The place I was hiding wasn't a safe place. Just when I stood up, I saw them from a far. They also saw me.
" Over there!" Yelled one of them. I ran again and they also ran after me. I ran faster than the first time even through I was wounded. I haven't fully recovered from the last punishment I received. I felt weak and thirsty. Because I promised Dorcas I will survive, no matter what, I had to keep that promise.
I took to my heels. Those people never stopped following me. We ran more than thirty minutes. I would sometimes hid behind a tree to take a test, when I see them again, I took to my heels. My wound opened and more blood came out.
I was too focused on them that I didn't see the slope ahead. It was too late when I realized it. I fell from that slope. My right hand got wounded and I hit my head on a hard rock. The left side of my forehead was bleeding so as my right hand. The pain intensified because my wounded tummy was wounded again. I couldn't scream. Because of that great fall and the sound on my forehead, I felt like fainting, but if that happened, they will easily capture me and kill me. I had to endure more for Dorcas.
*****
Meanwhile, above the slope, the five men stood there looking down.
"I don't think she can survive that." The third person said.
"We need to confirm if she's really dead." The fourth person said.
"Confirm? Why don't you go down?" Asked the fifth person.
"C'mon guys, we need the money." The second in command said.
sI won't kill myself for money." The fifth person said. "I quit." He added.
"If you go, you wouldn't get the money." Said the second in command.
"I don't care. You can go if you want." He said. The second in command eyes the others and they stabbed him. Not once not twice but multiple times.
"Sorry about that pal, we cannot let you expose us." The second in command said.
The fifth person breath slowly and slowly and he died.
"Let's go." The second in command said.
They all moved to walk the right path, so they wouldn't fall. Slowly and widely,they walked that path. They were very much scared but determined. The second in command and the third in command were behind whilst the rest were in front or ahead.
They were walking slowly. Chumps, because of money,they would go to this extent. Unfortunately, the two in front slipped and they fell down the slope to the clip.
"Ah!!!!!!" That was their screams as they fell down the slope and clip.
"I can't go any further. She might be dead." The third person said.
"Yes, yes, let's get out of here." Said the second in command.
They sagaciously climbed back to a safer path and went away. They had families, they wouldn't kill themselves for mere money. They rushed back.
I slowly and weakly raised from the floor. It was heavily snowing and the coldness became unbearable. All through this, the picture of my family and Dorcas was showed in my mind. I had to survive for them. I had to protect them from those wicked people. I walked for another hour and couldn't go any further. The forest was so dark, the weather was so cold and it was snowing heavily. I got a big oak tree as a place to stay. Two of its root was above the ground. I laid there that night.No matter what I did, I still felt the cold. My teeth were clashing each other. I squeezed myself there and slept.
****
Meanwhile, Dorcas was able to divert all of them away. She hid behind a tree while they all passed away to the other side. She decided to go back and seek help. She was determined to go back and seek help from the palace. She ran faster every time.
During the night, she was almost at the verge of getting out of the forest, but she met a wild animal. The animal chased her and she ran as fast as she could. The wild animal was also fast. Dorcas was a sagacious person so she used her tricks and fooled the animal. She was able to escape alive.
She continued her journey with determination. She was wounded in her left leg. It snowed heavily, but still passed throug determined to get help for her lady.
After three hours, she couldn't go further. She found a safe place and rested for the night. Early that morning, though it was cold, she walked through it. After three hours of walking, she got out of the forest. She thanked the Almighty God. Luckily, there was a cart moving to Ronoris.
"Please can you give me a lift to Ronoris ?" Asked Dorcas.
"Sure. What are you doing here?" Asked the old man.
"I was going somewhere with my last when we were ambushed. I need to get help. She's left all alone." Explained Dorcas when she sat down.
The cart was full with covered baskets so it didn't go fast. Even so, I sat in patiently. He gave me some food and water to drink.
Meanwhile, I woke up in the morning feeling very weak. The blood that was oozing from my body seized. I was glad about that. I decided to move forward to find some food and maybe a way out. I was really weak. I wished someone could find me.
Six hours in the a cart felt like eternity. I was very much worried about her lady. I couldn't relax for a second. Soon, we were in the capital and I couldn't hold my excitement. He took me straight to the palace. The door was opened for me when I got there .
*****
Early that morning, Princess Salome rushed to Hezron's place with prices and witnesses and victims of everything that happened.
"What do you want?" Asked Hezron.
"I'm here to prove her majesty's innocence. You have to listen as a just emperor. " Salome said.
"Make sure all those aren't lied made by her." He said coldly.
"I didn't know my elder brother to whom I admired so much was a hypocrite and blinded by a so called love." Salome said sadly. Hezron looked at her surprised. She has never once said anything like this in her life before. "Here are the evidence."
First it was the letter sent by Asa that said Love was allergic to peanut and that he's hidden her medicine. He was sorry for that.
"This was found in the hands of Vanessa. She ordered me to put the peanut in her majesty 's food. She gave me this as a reward. I'm sorry your majesty, I needed the money." She brought out Vanessa's bracelet. No one had that except her. He personally crafted that for her. He didn't even know where it was.
"I'm also sorry your majesty. "It was the royal physician this time. "She....kidnapped my grand daughter...and made me do all sort of things for her. I had to lie to you so many times. I had to make more poisons as well." He said.
"We also witnessed how she faked being slapped by her majesty. We were scared she would kill us. She wanted to slap her majesty. " They also said.
"I don't believe Vanessa will ever do that. All of these are lies. GET OUT!" Said Hezron.
"Do you think she loves you? Have you seen this before?" Asked Salome.
He looked at the small container. He has seen it many times with Vanessa. She would always his it when she was around. It contained poison.
"She was poisoning you slowly. It was Love who gave the antidote to the chef, so he could add it in your good. Didn't you always vomit after eating the food?" Asked Salome.
"I did." He said. He was surprised.
"If you don't believe me, kill me with this arrow." She said.
"I can't do that." He said. He started to believe.
"No,I want you to try. Okay, not to kill me. Just try." She said.
Hezron collected the arrow and targeted Salome. His hand was shaking. No matter what, he loved his siblings. When he saw no dear in her eyes, he shot the arrow. Instead of the arrow going to Salome, it went towards the direction of Amos. He was lucky to dodge.
"What the hell?" Said Hezron.
"Someone changed the arrows used by her majesty. " Salome said.
"And it was Vanessa. I investigated myself." Amos said. He showed all evidence to Hezron. He felt pain in his heart. He was fooled.
"These are also evidence of Minister Enosh cheating the empire. He has been using the money and making fake reports on them." He added. Hezron couldn't believe his ears. All these times, he was being fooled by the only person he trusted and loved. His heart squeezed like there was someone crushing it. But it was not for Vanessa.