For a moment, Genevieve's thoughts went blank trying to process what she had heard. The fear of being with the king of Darkshire was instantly replaced by the terrifying growl she heard. The hair on her neck stood up in fright.
T-trolls? She quivered internally. H-how did it suddenly happen?
On the other hand, Maximilian's eyes narrowed when he heard his man's words. His eyes glanced at Genevieve who looked pale stricken and terribly frightened.
The king's eyes switched to a malevolent look. In a moment, Maximilian swiftly stretched his hand, shutting the carriage's window close, which he had opened earlier that morning. He pulled out a long sharp glittering sword from behind the carriage, which Genevieve had previously not taken note of.
"Don't come out." Warned Maximilian to Genevieve, as his countenance turned serious. He opened the door of the carriage, leaping out and instantly shutting it with a padlock.
"GROWLLL!!" Genevieve heard the horrifyingly loud growl and she flinched.
Tightly sitting on the carriage's seat, Genevieve's blood turned cold. The carriage had now turned dark and lonely which made her turn even more scared.
She squeezed her body, pitifully as a sudden wave of chilliness spread throughout her body, despite the warm carriage.
T-trolls…..She thought again.
Genevieve's mind was suddenly drawn to the past. Back in the castle of Alexandria, Genevieve recalled when Sarah used to secretly borrow story books from the castle's library for her.
In one of them, she had read about trolls. They were grotesque humanoid creatures that lived in caves or hills and under bridges.
Bridges? Genevieve suddenly recalled that they had crossed a bridge. This was the reason why they were now surrounded by trolls. Their carriages had been ambushed by trolls.
She heard that trolls were heartless monstrous creatures that preyed on humans and ate them.
"Oh God, please help us." Genevieve clasped her palms, praying to the heavens for their safety.
She suddenly realized she was praying for even the most villainous man in her life. But she had to, even if he was cruel, Genevieve possibly couldn't wish for his death. The Messiah had also taught them to pray for their enemies.
Genevieve quietly but panickedly sat still in the carriage while she quivered internally. From the outside, she could hear the horrendous noises of swords slicing through something thick and fleshy coupled with deep and monstrous groans that resonated.
Inside the carriage was quiet, as Genevieve continued to pray for all these to be over. Some minutes ago, she was worried about her entry into the kingdom of Darkshire, but who would have thought that right before they went through the entrance, trolls would surface with malicious intent?
Creak!
Genevieve was still in her thoughts when she heard a soft creak from above the carriage. Genevieve's heart leaped into her throat. But, when seconds passed and nothing happened, she breathed in relief. She didn't take it to heart, thinking it might have been the wind.
However,
"GROWLLL!!!" Another thunderous roar, this time from above. Genevieve's mind went blank as the carriage suddenly tilted to one side. She grabbed hold of the seat with all her might, praying fervently that the carriage wouldn't topple.
The carriage creaked and groaned as something massive moved on the top of the carriage.
With a gulp down, dread instantly filled her thoughts, when realization dawned on her.
A troll was on top of the carriage and the only thing preventing her from being devoured by it, was the carriage covering. which could easily be ripped off by it, due to their inhuman strength.
"Come out, come out, my food!!" Genevieve heard a gruff menacing voice, accompanied by snarls.
Her heart pounded against her chest, as she heard the voice which spoke to her.
The thought of being food for such a horrible creature made shivers run down her spine. She couldn't imagine its large canine sinking into her body and tearing off her flesh like a piece of meat.
With another shake of the carriage by the troll, Genevieve fell to the carriage floor. She fell so hard that she hit her ankle painfully against the floor, making her yelp in pain.
"Come out while you still can," it hissed angrily. "Don't make me come inside to get you!!"
W-was the troll suggesting that she freely offer herself as f-food?
Genevieve curled on the floor in pain. With tears welling up in her eyes, she tried to steady herself, trying to silence the voice in her head that hopelessly told her this was the end. She didn't want to die.
Genevieve could hear the troll moving on top of the carriage, hear its ragged breath and the sounds of its claws scraping against the carriage's roof. She wanted to scream, wanted to beg for help, but she knew it would be useless. No one would hear her, not in the chaos outside.
And then, suddenly, she felt a chill run down her spine as she heard the troll's voice—low, guttural, and dripping with hunger.
"I can smell your fear, little one," the troll growled. "Come out and be my meal.
Genevieve squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself not to scream, not to move, not to give away her position. But the troll was relentless, pounding on the carriage roof, screaming for her to come out.
"I can be patient, little one," the troll continued. "But I will have my meal. You can't hide forever."
As the troll continued to bang on the roof, a new fear crept into Genevieve's mind. She knew that the carriage wouldn't hold forever. The troll would eventually break through, and would eventually get what it wanted. And if she stayed where she was, she would be trapped and definitely eaten up.
Suddenly, she made a decision. She couldn't wait for the troll to break in. She had to escape from the carriage. Maybe if she successfully broke out, she would run to the king and then he would realize the danger hovering around her.
But why the king?
However, when Genevieve stood up to somehow open the door, a deafening crash echoed. The carriage roof caved in as the troll's massive hand burst through the wood and splinters. Genevieve screamed as she fell back.
At this point, she knew she had to do something. With trembling hands, she groped around in the dark carriage until she found what she didn't expect she would ever see—the small dagger from yesterday hidden in the folds of the cushions. It belonged to the king of Darkshire.
Genevieve's hands shook uncontrollably as she clutched the small dagger in her sweaty palm. She didn't know how to use it, she didn't know if it would even make a difference against the monstrous troll above. But it was all she had. She could feel her heart beating against her rib cage, her breath coming out in quick, shallow bursts.
Clutching the dagger tightly, she crawled to the far end of the carriage and pressed her back against the wall, her eyes glued to the spot where the troll's arm had broken through earlier.
However, before Genevieve could timidly attempt to pierce the troll's arm with the dagger, the creature had already removed its arm from the hole. At that same moment, the door of the carriage was ripped right out of its hinges.
In a second, a gigantic gray troll with yellow eyes burning with hunger, appeared in front of the carriage door, staring at Genevieve with a snarl.