I hope this story has a few little surprises here and there for you! Anyway, here's the next chapter and I hope you enjoy!
She stepped outside. The sun had well and truly set, blackness was now falling over the earth like a woollen cloak. With some regret, she remembered leaving her dirty blanket lying in the forest that was apparently soon to be set ablaze because of her.
I'll go back and get it. A silly little dirty thing it was, but a girl can't sacrifice her comforts. Hayabusa never has to know.
Perhaps it can even be washed for me!
Her footsteps hastened as she neared the forest. Everything was still visible, although shadows loomed at every corner. She would be fine. Hayabusa was probably worrying too much. Ayane would never be out at this hour of night.
Without falsifying, she could say that she wasn't a person to scare easily. Assassins had gone after her blood, baying like hounds to shed it. She had fought against many an opponent, some competing for the title of strongest fighter in the world. Yes, it was previously easy for her to say that it took a lot to get her spooked. At least, that had been the way it was. Perhaps she had grown too relaxed since then.
Without warning, an arrow suddenly hurtled out of the forest trees, aimed directly at her forehead. She barely had time to move before it hit, burying itself into the tree bark right where her head would have been a split second earlier.
Damn, that was too close.
Her instincts kicked in shortly after that. Run. And run she did. Hair flying in the wind, she ran. Ran to preserve her life. Her attacker was after her. He, or at least she assumed it was a he, was right behind her. Never had she been attacked and chased by someone with such obvious prowess. If he hadn't made himself obvious, she never would have noticed him, which could have been a fatal mistake.
Before she could even think about reacting, there was a sudden weight on her back. Somehow, he had caught her.
Even with her sprinting as fast as she could, he had still managed to catch her.
He pushed her to the ground.
No point resisting. Besides, there isn't a lot I could do even if I wanted to.
Every action was a chilling reminder of how she was at his mercy. And by the look in his eyes, there didn't seem to be any mercy waiting for her at the end of the tunnel. This was it. This was how it would end.
A sword was pulled out, slowly, meticulously. That would haunt her for the rest of her days. How calm and collected he seemed. Almost as though he was savouring the moment. Perhaps he was. Perhaps he had waited a long time for this day to come.
He said something softly, so softly that she didn't understand what he was saying. Then, the sword rose above his head. Slowly. Meticulously. There was nothing that she could do as it came down, the blade hitting home.
The last thing she knew was a searing pain before everything went black. The last thing that she remembered and saw was that his eyes were green.