Killian stared at the unknown girl who lay motionless on the ground. He looked down at her, noticing the shallow rise and fall of her chest. Without hesitation, he removed his coat and gently placed it over her body, tucking it in around her to keep her warm.
As he did so, he noticed a small smile appear on the girl's lips, and she snuggled further into the coat. He couldn't help but feel a sense of relief upon seeing her smile. It was as if she knew she was safe now. He took a moment to look at her, admiring her beauty despite her current state.
"I will be back," he whispered in a low voice before turning around and leaving the hut.
As he walked through the dense forest, searching for some fruits for the girl to eat, he suddenly thought about what his devil had said to him. He no longer has any idea what the devil inside of him was thinking. First, he saved this unknown girl, then he claimed her as their bride, and now, he wanted him to make this girl fall in love with them.
"Do you really think she would ever fall in love with us?" he asked a hint of mockery in his voice.
The devil, confused by the question, furrowed his brow. "What do you mean? Why won't she fall in love with us?"
Killian sneered. "Oh, well, let's see. Remember last night when we showed her our true self? The most terrifying side of us? The side that no one in their right mind would ever love?"
The devil argued back, "But..... but we saved her, didn't we? We protected her from those who wanted to her harm. She should be grateful and see us as her savior and fall in love with us."
Killian shook his head, a small chuckle escaping his lips. "You really don't understand humans, do you? It doesn't work that way," he said, amused.
"I don't care how it works," the devil snapped furiously. "She is our bride, and she is getting married to us, whether she likes it or not."
Killian raised an eyebrow. "At the cost of her hate?"
The devil's face twisted in anger. "She is not allowed to hate us. She can only love us," he spoke domineeringly.
"We will see," he said, his voice laced with skepticism. He knew that love was not something that could be forced, and that the devil's approach was flawed.
"No, Killian, you will see," the devil smiled confidently. "Our bride will definitely fall in love with us. As a devil, we are made in perfection. We are the most beautiful beings out there. There is no human who can resist our charms, our looks, and our personality. She will be the same."
Killian couldn't help but sigh at the devil's arrogance and confidence.
Several minutes later, he returned to the hut with a handful of freshly picked fruits. However, the moment he stepped inside the hut, his heart dropped to his stomach. The woman lying on the ground was nowhere to be seen. The fruits fell from his hands, rolling down on the ground.
Panic set in as he frantically searched every corner of the hut, looking for that woman, but there was no response.
A mix of emotions flooded his mind - fear, restlessness, and rage. He stormed out of the hut and into the clearing, his eyes scanning the surrounding area for any trace of her. But there was nothing. There was no sign of her. It was as if she had evaporated into thin air.
Suddenly, a deep, sinister voice pierced through his thoughts. It was the devil inside of him, and he was furious. "Where is our bride?" he demanded.
Killian's heart sank as he let out a deep sigh. He ran his finger through his hair, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Did you forget that I was with you?" he asked, trying to reason with the devil.
"I don't care where you were, Killian," the devil bellowed in anger, his voice thundering in his mind. "Find our bride, or else I will kill everyone in sight, including those parents you care about, that silly brother of yours and your entire kingdom."
Killian pursed his lips slowly, not liking the way his devil was threatening him. But now was not the time to argue. He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Okay, okay, calm down," he said, his voice shaking slightly. "I will look for her. I will ask my men to search for her."
"You better find her, Killian," the devil warned. "Or else..."
"I know, I know," he interrupted the devil. "I will find her for you."
"For us! She is our bride!" the devil hissed.
"Yes, yes, for us, for us," he said, rubbing his aching head. "Now, stop screaming in my head. It's hurting."
"Humph," the devil snorted but immediately quieted down in the back of his mind.
***
I jolted awake, my heart pounding in my chest as I lay there gasping for air. Sweat dripped down my forehead, and my hands trembled as I tried to steady my breathing. It was just a nightmare, I reminded myself, but it felt so real. I could still feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I remembered the fear that had consumed me just moments ago.
In my dream, I was running.
Running as fast as I could in total darkness, my feet pounding against the ground as I tried to escape from someone or something that was chasing me. I couldn't see who or what it was, but I could feel their presence looming behind me, getting closer with every step I took.
And then, as if out of nowhere, I heard a deep, husky voice whispering, 'Caught you.'
I froze in fear, my body paralyzed as I felt the person's arms wrap around me from behind. I could feel his breath on the back of my neck, his grip tightening on my body. And then, just as suddenly as he had appeared, he was gone.