Ivara's POV
If making mistakes and getting into trouble were a profession, I'd be its CEO.
"What's going on? Why do I keep returning to the same place over and over again?" I muttered as I ran as fast as my legs would allow, with my eyes scanning the area.
I stopped running when I couldn't breathe properly anymore. My chest rose and fell too fast. I was about to fall when I quickly held one of the trees for support.
My lips parted, and I fell to the floor, sitting right below the tree with my back resting on it.
My heart slammed against my ribs, desperate to escape, and I feared I might pass out.
After I jumped through the balcony, I had sustained a few scratches, cuts and, most of all, a broken limb, but still I ran like my life depended on it… maybe staggered.
I hadn't gone too far when I suddenly found myself in the woods. I didn't know how I got here, it was just a few minutes, maybe an hour after I left the Manor, so how come the woods?
It was a bit suspicious at first, but I didn't think too much about it. All that mattered to me was escape. I didn't want to die… not yet.
Just because my parents had auctioned me didn't mean everything was over. I could still try to survive. I had dreams, I had to survive this!
While I ran, branches had torn into my skin, adding to my injuries, and also my feet had been pierced by countless twigs, but I didn't mind.
But then, after what felt like an eternity, it didn't seem like I was getting far enough or was the woods that huge? I had to start taking notes of the trees and surrounding and yes! I was right. There was something about this woods because I kept moving in circles.
Was this the reason Alpha Xlynor was so chill about my escape? Was he responsible for this?
I shook my head while clutching my chest. "What did you get yourself into, Ivara?" I whispered to myself.
I stumbled to my feet. "You just aren't used to these woods, it's not cursed or haunted. It cannot be!" I motivated myself.
I tried picking a twig from the floor, but my hands kept trembling. I was starving, dehydrated, injured and shaking. I doubt I could make it out of the woods before I passed out, but I was determined.
"Come on, come on." I murmured, supporting my trembling hands with the other.
I finally got the twig, then turned to the tree before I began carving signs into it.
"We'd go north. If it doesn't work, then try south, the same? East and west would do. I got here, there has to be a way to leave. You just have to figure it out, Ivara, it's not a loop." I brushed my disheveled hair to the back.
My head was beginning to spin, so I began holding the trees while I staggered.
A few minutes after I had begun going north, the clouds began covering the sky and in no less than two minutes, the sky turned black. It looked like it was about to rain, but the only weird thing was the black clouds.
I was still wondering what was happening when, suddenly, a murder of crows, from nowhere flew towards me… more like they were about to attack, their caws echoing like laughter.
My heart jumped to my throat instantly and my brain froze for a millisecond.
A frightened scream tore from my chest. I fell flat on the ground, shutting my eyes tightly with my hands over my head as if it could protect me from the impending attack.
I was just a human girl. Why did life have to be this unfortunate and unfair?
Surprisingly, I didn't hear a thing, more like there were no crows. My eyes flickered open, and I lifted my head a bit.
What in the wild was happening? I blinked then proceeded to rub my eyes. Was this a dream or reality? I was in the woods just now. How come a river?
I sat upright, my gaze moving all over. I didn't need a soothsayer to tell me that I was in for the time of my life.
I clutched my head. No! No! I shouldn't have run, I shouldn't have considered escaping, why did it have to me? It was obvious that this wasn't normal… no, Dark Hound was rumored to be the worst, but this? This was way too much!
Suddenly, a chill seeped into my skin, and I felt a tickle on my face. I looked up.
It had already begun raining, and I was still lost.
A crimson droplet hit my arm and I knew. This wasn't water.
Blood! It was raining blood.
The blood-rain fell harder, drowning the forest in crimson. I froze, watching the blood drop on my body.
Everywhere was silent, just the patter of blood on my skin, on the ground. It pooled at my feet, sticky and thick.
I tried to run, tried escaping this madness, but my feet stayed rooted to the spot. I tried talking but instead, my lips wobbled. I couldn't control my own body!
I tried harder and my ankle twisted painfully. An invisible force pushed me to the ground and held me down.
My head throbbed painfully, and my ribs twisted, but I couldn't even scream out my pains.
In the midst of the chaos and pains, my ears caught the sound of a heavy foot against the ground, nearing me.
I couldn't move my head, but I could move my eyes. The only thing I was able to see was that black robe, dragging across the ground towards me.
Somehow, it wasn't stained by the bloody puddle even though it was dragged across the ground.
"Didn't think you were going to survive this long." I heard a voice whisper before I finally gave up.