1642

Scotland

"They've found you… Caroline go! You've got to run!" Caroline faced Stefan, worry and confusion upon her face. "Stefan… What about you- What is happening?"

Stefan grabbed her shoulders and pushed her towards the woods. "Caroline, I'm going to try to distract them. I will explain later but I need you to run now! Run as fast as you can. I will find you, I promise."

Caroline frowned but before she could reply Stefan darted off in another direction, screaming at the top of his lungs. She didn't have time to think, but she knew she was in danger.

She grabbed the bottom of her long grown and took a few steps away, and without turning back she began running through the forest as fast as her legs would take her.

Caroline squinted her eyes until they adjusted to the darkness, but she still couldn't see much. As she ran all she could feel was branches cutting into her skin and tugging at her hair. Caroline bit the inside of her cheek and forced herself through the pain.

She didn't understand what Stefan meant by 'them' but she had never questioned his judgment before. She found behind a large oak tree to shield herself for a moment to catch her breath when she realized she was wasn't alone.

Caroline held her breath and peered around the tree listening carefully. There was a howl and Caroline crouched as low as she could, watching for any movement. When a stick snapped behind her, Caroline whirled around but was met with nothing.

Caroline sighed in relief and fell against the tree. She closed her eyes and willed this nightmare to go away. She wondered were Stefan had run to, all she could do was worry about her dear friend.

She quickly opened her eyes when she got the feeling of something come towards her. Caroline wasted no time, before she could see anything she turned and fled once again. The woods never ended and it seemed as if hours passed.

Caroline's muscles were sore and she slowly began walking. She took a moment to check her injuries. Blisters were forming on her feet and her mouth was dry. She was aching for water to quench her thirst.

Caroline didn't have a chance to scream before she was airborne. She groaned and lifted her dress to cover herself. She looked up at the rope twisted and tied around her ankles. She was in a trap of all things.

"Put me down, this instant!" Caroline had no idea who she was yelling at but she was furious. No woman should be treated like this, especially her. She had not run this far to die in this predicament.

She heard heavy footsteps and Caroline opened her mouth, ready to give whomever it was a piece of her mind. A voice interrupted her angry thoughts. "What do we have here? She's a pretty one."

Caroline shut her mouth and looked around for the voice but still couldn't see anyone. "I set the trap, I call her first!" She heard another voice yell out. Caroline began to panic, she knew that bandits lived out in these woods and stories of them were not pleasant.

Before she could call out for help, she heard growls coming from below her. "William what is that-…" Caroline's eyes widened when she heard the blood curling screams. Caroline let go of her gown and placed her hands over her ears.

The sounds of teeth ripping into flesh could only be heard through her hands as Caroline silently began to cry. Is that what had happened to Stefan? Was he dead now, because he wanted to save her?

When the screaming ceased, Caroline shakily pulled her hands away and gripped the heavy gown back over her head. She looked down and her mouth fell open at the sight below her.

There was three large wolves still what she presumed eating. Caroline felt herself wanting to heave at the sight of the dismembered bodies. Her heart started racing, she didn't know what to do. She cried out from fright, when one of the wolves took notice of her.

The wolf bared its teeth and began leaping into the air towards her. 'This is it. This is how I will die.' she thought. A loud howl came from her right, when out of nowhere a fourth wolf showed up. This wolf, Caroline noticed was slightly larger than the other three.

The other three wolves circled around it, then she watched as they attacked. Caroline froze and shielded her eyes. The only sounds she heard were growls of the vicious fight. Minutes passed and the only thing she heard were soft whimpering, then quietness.

Caroline's head was slowly starting to throb, and she shrieked from surprise when she fell back to the ground. "Ouch!" Caroline's face scrunched up in pain from landing hardly on her back. As she slowly rose, she tried to make out what was happening. She jumped in fright when a hand touched her shoulder.

She scurried away, and tried to make out anything to use as a weapon. Her hands brushed at the ground before she found a rather large branch. Caroline's legs trembled as she stood but held the branch in a firm grip.

"Show yourself! Caroline yelled out. A man appeared and approached her with his hands held in front of him. "I won't hurt you girl. I'm here to help." Caroline scoffed and swung the branch, still holding it in front of her.

"What do you want with me?" He tried to walk towards her when Caroline swung again with all her strength. She missed, and that's when he gained the opportunity to grab the branch out her hands and throw it away.

He roughly pulled her towards him and pinned her arms down. Caroline tried to scream, but he hurried and placed one of his hands on her mouth. "More will come if you scream. I will protect you… you just have to trust me."

Caroline stilled at his words. 'There were more of those things out there… and where had he came from?' The thoughts were making the throbbing in her head worse.

Caroline's eyes closed and all she felt was the dizziness starting to consume her. She lost her balance and fell into his chest and could only hear the man yelling her name as she lost consciousness.