Alexis ran through the woods, terrified of that voice. It rang loud and clear as if it followed her through the woods.
"You can run from a heart that is full of love and happiness. But you can't hide. You can never hide from a heart full of love," it rang.
Alexis knew it to be true, but continued to run. Her life depended on it. She knew that she could run and hide anywhere in this kingdom or any other, but she would be found. That voice had bonded her to him when he claimed he loved her. There was no escape for Alexis. Not now. And maybe not ever.
For almost two weeks Alexis had been pursued by the voice. Two weeks of almost nonstop running. She ran all but two to five hours a day. She had to get away. She had to run to that one place she had promised her father she would never go. The kingdom where no love could come in. No way would she be perused there. There was the only place where she could be, would be safe. The Kingdom of No Love. The Kingdom of Hate.
His voice rang through the woods again. "Alexis, daughter of King Gryson run from me and I will find you. You will be mine!"
He had bonded her to him and his voice. She knew no name. She new nothing of him.
Why her? Why her out of all of the girls in the world, why did the voice have to choose to bond his heart to her?
The bonding of the heart was quite common. One person, usually a man and in this case the voice, will build up a strong love, so strong it would bond his heart to the girl, in this case Alexis. The bond was often used to track the one who is bonded. The voice was using it now to follow Alexis through the woods.
It also worked in another way. If the man convinced himself that he loved the girl his heart would bond to her also. That's what Alexis believed happened to her. The voice decided he loved her so he worked hard at convincing himself that he did.
"Run, Alexis," a soft voice, the voice of the wind, whispered to her. "Run a few more steps. There is a cave where you may rest but he can not find you. The bond will break until you leave the cave. Now run, go."
Alexis obeyed. She knew that the voice of the wind never lied. The wind would protect her for the time being.
"You can not hide, Alexis! I will find you where ever you are!" the voice was harsh. She was frightened.
"You can hide, Alexis," the wind whispered in her mind. "He will not find you. Keep running. You will find a companion in the cave where you will hide. Now go, run!"
She continued to run, hearing the harsh, cold voice of the voice and the quiet, gentle, encouraging voice of the wind.
Soon she stumbled upon a cave, well, more like an outcropping in a cliff face. She ducked in. Alexis could still hear the voice but he could not find her.
"Alexis! Where are you?! Maybe you can hide, but I will find you! You can not hide forever!"
"You are safe here, Alexis. Walnut will find you. Stay here until Walnut finds you. I must leave you. I wll distarct your follower until you are safe," the voice of the wind murmured.
Alexis sat on the earthen floor of the cave, trying to catch her breath. Suddenly she heard the sound of scrabbling paws. What was that sound? Where was it coming from? Was it friend or foe? Could it be the Walnut the wind spoke of?
"Alexis!" She jumped up. It wasn't the voice of her follower, that was for certian. This voice was high-piched and squeeky.
"Who's there?" she called, terrified.
She didn't find out.
At least, not then.