" How did they find us? ".
" What are they doing with your picture? ".
" What crime did you commit? ".
Caroline questioned him over and over as he scurried with her from the entrance of the valley into the darkest part where her sight became slackened.
He continued with her, wading through the thick darkness. Caroline breathlessly followed him, stumbling on some rocks yet following him.
They got to a right turn and Caroline who had once thought that it was a valley doubted as the turn became longer, pulling in the darkness of the previous path.
At the entrance, she heard noises of a person, of two, no, of more people. Footsteps and then of chatters, of commanding tone and louder steps. They followed their every movement and were now but a few feet away from them.
Edgar pulled her into another turn and yet another and soon they were racing down the fourth turn. She heard them as close as they were almost catching them on their last step. They kept running deeper and blindly in the darkness, or so she believed as she stumbled on more rocks.
She saw in the distance, bright light and was filled the next moment with hope, but as they neared the light, Edgar pulled her into another turn.
" Edgar, we were almost there ". She said but the latter continued, increasing his speed. Caroline felt her knees weak and feeble and to rest she prayed, gasping at the slightest of space she had.
" Deep your hand inside my cloak by my left side and bring out a paper ". She heard him say and for the few seconds she took to process his words, his hawk eyes surveyed the area.
Caroline thrust her hand in his side and rummaged in his pocket till she got a hold of the wrapped paper.
" Open it and throw it behind you ". He instructed and when she looked at him with an inquisitive gaze, he had slowed down at a junction of two paths and was torn as to which path they would take.
She held the paper in her hands and shut her eyes, the ends of the paths she listened clearly.
At her left, the sound of rushing water like a waterfall, and on her right, empty vacuum without no sound of anything living.
" Right ". She told me and Edgar gazed down on her with confusion in his eyes.
" The right turn is the safest ". She added to ease the confusion, opening the wrap and tossing the content behind her.
A white powdery substance fell to the ground and then rose like smoke, fogging behind them, but she couldn't because of the darkness see it. She could only perceive it as a strong drug that— ' Achoo! ', made her sneeze and got her agitated to leave the place.
" Now ". She said in fright as she heard them getting closer.
Edgar dragged her into the right turn, running as fast as he could. He didn't have time to ask why she chose the path they were in. He was confused because both paths carried the same smell and nothing resemblance.
" Left ". She continued as she took the wheel of order from him.
They were running but to what end? For hours, they have been running. He was saving her but why wasn't she feeling saved at the moment? She pointed at the next path to take and they entered.
His efforts to save her slowly turned futile. The vampires though slowed down by the little distraction, she had thrown them could catch up with them at any time. They were running in length and breadth, unaware of the danger that might bust at any corner.
' Let's end this now, Edgar. They are looking for you, go to them. Maybe this isn't the better choice. Maybe this is the only way to save me '. She thought but the words to convey the thought stuck in her throat. They may cast him as a failure.
The Valley of darkness turned into a long tunnel. No lamps or torches were brightening the paths, but because of his heightened sense of vision, they were able to run in the darkness.
Before she could say the next direction, he had pulled her in it. The sounds of birds chirping and a soft wind blowing, and little talks of people, brought them to the end of their race.
At the far end, she saw the brightness of
day. The sun's rays beautified the path and as they came out of the tunnel, the rays fell on their skin.
She turned and saw at the right, the cavern. The market gathered more people in the distance. Her eyes went wide in fear. They were at the beginning of what she thought to be the end.
Caroline felt Edgar walking again, taking her hands and leading her to the cavern. Nora came to greet them but she noticed that with eye contact she and Edgar communicated with each other.
" This way ". She heard her speak and Edgar turned to her for the briefest of seconds giving her a reassuring smile. She followed after him as the woman lead them to the back of the cavern.
Nora opened a curtain, leading them out of the cavern and out of a gate, ushering them into a road where carriages and carts rode on.
" Board any of the carriages and tell them you are going to Hornwood. It is a village far from this side of Vesteria district. When you get there, tell the village chieftess I sent you. She would give you protection and shelter ". Nora said waving down a carriage. It stopped and Caroline could see the few passengers looking at them through the window.
Grateful, she hugged Nora after Edgar had hugged and pecked her. " Take care ". She smiled at them and as they left in the carriage, Caroline left her eyes on the little cavern, watching Nora enter back and shut the door behind her.
She looked ahead at the road and sighed deeply.