It was unbelievable the way things turned out to be.
One moment she was in the loving embrace of her father, and now…she found herself amidst danger running for a life that she wasn't sure she could keep.
Marlowe hastened despite the excruciating pang in her legs and feet. She didn't know where she was headed, but she knew for sure, as long as the howls and sad screams coming from the direction she ran from had not ended, she wouldn't stop.
Without a plan in mind, her priority was to get to a safe place first, before tracing her way back home to her father in his foreign forest that she had never entered before.
But was there a safe place here?
She's literally in the lair of those wild creatures, so nowhere is safe right now.
Having her hopes dashed, Marlowe slowed down her pace when she realized that she was out of breath.
She slowly paused to take in her surroundings and ended up afraid by the sight.
Tall trees that she couldn't see where they ended, sheltered her from the sky. The way ahead was as unclear as a maze as the huge tree stems were scattered about, forging a dark and mysterious path.
Marlowe jerked in fright when the scary croaks of birds echoed repeatedly in the woods; precisely, scavengers. She pushed herself against a tree when she caught sight of them fleeing away from unknown sources.
Her body trembled with fear from the hush forest noises of trees rustling and wind blustering like never before; that she could even end up being blown away if not careful.
Worn out and exhausted, Marlowe crouched down carefully to the dirt-filled ground filled with debris, broken twigs and whatnot.
She began taking in air into her tired lungs that hadn't taken rest since she started running.
Her green eyes, matching the groove vibe excellently as she darted them around; scared of the eerie feelings she was receiving from the niche.
She looked at her grazed skin which had obtained various bruises earlier on, and her chapped feet that had swollen beyond recognition.
Marlowe sighed. Unable to suppress the sad expression on her face as a drop of tear rolled down towards her chin.
Just that moment, a memory flashed in her mind.
"Marlowe dear, do not cry so much when you get older, especially in front of others. It won't be good, alright?" he'd always say to her when she was younger and whenever she'd get hurt, breaking into tears the next second.
She'd always spotted the worrisome look in his eyes whenever he warned her about that. And she'll always reply with an, "I promise you, papa," to dispel his worry.
"There's no one here now," she muttered, despair and hurt depicted with a broken voice, as a sob escaped her lips. Trying her best to not wail like a lost child, she bit hard on her lower lip, causing her chin to shake and tremble in sadness.
Her gaze turned glassy and was obscured by her precious tears which drizzled down without any restraints.
Feeling sad and dejected, Marlowe buried her face in her palms. Unable to hold it in any longer, she bursted into a sad wrenching cry. Her slender body shook and vibrated from her incessant wailing.
She was stranded and lost in an unknown forest, taken away from her home and father. The sad feeling clawed at her chest mercilessly. Offering more reasons to feel dejected and sullen.
She thought things couldn't get any worse than this, just then her luck proved her wrong as heavy footfalls began echoing throughout the woods, causing more scavengers to flee from their nests with alarming cries.
The ground shook tremendously with every heavy step that landed on it.
Marlowe paused, her expression replaced with fright and forebodings. Her eyes, red from crying, and her pale cheeks stained with glistening tears.
She hastily carried her body to scamper behind the thick tree she leaned against—in an attempt to hide.
Yet the enormous and petrifying footsteps became louder and closer. She literally held her breath; scared for her life. In fear that whatever was approaching could spot her by listening to her ragged, unstable breathing that reeked of fear.
Her whole body trembled in tremors. Fear ransacking her from inside out. The strong urge to pass out was unrestrainable, but Marlowe held herself, pulling every shaking bone of herself together.
She felt the whole place shake and tremble according to the monster's steps.
Now, Marlowe needed no one to tell her that this was her end.
There's absolutely no way she's going to outrun such a beast if it were to show itself.
Then she heard its howl—ferocious and lethal.
It's just the same as the one that attacked earlier and killed the majority of them all.
Marlowe shot her eyes tight, resigning to whatever her fate was when the gigantic sounds echoed louder—indicating that the monster was here already.
"Papa," she whispered in sorrow as another single teardrop fell down her lids.
If she knew she wasn't going to see him again after today, perhaps she would have given him a hug and told him how much she loves him. She wouldn't have been terrified then, and instead indulged in his familiar warmth with a hope to return.
Her tears flowed pitifully.
This was it.
Suddenly, she was yanked out of the tree stem she utilized as a shield.
She felt the pain from the rough grasp and squeezed her eyes tighter.
'Could this really be it?' she thought.
But…seconds passed, and she could still hear the dreading steps of the beast, yet she was not moving. Her brows wrinkled but she refused to open her eyes.
'Why were the steps sounding…distant?' she internally queried. Perhaps the monster was going away?
If it was, then…wh—who's holding her?
Immediately, she flung her eyes open as dread seeped into her heart.
Once she fluttered them open, Marlowe did not expect the sight as she saw the most strikingly, alluring red eyes ever.
That screamed everything, but safety.