5 Runaway (4)
The underground passage exited to the forest.
Feather went through shrubs carefully avoiding holes.
She knew the path to the road well, so she didn't need to be overly careful while going. Still, some caution was needed. It was a forest, after all, so one could never guess.
Holes were the remnants from the events six hundred years ago. Not many records were left concerning that period of time, but it was commonly known that some tragedy had occurred then and the world nearly collapsed on itself.
That's when these holes had appeared.
They were completely invisible, so one could easily fall into them with one wrong step.
Those who had survived had been telling that if you fell into a hole, you would be teleported to some strange place. Places were different according to different people. Some were hard to survive, some were easy, some had treasures, and some had nothing inside.
That's why people called their world the Cheeseworld because of how it resembled a cheese riddled with holes.
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Humanity lived in the constant danger of falling into this holes. While some holes had people returned from them, the most of them didn't. It was unknown what was there on the other side of the holes which no one returned from.
Fortunately, the ruling family established large stones covering patches of land and people were able to live safely in the cities built on these stones. And there were roads which were confirmed safe to travel from city to city.
Still surviving outside cities was a hard, tedious work and many perished.
And if the city had needs to expand, the suburbs would be a very dangerous place, riddled with holes. With time, locals would know all the holes like the back of their hand, but outsiders would be risking their lives if they were to go there.
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Feather knew well the path from the underground exit to the road. Moreover, in the library, she had gotten her hands on a map with most of the holes in surrounding the family manor lands marked, so it wasn't too dangerous for her to travel, even though it was a nighttime.
She swiftly reached the road. The road was lit by the moonlight, and it was not as dark here as in the forest.
Feather put the light pearl back into the purse, looked around, and decisively walked to the right, away from the manor.
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The nearest town was a couple of hours away from the manor, if she moved swiftly, she would be able to pass it before midnight.
Feather didn't plan to stop at the town. She needed to go as far away from home as she could in the shortest amount of time possible. The further she would be able to go, the harder it would be for the family to catch her.
Furthermore, she would need to travel on foot, as buying a horse would attract attention. And where was she to buy a horse in the night anyway.
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The night air was fresh, and her steps were light. Feather walked fast, and the sense of freedom and adventure was intoxicating.
She had never been free before in her life, even if she wasn't restricted.
The manor, ever-lit by flames, restricted her better than any restrictions could.
The home which made you terrified all the time…
And now she was running away from this home, she'd be free, and would never have to be afraid anymore.
Well, she was wrong, of course.
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It hadn't been an hour before the silence of the night was torn by the noise of many claws scratching the road and hissings of dogs and horses.
Feather took fright. Pursuers? So fast?
She'd been discovered. A pity. She thought she would have at least till the morning, but…
She ducked to the side of the road just in time to avoid being seen by the group emerging from behind a road turn.
There were at least ten riders in a group and no less than five hounds.
Hiding was of no use. The hounds had already felt her, barked and rushed over.
Feather dashed to the woods, away from the road.
It was suicidal, but she didn't care.
Hounds were fast but careful. They were intelligent and knew that their task today was to catch the human, not to hunt the prey.
Three of the hounds dashed into the forest after Feather, and the rest two were going back and forth, waiting for riders to catch up.
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The bushes in the forest were lavish, so the chasers had to dismount. It would be faster, than trying to go through the woods by horses.
The girl couldn't get far away anyhow. The hounds would catch up and restrict her.
Everyone was disgruntled at how they had to go and play that catch-game in the late night instead of resting at home.
Did that stupid jinx think she would be able to escape?
And why would she even want to escape? The family had found her a good fiancé; she would get a decent dowry from the family; what could a cripple hope for more in her life.
They didn't understand and were annoyed.
The captain of the team led his men into the forest letting the hounds show the way. In a minute they caught up with the rest of hounds. But the girl was nowhere to be seen.
There was a spacing between the trees, and the hounds were whimpering at the side.
Animals were much more perceptive of these crazy things than humans. A hole, it was a f*cking hole! The captain cursed. The stupid girl had fallen into the hole. Truly a jinx!
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The team looked at the spot with unease.
"Captain, do we need to..."
"No," he said immediately.
What a joke! He wouldn't let his men head in there. If the jinx wanted to die, she can go and die all she wanted. Why would they want to die along with her?
"We'll go and report this to the elders and let them decide. In the night to locate the exact position of the hole is hard, and the returnable holes are scarce. We know all of them in the vicinity of the manor, and that's not the one we know of.
"Axe, Knife, stay here and guard the hole, be careful. I'll leave Second and Fifth with you just in case, they are smart. We'll go to report and be back in the morning."
