YES! I. Am. Back.
First off, I'm sorry. There really is no excuse. But as a reward, an extra long chapter for your patience! Yay! I suddenly had a rush of inspiration yesterday, so I started typing like crazy and now it's done! I'm so glad this chapter is up. It's also nearing it's end...sniff. It's been quite a journey for me. This was my first story and it hit off immediately. I really love that people are loving this.
I've also learned a lot, grown a lot in writing, and as soon as I've finished this story, I'm going to re-read and repost it, to make it all perfect.
But, before I start pouring all my pride and emotions on here, this isn't the last chapter, thank Goodness!
So here you go, and I hope you enjoy yourselves on an extra long chapter!(4.854 words! I think that's a new record for me!)
XVI
It is white everywhere you look. It feels surreal. He is walking on solid ground, yet he cannot see the ground his own two feet are touching. This is all very disorienting. How in the world is he going to find his beloved Snow White in this godforsaken place?
Wandering around like that for hours on end, it makes one lose his conviction. Eric really thinks about the fact that he is here, and has no idea where he is. Is he doing Snow a favour by doing this? Is even doing anything? If only Sahila could have told him a bit more about this place. It would have helped. Eric forces himself to recollect his thoughts. This is not helping Snow in any way. He needs to have faith that he will be united with Snow.
"What is this, punishment?!" yells he, after another two hours. "Because I fell in love with a girl out of my league? I cannot help it, either, you know! I would if I could, but I cannot. I love Snow more than I can possibly explain. Please, let me find her. I will give everything...everything just to keep her safe. If anyone can hear me, please, guide me to her." He has to believe now. That is the only thing he can do right now. Trust that somebody will lead him to where he has to go. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "Snow...I am coming. Hold on."
For hours on end, he walks. He sometimes goes right or left, but it is never really a turn. There is nothing to turn to. This is highly frustrating. He is about to give up when he stops. Just like that, not by choice, he stops. It is like he has hit an invisible barrier, he cannot go any further, no matter how hard he tries. What is going on? He presses his hands against the air – for lack of a better term – and tries to press through it. It will not budge. He slides his hands along the invisible barrier, trying to find an entrance. Who would go through this much trouble in a world where there is literally nothing? There must be something behind this barrier, and no matter what else awaits, Eric is fairly certain Snow is there as well. After all, why put a barrier up if you are not hiding something? The knowledge – the hope – that Snow is behind this godforsaken thing gives Eric just enough patience back to search for a few hours, but after walking and touching...well, nothing, that patience grows thinner than ever. Eric screams and slams the barrier. He should not have done that. An echoing sound vibrates through his ears, and it hurts like Hell. He slams his hands over his ears, but it does not help, and he sinks to his knees, powerless against the piercing sound. Like a baby, he curls himself up and tries to protect his head with his arms. If someone would just grant him mercy. Just finish the damn job, and let the noise stop!
"Ah, the Huntsman. I was wondering when you would show up." A voice pierces through the painful sound, and it suddenly stops. Eric lifts his head and looks up. His eyes widen at the sight of the person standing over him.
"You!"
(I know, I know, I'm mean xD Just keep reading)
William POV
William runs through the white world, looking wildly around. Snow must be here somewhere, or maybe the Huntsman. In fact, he would not mind if he runs into anybody. But being here, all alone, with nothing to keep his mind occupied...that is just pure torture. Suddenly, a shockwave hits him, and it knocks him back onto his backside. What in the bloody hell was that?
William rises to his feet, the world still spinning, although there is nothing much to be spinning. What power is roaming here? How is he going to defeat it? Can he defeat it? "Oh God." He stops in his tracks as he sees two shadows, one smaller and one taller. The smaller one seemed to be on the ground somehow. William tries to measure the distance, but because he has no starting point to begin with, no sun to measure shadows, he cannot. There is nothing to it other than to start walking and hoping they are close.
As it turns out, they are not. William walks for hours on end, and the shadows do not seem to get any larger. It is highly disturbing. "Hello!" he yells, multiple times, but either the shadows do not hear him, or they do not want to. William looks over his shoulder, and is not surprised to see only white. This is getting ridiculous. He turns back, and stops dead in his tracks again. The shadows are gone. What in the bloody hell is going on here? William starts running, and before he knows it, he is knocked back by another invisible force. It is like he walked into a wall. He smirks humourlessly. At last. Something. "Hello?" His voice echoes back to him, but other than that, it is completely silent. His gut tells him he is in the right place though. He had seen those two shadows over here, so this must be it. Whatever it is. He raises his hands and starts feeling the invisible barrier. It is like there is a wall right there, it feels that way, it is as strong as one. Yet it is invisible. William cannot help but be a little impressed. This is very advanced magic, unlike any he has ever seen. He wonders who has done this. It should've been someone who is very powerful, very magical. As a last resort, he puts his ear to the barrier and closes his eyes to listen intently. There! The faintest whisper behind it. This is definitely the place.
"...unlimited here...cannot tell me...not here...help you!" Who is that? It does not sound like Snow or the Huntsman. So consequently, it must be the one who has brought Snow down here. William clenches his fists. Nobody takes Snow, his best friend for life, his life, the kingdom's life. Not without paying the price. He knows that, for once, he and the Huntsman are on one line. Snow's life is more important than anything else. Even their own. He has to get inside.
Snow White POV
After another few hours of waiting, something in the air changes. It become thicker, more loaded with tension. Snow bolts upright from her warm spot by the hearth and looks around her. It disorienting, because of all the white, she has no idea where to look exactly. She can sense there is someone in the room with her, but she cannot sense if it is the man keeping her here.
"Hello?"
"They are here, my love."
Snow cringes at his velvety voice that calls him his love from the shadows. She is no such thing. "Who is? And I am most certainly not your love, nor will I ever be." She cannot help but defy him. She knows he can explode any second and punish her in some way that would haunt her for the rest of her life. But she cannot care about that. The amount of anger is not decreasing at all.
"Careful, Snow. You do not want to make me do something I will regret."
"So what you do is my fault?"
He hisses and she hears him take a step closer. She cannot help the fear from coursing through her veins. This man genuinely scares her, he is worse than Ravenna's brother was. "Do not talk to me like that! I own you, you are mine forever! You will treat me with respect!"
He does not know that his words only make it worse for himself. "Nobody owns me! A man can own my heart, but not me. Never me! I will never treat you with respect! Never!" A shadow lunges forward and a hand collides with her face, knocking her backwards. She scrambles up as fast as she can, pressing a hand to her cheeks. When she lifts it, she gasp. There is blood. He not only hit her, he made her bleed! The bastard! "You think this will help?! It will not! I will never love you, I will never stop fighting you!"
"Then I guess I am just going to have to kill you."
Snow smirks. "Go ahead. I beg of you. If it means release from this Hell, then please, do it! You will never have me anyway, because I will fight you every step of the way!"
Another blow to her cheek, but she does not cry out to the pain that it is causing. "You ungrateful wench! I saved you, I offered you an eternity with me!" The man keeps jumping back in the shadows before she can properly see him, and that frustrates her to no end.
"I do not even know who you are!" she screams.
"As long as you keep resisting, you will never know."
"Then I will never stop fighting."
He chuckles suddenly. "It seems we have hit some kind of snag."
Snow laughs humorlessly. "You do not say."
"I have a proposition for you. I let you go..."
"Really? Why do I not believe that?" Snow crosses her arms over her chest and stares at the shadows where she has last seen the man.
"Behind you." he whispers in her ear and she whirls around. Again, he is too fast. He chuckles darkly. "I will let you go, if you leave that annoying Huntsman here."
That hits her like a lightning bolt. Her breath stops and she cannot seem to get it moving again. Eric? But he is not even here! Is he? "How? He is not here." she says weakly.
"Is he not?" He clacks his tongue and suddenly a lifeless figure coming hurtling from the shadows. Before it even hits the ground, Snow recognizes him.
"Eric!" She runs over to him and drops to her knees. "Eric! Eric, can you hear me?"
The man that has saved her life a thousand times over, now lays in a pitiful heap on the ground, and groans when she shakes him softly. "Snow?" his voice is barely above a whisper.
Snow breathes in to keep herself calm and not charge the bastard herself. "I am here."
"I have found you." He murmurs, chuckling lowly. "Where are we?"
"I have no idea, Eric. Why not ask him?" She jerks her head to the shadows and his eyes grow wide.
"No! You will not touch her again! I will not let you!" Eric jumps up and looks a little bit like his old self again when he stands in front of her protectively. Again? Eric knows who this man is? She tries to draw his attention by tapping his shoulder, but he shrugs her off, focussing solely on his direct enemy.
The shadow laughs amusedly. "My dear Huntsman, you could not stop me if you tried. My powers are unlimited here. You cannot tell me what to do, not here! Where there is no one to help you!" A shiver runs down Snow's spine at his laugh. She fears greatly for Eric's life at this moment.
"Eric, calm down, please. I do not want you to get hurt!" she says, putting a hand on his arm. He turns to her, his eyes dark with fury.
"Do you not know who this is? This...this...monster?!"
Snow shakes her head, desperate for answers. "I do not. Maybe you will tell me?"
Eric opens his mouth, then shuts it again, then opens it. "I – I cannot...he has done something! I cannot speak his name!"
Snow whirls around to the shadow of the man, anger coursing through her system. She has had quite enough, and she wants answers. Now. "Give him his right to speak back!"
"I think not!" The man laughs maniacally. "Do we have a deal, Milady?"
Snow shakes her head, while holding tightly onto Eric's hand. "No!"
"Snow, do it." whispers Eric. "Do it, be free. You have been imprisoned long enough."
Snow shakes her head again. She refuses to let this man sacrifice himself for her. "Let him go, I will stay here, just let him go."
"NO!" bellows Eric, but Snow ignores him. This has to be done.
"I knew you would say that. But it is too late. I cannot let him leave here. It is not my magic that brought him here, so I cannot whisk him away, no matter how much I'd like to.
"Please. Just let him go."
"I told you, I cannot!"
"Stop!" shouts Eric, sitting up, ignoring Snow's hands that are trying to pull him back down. "If I promise to stay here, will you let her go?"
"Of course. I am a man of my word."
"Then do it. I will stay. Let her go."
Snow sits baffled for a moment, before she attacks. She hits his broad chest and back while tears stream down her cheeks. "You bastard! Why would you do this?! You cannot expect me to leave without you! I cannot!" Eric never fights back.
"You are free to go, my lovely Snow. And you can stop hitting him, his punishment will be much more severe, for taking you from me, for killing me."
Snow stills, her blood turning cold when realization hits her. She suddenly knows why she recognizes his voice. She suddenly feels how he controls this world, how he stays here while others move on. This is Ravenna's work. She created this world, she allows him to stay here. "You! I know who you are!"
The man steps out of the shadows slowly, and even with the knowledge, the sight still shocks her. It cannot be possible. She watched him die. This cannot be him. "Well, are you not a clever little queen."
"Stop it, you bastard, just let her go!" yells Eric.
"She would have been gone already if she truly wanted to!" he shouts. Snow just stares at the man in front of her. This is impossible. She knows it is real, and yet her eyes refuse to accept the reality. "But she does not, do you, my Queen?"
"Snow. Leave. Now." Eric spits through his teeth.
"I – I cannot." she stutters. She physically cannot. "Not without you, Eric."
Eric groans, and turns his body fully towards her. "Snow, my love, my life, please. Go. I beg of you."
"No, not without you!"
The horrible man chuckles, making shivers shoot up her spine. "See, Huntsman? She does not want to leave. This is why this was such a brilliant plan. Not only do I get the Queen, I get to punish you. God smiles down upon me."
"You will not lay a hand on him!" shrieks Snow, lunging forward to the nightmare's throat. He jumps out of her way, laughing like a madman. "I swear to God, Satan, or whoever is willing to listen to prayers about you, if you hurt him, I will end you for good and send you to the next world myself!" The next thing she knows is a hand clamped around her throat, cutting off her air supply.
"NO!" yells Eric, jumping to his feet angrily.
"Do not come any closer, I am warning you only once! I can and will kill her without a second thought!"
"Please. I beg of you. Do not kill her."
The monster chuckles, while Snow struggles to breathe. "What is that? The fierce Huntsman begging for the life of a petty, stupid girl?"
"She is not stupid!"
Suddenly, a loud banging noise echoed through the empty space, hurting everybody's ears. "What is that?" yells Snow, no longer in his hold.
"I do not know!" The monster takes one step, but then collapses. The noise is too much for a person, even a dead one.
"Snow!" Eric throws his arms over her and tries to protect her from the blast. She is starting to hate it when he tries to protect her. As if she cannot do that herself. And besides, it does not help in this case. The noise pushes right through. "Are you alright?"
"Well, what do you think?!" she yells back.
He nods. "Sorry. I am just worried. I cannot lose you, you know that."
She has had enough of this. "Stop it!" she yells, and he looks at her, surprise evident in his eyes. He had not been expecting this. "I am so sick of everybody fussing over me. I am perfectly capable to take care of myself. I have for eleven bloody years."
Suddenly, a big, greasy hand closes around her upper arm and the monster pulls her to her feet. "Let her go!" Eric is thrown away again, making Snow gasp and struggle against the hold.
"I do not think so." Snow turns to her captivator, her entire being searing with rage. What she sees in his face, frightens her deeply. His eyes are burning with an animalistic hunger, and she knows she is in real danger of being physically hurt now. "You are mine, Snow White, and whether you want to or not, I intend on taking what is mine."
"NO!" booms Eric. But it is too late. The monster throws Snow on the pelts, which knocks all the wind out of her lungs. She gasps for air desperately, and in that time, the monster has already covered her body with his. He presses his filthy lips against hers, kissing her far too roughly, and she squirms away from him. God, please, somebody, do something! "LET HER GO, YOU PIECE OF FILTH!"
She feels him smirk against her lips, and suddenly tears her dress from the hem to her middle, making her gasp and sob at the same time. This is not happening. She wanted to wait until she met the perfect man. "Please..." she whimpers. Her fear overtakes her anger.
"Oh, I will make you beg. Do not worry." he says cruelly.
Snow looks sideways in desperation, and her eyes meet Eric's. He is pinned to the ground by some invisible force, but fighting like hell to gain his freedom. And that is when it hits her. Everything falls just into place. She knows her destiny know. Or what it was supposed to be until this moment. It feels like she is going to die, and frankly, she does not argue with that feeling. "I am so sorry, Eric." she says. The monsters retracts its head and looks at her with carnal surprise and hunger. She does not pay attention. "I should have realised."
Eric stops struggling and stares at her, something soft and precious sparkling in his eyes. "Realised what?"
"I should have told you from the beginning. I have always known...I am so sorry. I – " Snow swallows. Why has she waited this long to tell him this. "I love you, Eric."
His entire face lights up and he smiles softly. "Oh Snow..." They both seem to have forgotten about the monster on top of her, only eyes for each other. That does not please him in the slightest, but neither see the fury that is appearing on his face. "You know I love you, too. I always have, and I always will."
A lonesome tear escapes her eye and it rolls dramatically down her cheek. She does not want to die. She wants a life. She wants him to hold her, to tell her it is all going to be alright. She wants to hold him, she wants to tell him that she will never hurt him like she has again. But he is pinned down, and so is she, and only their eyes can touch each other. Oddly, that seem to fulfil both of them greatly. Snow feels like she can see right through to his soul. And what she sees is beautiful. He loves her. All his being is attuned to please and love her. Just her. Always putting himself in second place.
"You should have told him this sooner." The monster suddenly whispers, harshly pulling her attention back to him, bringing the fear back to her body and mind. "Now I am going to take what was supposed to be his." No.
"Oh God, Snow!" Eric shouts. "Please, God!"
The monster laughs maniacally and starts undoing his pants. "God will not help you here, good Huntsman. You will watch me take what is yours. And then she will watch me kill you." Snow's entire being shocks at his words. Not so much the first part, but having to watch her Huntsman die? She will never survive that! He laughs again and prepares to strike.
And then the loud banging noise is back, and a loud scream tops it. "Get off her, you sick, twisted asshole!" Snow's whole being lights up. That is William! William! He is actually here! She starts crying with joy, and then the weight on her body disappears. She looks up and sees William engaged in battle with the monster. She can honestly say she has never been so glad to see him in her life.
"William!" she shouts.
"Go help Eric!" he yells back, punching the monster. "You think you got all the power here, boy? Wrong! It is three to one now!" Suddenly, a sword appears out of nowhere and William has to jump aside quickly to avoid being slashed in half. Snow gasps in horror. "Go. Free. Eric!" he yells panting, trying hard to steer clear of the sharp blade. She nods and runs over to her Huntsman.
"Eric!" she says, sobbing. She holds his face for a second before desperately trying to free him. It is useless. This is magic. Black magic. "I cannot..."
"Snow, look at me. Yes, you can. You are pure, white and good. That is the exact opposite. You possess so much magic. It can free me. Concentrate. I love you." His eyes are soft, supporting. She nods and takes a deep breath, focussing on channelling her wish to free him to the black magic. I love you, too. Suddenly, two strong, warm arms wrap around her, and she smells him. She has done it! She wraps her arms around his broad frame and buries her face deeply into his shoulder. "I am so proud of you, Snow. Now, why do we not finish this and go home?" He nudges her off gently and looks at her. Home. It sounds so good. She has no idea how long she has been away. But she just wants to go home. With Eric. She nods. He pulls her to him and kisses the top of her head. "Good."
"How do we defeat him, Eric?" she says softly, looking over anxiously at William, who was still dodging.
He curses under his breath, running his hands through his hair. "I knew I should have brought my axe." Snow looks around desperately, looking for anything that can help her save her best, oldest friend. "Come on, Eric, you are better than this." he murmurs. Suddenly, he loses his balance and he shouts a curse. "What the...?!" He gasps. "My axe!" Snow stares in awe at him. How has he done that? "How...? Ahh...Sahila said I should not think of anything while going under. I am so glad I did." He turns to her, and quickly puts his hand on her cheek. "Stay here. Promise me you will stay safe."
What? Is he suggesting she should sit on the sidelines, and watch how the man she loves and her best friend fight the monster who tried to kidnap and rape her? "No! Eric, I cannot let you fight alone!"
He drops his axe and grabs her face with both hands. "I need you to promise me, Snow! I cannot lose you! Please."
Snow crosses her arms over her chest and tries not to get distracted by his big hands on her small face. It just feels so right. He nods and with one last kiss on her temple, he turns and charges forward, to aid William. Snow bites her nails, trying frantically to come (40k words!) up with an idea that will not kill at least one of her protectors. In the back of her head, she still feels extremely guilty over hurting William. She knows she has, by choosing Eric, but she needs to make the right choice for herself for a change.
God, why is this even on her mind right now?! Her lover and oldest friend are fighting for her, and she cannot do anything! Come on, there has to be something. She starts sneaking around the yelling and screaming men, the shouts chilling her to the bones. William and Eric are both extremely angry, but the monster has the upper hand. This is his world. He holds all the power here. And that leaves the two men at a disadvantage. She needs to do something, but what? Sahila said that they could not think of anything when going to sleep, because that would be taken here. If Eric has done it, why would William have not?
"William!" she shouts, catching all three men's attention. But they never stop fighting. God forbid they stop fighting.
"Snow, what is it?" he snaps harshly, he hardly looks up from his fight.
"Did you think of anything when you fell asleep?"
He groans when he dives out of the way and lands on his shoulder, he has one moment to look up at her, and she sees an ocean of hurt. He has heard everything. He knows she has chosen. He knows she has not chosen him. "What do you mean?"
"Anything? A weapon, maybe?"
William turns on his back, catches the blade of the monster's sword between his feet and rolls over, forcing it out of his hands. Snow is genuinely impressed. "My bow and arrows, probably? Why?"
"Think of it again. Do it, now!" she orders, and she hears her own voice. It holds an awful lot of authority. This is Queen Snow talking. Her orders are always followed. So William nods and turns back. She cannot be certain he is thinking of it, but she trusts him with her life. So he probably is. Looking around frantically, she tries to find his bow and arrows. She is not as decent a shooter as he is, but she can manage, and if she puts an arrow through the monster's eye socket, she would feel better. "Come on." she mutters, and then her eyes cross the scene again. Eric has a bloody cut running from his temple to his jaw line, and he is limping every time he walks. William has a nasty cut on his arm, but seems fine besides that. Eric is handling his axe like he always does, swinging, throwing, grabbing and slashing, while William only has his hands and body to attack and defend himself. This has to stop quickly, or one of them will die. And she does not want either of them to die.
"Snow!" William yells suddenly, drawing her attention. He jumps aside and then looks over to the fire place. She looks, too, and she sighs in relief. Yes! There they are, William's precious bow and arrows. She runs over to it, grabbing the bow in her hands and aligning an arrow. "Toss them to me, Snow!"
Snow shakes her head, takes her stance and pulls back the string. Take a deep breath, touch your mouth, concentrate, she coaches herself. "Get out of the way!" she yells. William's eyes grow wide and he ducks, and Eric does so without even looking. He trusts her completely. She releases the string and holds her breath as the arrow whizzes through the air towards the monster. She does not even notice the sharp sting of the string hitting her bare arm. The monster turns around lightening quick, and smirks, before catching the arrow in his hand. Snow releases her breath in fright. How is that even possible?
"Oh my love, it is not that easy to kill me." he says, and suddenly he is in front of her, grabbing her arms and throwing her down. The back of her head hits the floor and she is momentarily dazed. "It is also a mistake you should never have made." He starts working on his pants again, and Snow's heart fills with fright.
"No, please..." she whimpers, while frantically trying to clear her head.
He smirks, preparing himself to throw himself down on top of her. "Oh yes. You better enjoy this. Because this will happen every day for the rest of your life."
Snow feels a single tear roll down her cheek as she hears the faint shouts of Eric and William. She feels around frantically, for anything that can help her escape this fate. He bares his evil-toothed smile and then pounces on her. She closes her eyes. The last thing she hears is Eric's booming voice.
"FINN, DON'T!"
AND THERE IT IS! Congrats, you made it to the end. I'm sorry I kept you hanging with 'the monster' and 'that man' for so long, but I had to find a good way to reaveal his identity. I'm still not completely satisfied. So, it's Finn. I'm guessing most of you guessed already, but what can I say? I really hate him, but he can play a good role and he is a good villain. Besides, I wanted him to be truly bad this time, and not some submissive for his sister.
So, what did you think of it? I hope it was a good read, I for one rather enjoyed writing that last part. Let me know what you think!
And now for some shameless self-promotion: I've written an original story(yes. dreamt, thought of and written by moi!:D) on wattpad . com. It's called World War III, and I'd love reads, votes and comments. You'd really make me happy if you'd take a look at it and tell me what you think. Just go to: wattpad user/BeautifulLily and click on works below my profile description. It'd really make me happy!
Anyways, see you guys next chapter!