In the dark night, a woman runs through the woods and from time to time she stops, panting deeply. Behind her several men and women pursue her.
Diana, a nineteen year old girl, continued running deep into the forest. It was said that the deeper someone went into the dark forest, the more likely they would never be seen alive.
Diana didn't have a choice as she continued running. She could hear the footsteps of those pursuing her getting closer and closer but with her current situation she couldn't outrun them but she was still determined to save herself and her unborn child.
As she continued to run she felt her labour pains getting stronger by the minute. A sudden pain ran through her body as the pain had become stronger. Diana panted heavily as she waited for the pain to subside. And in that moment her pursuers caught up to her.
One of the men caught her arm and tried to restrain her but Diana struggled fiercely. The man's grip was too strong for her to resist.
Diana: 'I can't let them take me back. I'd rather die than go back to that cruel man.'
Diana raised her knee and hit the guy's crotch. The man grunted in pain and his hold on Diana loosened then Diana freed herself but in the process she stumbled and fell down a slight slope on the side.
Diana tried her best to protect her belly as she rolled down the slope. She felt sharp objects cutting through her skin and the pain from bumping her body on stones and other things.
One of the women shouted at the man.
Flora: "silas what are you doing letting her fall like that? The master wants her back alive and with no harm. How are we supposed to explain it when she's injured or even worse if she's dead?
Silas immediately defended himself.
Silas: "elder flora you saw just now how she kneed me so viciously. I'll go now and get her."
Flora just gave him a disdain look and didn't bother much with him anymore.
Flora: "there's no need for you to go. Martin you charge first, we are right behind you. She isn't far and she's severely injured."
Martin was helpless upon being pointed out by Flora but he didn't have a choice. He had to not only capture Diana but also bring her back to master David. He was Diana's personal guard and had even helped her escape but things didn't go as they had planned and Diana was discovered.
Diana was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her beauty was known through out their kingdom and the neighbouring kingdoms. Her beauty that could destroy nations was her greatest weapon but it was also what caused her destruction.
Master David, who was king Michael's first son, had fallen deeply in love with Diana who was from a humble home of merchants. Diana was sixteen years old when she met master David. Diana was charmed by master David's kind and gentle personality and was soon married to him.
Diana's mother, Fiona, tried to stop her from getting married to master David but Diana didn't listen to her. She insisted on getting married and even broke off her communication with her parents.
Fiona was truly worried of what will happen after Diana's marriage to master David. She tried seeking an audience with Diana but was rejected every time. Frank, Diana's father, was also worried about his daughter but since Diana didn't want to see them, he stopped Fiona from looking for Diana and just hoped that things will be okay.
Soon after Diana got married many strange things started happening and misfortune befell master David. Master David had two other wifes that he had married before Diana but he didn't love them as much as he loved Diana. When strange things started happening to him his other wifes told him that it was Diana's fault but he didn't believe them and accused them of being jealous of Diana.
As time went by everything became calm and Diana stopped worrying about David's safety. She was puzzled at the bizarre things that had happened to David but since she couldn't find anything wrong she decided to just pray for his safety. Little did she know that David was just playing her for a fool. By the time she realised the truth it was already too late to turn back therefore she started planning her escape.
Diana thought that her escape plan was foolproof but David still found out and sent people to capture her and bring her back to the Palace. Diana decided not to go back because she couldn't accept the fate that awaited her if she was to return thus she ran into the most dangerous and forbidden place in fountain empire, the dark forest.