peek behind the tree only to jerk back with my eyes widening in panic.

I saw it!

Red glowing pair of eyes whose shadow wasn't human. It walked stealthily in my direction like a predator hunting for its prey. I forced my breath to pause and it crept out of the dark.

A wolf…?

No, it was far bigger than a wolf should be. Either way, I understood that my life was no longer in my hands. The chase was over. I was dead. I closed my eyes after its eyes pierced me and waited for its fangs to rip my head apart.

The pain didn't come through. I waited a few seconds to calm down and finally braced myself to peek. The wolf was gone, replaced by a naked man, casually squatting on the tree root.

As soon as our eyes locked again, the corner of his lips curled up into a smirk.

"Hello."

*****

Check out the author's other works:

The Duke's Passion - Main Story Completed

Villainess for the Devil - under-revision (hiatus)

The Tyrant's Pet - ongoing