Chapter 14: Being Followed
After having completed my nightly ritual of writing to the Queen, and having read her short response, I stood, and began walking again. The path seemed long, and I was worried that I might not be able to complete it for another couple of days… REHtoMna's letter had proved useless; she obviously did not know about my leaving the Viscount, and I didn't bother relating the events to her for I knew it would probably cause even more trouble-- and it was bother enough knowing that he would eventually catch up to me again… If luck would somehow decide to enter my life in the near future, leading me to finding Matthew again, then upon re-arrival at the palace, I would tell the Queen all about the Viscount's "antics," and then make it my duty to have him incarcerated… or burned at the stake… or whatever they did to rapists here.
I stretched and yawned; other than the troubling dream that had nonetheless proved Matthew's survival, the day had gone relatively well. I was still pretty safe from whatever had been stalking me-- the creature with red eyes, I mean, and I had at last accepted my pregnancy-- it actually made me feel more confident, knowing that a piece of Matthew remained with me, no matter what would happen to him-- and if luck did enter my life, even for a fraction of a second at the right time, nothing would happen to him.
I smiled contentedly to myself, and then there was a troubling sound that erupted the serenity of the evening wood into madness-- caught off my guard, I gasped, and looked wildly about me-- there was a figure, in the distance, stumbling around the bushes off the side of the road. Whoever it was-- and I was pretty sure I knew who it was, he or she wasn't much of an outdoorsman. And, it wasn't the same creature who had plagued me back on the earth, for it lacked those burning red eyes-- I could see that even from here, about ten yards away from it. Wait one fucking second, I suddenly thought, What the hell are you doing just standing there waiting for it to catch up to you…?
My inner conscience was absolutely right; after all, I couldn't just wait for the Viscount to catch up to me, and attempt to rape me or beat me or kill me-- or all three… I had to run for my life to ensure that none of the three possibilities would be made realities-- ever. That was who I was. Beatrice Horowitz didn't wait around for danger to catch up to her… Over ten years of experience had taught me this.
Feeling a great rush of adrenaline, I began running as fast as my two feet could handle. Before knowing it, I was out of breath, having never been much of a runner, and slowed down just a bit. I knew that the Viscount was trailing behind me-- not too close behind, though, for otherwise, he probably would have started screaming at me as soon as I was in earshot again with that overly fake-sounding accent of his.
My side was aching, and my stomach was cramping up, but I refused to stop running, and give him a better chance at finding me faster. I knew that the road had already gone on for nearly twenty miles, and I was longing to come to another crossroads. Only then, would it be a little bit easier to shake him off indefinitely.
For now, however, I would be forced to simply run and wait.
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But, something was trying to prevent me from making it to another crossroads before resting; once again, I felt a horrible wave of sleepiness, and I knew that it was a spell-- and although I knew it was Matthew's doing, I nevertheless wanted to ignore it, but I couldn't, for the spell was far too powerful.
Deciding that a little snooze would be perfectly safe if it only lasted for a couple minutes-- five at the most, I veered off course, and found another set of bushes to sleep under. As soon as my eyes closed, I fell into a deep sleep, and was immediately greeted by the troubling form of Matthew.
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"You came to me," he whispered.
"Yes," I replied, "but, Matthew, I haven't much time-- I am being followed by--"
"That does not matter," his face is scarred now; I want to cry at the troubling sight of him. There is a long cut across his cheek, and it is fresh, for it is still bleeding, "What have they done--" I begin, but he cuts me off again, "Beatrice, you will leave the forest by tomorrow afternoon, and you will come to a crossroads of sorts. At the end of the forest, there is a great ocean. You must avoid the ocean at all costs," he warns, and I nod in response, trusting his judgments, "Instead, take the other path, and that will soon lead you to what you seek."
"Yes, but Matthew, can't you tell me--"
"You will awaken now… Be quick. Be brave."
And with that, true to his word, I am hurtling from the darkness, and into light…
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My eyes snapped open, and I immediately stood.
Opposed to the last vision I had had of Matthew, this one did not take as long, for it was still pitch-black outside; I realize that I have only slept for about three minutes or so, if that. The ocean, I thought, remembering his warning, I must avoid the ocean like the plague… I began running again, and was soon on the path again, as if no time had passed.
Counting my blessings, I quickened my pace, still trying to make up for lost time. That bastard, the Viscount was probably drunk as could be, and would be overly angry with me for having had left him to be all on his own.
I sneezed, obviously allergic to something in the forest, and then heard an annoying and overly familiar voice behind me that simply couldn't belong to the Viscount as it was too feminine, "Beatrice…?" It whispered, "Is that you? I have news for you concerning your missing husband."
It was useless. I was trapped now, and there was no point in continuing my attempt to get away. I took in a deep breath, dreading whoever the person was, and then, Wait a second, I thought, Is that--
I turned around, instantly recognizing the voice, but it simply couldn't be! I was off my rocker to think that-- but all the same, it looked just like her! The figure was cloaked, with her face hidden by a dark hood, but that didn't hide the fact that she was quick, tall, and extremely awkward. But I couldn't be one hundred percent sure; maybe it was just an uncanny resemblance. No. Despite my disbelief, I knew full well who it was…