Hi! This is so weird...It's my first time writing here so my apologies already!

Warning: English IS NOT my native language so forgive any spelling/grammar mistakes...I'm brazilian by the way! Algum(a) brasileiro(a) por aqui?

Please, don't forget to tell me what you think! Falem comigo!

It was a stormy night. The heavy drops hitted the window of her bedroom on the second floor like small rocks. The curtains were open but the spacious room were surrounded by darkness.

Suddenly, a lightning lluminated the room, followed by a strong thunder and the door bursting open. She woke up at once, sitting on the bed to see her cousin storming into her bedroom: "HINATA-SAMA! WE NEED TO GO, NOW!".

That was the first time she saw him nervous and raising his voice.

She had no time to process as he grabbed her by the wrist with a tight almost hurtful grip and pulled her running barefooted through the cold and dark corridors of the castle.

"N-Nii-san?! What's happening?!". He never lost his coolness like that. He had his sword on the other hand and a totally focused expression on his face. His mind was racing and he kept looking everywhere as waiting for something (or someone) to jump on them at any second.

She was trembling with the cold feeling that started creeping from inside and out: "Where is Hanabi?!", she asked almost tripping in her flowing long sleeve nightgown. He shushed her.

She started to notice some noises from afar. Some slamming doors, breaking glass, crashing forniture and screams that sounded like growling beasts.

They were heading to the back wing of the castle where she wasn't used to go. They stopped before a giant tapestry hanging on the wall that Neji pushed aside, revealing an iron door that was hidden behind it.

He opened the heavy door and pushed her inside, quickly following her and closing the door behind them just in time to get a glimpse of an arm with a torch about to turn the hall.

It was pitch dark in there. The door led to a narrow corridor that went down in a spiral staircase. Neji was right behind her. He held her by the elbow and pushed her forward and down the stairs, keeping their fast pace while he explained: "We are being attacked. Your sister is fine. Kō is taking her to the hideout in the east tower underground."

His firm grip prevented her from slipping a few times as she could barely see her feet by the steps.

Stone walls echoed their footsteps and heavy breathing. Her head began to spin as they finally reached the bottom of it. She was panting heavily from the sudden rush.

Neji put his leather cape on her shoulders, remaining with his classical japanese armor. He spun her around by her shoulders, to face him and hugged her tight. She could hear his heart beating fast against his chest and his low voice: "You'll have to run to the horse now, with all you can, ok? Then, head to the woods and don't stop no matter what."

He felt her nodding against his chest and let go of his embrace. Positioning himself facing the exit door with Hinata behind, he held her hand and took a deep breath: "Ok."

Neji bursted through the small door and started running pulling Hinata with him. In a split second she felt it all together. The stone-cold wind hitting her chest, the heavy rain mixing with her tears that she didn't realize were falling and the thunder that seamed to beat inside her heart.

They were at the back wall of the castle and the most part of the fighting was still happening at the main front doors and on the inside.

They were running towards the servants stable that was about 100 meters away when a guttural yell made them look to the right just in time for Neji to block an axe with his sword.

Hinata screamed with the scare. Fear paralyzed her on her tracks but Neji pushed her with his free arm in the direction of the forest that surrounded the back of the castle: "RUN!".

Hinata lost a little balance and almost fell with his sudden push, but started running away towards the wall passage that led to the forest. She wanted to stay and help her cousin but she knew she would be useless. She needed to find help.

Neji continued defending the mercenary's attacks, while at the same time keeping a watch on Hinata to see if anyone was following her while she managed to escape.

The night was dark with no moon and the rain was pouring heavily. She couldn't think or see straight but kept running to the fullest part of the forest. The branches of the trees and bushes making superficial cuts in her hands and arms. Her feet were already so cold that she could barely feel them. She lost track of how long she had been running now, but wouldn't allow herself to stop.

Suddenly, all the sounds of the rain, of her footsteps and her breathing started fading in her ears. She felt the taste of iron in her mouth and started to loose her balance. As the dizziness began to win her over she heard the hooves of a horse hitting the dirt in a fast gallop. She looked slightly to her right and saw a man riding a horse coming in the same direction as her. They would crash but the knight was able to force the horse to a stop. The animal raise its two front legs, startled by the abrupt encounter. Hinata yelled and as stopping herself on the slippery grass, she ended up twisting her ankle and collapsing on the ground. She hit her head and her vision went black.

Soooo, who do you think it's the misterious knight? That should be an easy one! And what are your thoughts about the story so far?