Lost Princess of War

...run, run, keep running no matter the sting in your throat or the scratchiness of your eyes, you must keep moving, you must not let them get a hold of you. I ran and ran, over housetops and through backyards. I didn't know where I would end up I just needed to escape. The sound of footsteps echoed behind me but I kept going. Soon they would be off my trail. I look behind, their off in the distance, they mustn't catch up to me. I found a hidden door, go inside before it's too late. I hide shaking, shallow breaths emanating from my cold body. I hear them above, have they found me? No they stop and look around then continue away. Their footsteps soon come to a silent distant sound. I shook as I relaxed not knowing where I was. My vision was becoming hazy from the cold? Was this the end? No it must not be. I need to survive. There's a cloak over there I must get to it. Crawl, crawl, I reach it. My vision darkens and I fall asleep, the cloak resting around me.

I had awoken shortly after that memory passed through my mind. Not long ago did that happen. Sadly, it was the most freedom I had felt in a long time that night. I had been gone, running away for what seemed like days. There were so many streets throughout this place it was like a maze trying to figure it out, and when you finally thought you knew what you were doing you would end up somewhere new you had never seen before. It was honestly endless. I ended up deciding to get up from the corner I had been resting in and realized it was still night. I look to the moon and saw it was closer to the west than the east meaning it must be around 2 am by now. God I wish I was able to sleep more. But ever since I left I've always been cautious.

As I stood up, I pulled my brown hair away from my porcelain skin that was dotted with dainty freckles across my cheeks and the bridge of my nose. I pushed my hair behind me so it rested on my back as I slowly pulled the big hood up over my head. It helped me hide my face from knowing eyes so that I wouldn't be called in. The cloak was a crimson red color, something I did really like, plus it kept me warm whenever I was walking or resting the little I do. Being tired meant my guard isn't as sharp sadly which was never a good thing especially in these lower sanctions of the city. But I was hungry and needed to find some type of sustenance for my growling tummy.

I walk to the end of my little nook that rested between to worn down buildings. I look back at the darkness where I had good coverage then look in front of me at the dull light that seemed to flicker in the night. I breathed and walked towards it so I could get my bearings again about where I was, understand my directions again. I look up to the sky seeing that soft snowflakes slowly began falling onto the hard earth, or was it ash, I was not certain. as I look around, I don't really see anyone out in the streets but again it was 2 in the morning, no sane person would be out at this time, which was exactly what I feared.

I relax and look down at my gloved hands. The leather had worn down from use over time but they still were one of my favorite pairs. They reached up to my elbow and had buckles along the wrist and up towards my forearm. On the hands there were pieces of thicker leather and had small clasps that went across my hands. For me they were one of the coolest things I owned. I put my hands down and look from my left to my right, the moon was near northwest and I wanted to head eastbound so I began walking away with the moon behind me.

With me I had a small bag that clasped around my waist and rested on the outside of my right leg. The leather belts held it on around my leg and waist so it wasn't going anywhere and was harder for anyone to steal especially because I kept it hidden beneath the cloak. On my left leg I held a small obsidian blade that my parents had left me for when I was older. Now it never left my side as it was one of my best protections I had at this time and it was a special gift to me.

As I continue to walk I get lost in my own thoughts and didn't realize where I'm going. as I continue the lights seemed to get scarcer and the wind had began picking up. It howled and bounced off the buildings that surrounded me and when I finally snapped back to reality I was somewhere I'd never been before. In this area the roads were cracked with dead plants poking through. There were cement stoppers scattered around, some cracked others broken right in half. I didn't realize until I looked around but the buildings here were worse then they were in sanction 19 where I had just been, I didn't quite know which part this was exactly but it did not look inviting. Small barrel fires made the cold and dull street glow looking like bright stars on a dark night. People shifted their gaze towards me but I hid my face and kept my head down as I carried on.

As I walk I begin hearing the faint sound of footsteps from behind me so I quicken my pace. I lift my head up and look behind me to see a figure not to far away from me. As I looked I wasn't paying attention and suddenly I hit something hard and something big. It caused me to almost fall but I catch myself before looking at what I walked in to. A large man stood there he must have been at least 7 foot 9 and probably weighed around 300 pounds of pure muscle. He was a tower compared to my 6 foot 5 and at most 150 pound body. He began to turn around and I ducked my head. I hear a deep chuckle come from him and then his deep voice pierces the silent night.

"Well hello there pretty lady, we haven't seen such a delicate beauty around these parts in a while. you truly are something special."

He speaks as he bends over and tried to brush his hard hand against my face. I flinch away.

" please just leave me alone I mean no harm, just let me leave this place." I speak my voice barely louder than a whisper.

He looks at me and puts his hand on his side.

"Well Missy I can't do that ya see, these folks here have been rather bored and need some distraction if I may say. And you my dear are the perfect distraction." He speaks. I look around and see some men beginning to close in on me, out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash of something but I don't understand what.

I look around and reach down for my knife as a man approaches licking his lips. My eyes narrow and I pull the blade out and hold it up at the man's neck. He looked shocked at first but then a sinister look crossed his face.

"Like to play rough I see he he that's okay I like it rough anyway. "

I move back as they close in on me and my breathing becomes more rapid. As one tries to reach out and grab me I see the flash again but this time I hear the sound of knife entering flesh. The man in front of me eyes widen as he coughs and blood comes up, he then collapses to the ground.

Behind him stood someone in a grey jacket. His hair flew loosely around his head and a mask covered most of his face but his eyes which were a bright green. He wore black trousers and a red ascot and glared at the men around me. Some back off but then one decides to lunge at me. Without thinking I bring my knife up and feel it connect with the man's chest, he gasps then falls to the ground. I stand there frozen as he lays there in his blood which turned the new blanket of snow red. I couldn't move but the man in the mask doesn't stop. One runs at him with a bat and he grabs and breaks it in half. He then grabs the man's Arm and ducks down before coming up and breaking his arm In two. The man who started this threatens one and then mercilessly runs at me. Instinct takes over and I duck as he jumps for me, I grab his arm and threw him to the ground. By this time the masked man has the big guy pinned against the wall, a gun to his chin. He whispers something then throws him to the ground. The man freaks and gets up and runs away.

I stand there in awe, 3 bodies lay around me, one dead, one unconscious and one moaning in agony. The masked man walks to the one with the broken arm and uses his knee to push his head up. He kicks him hard enough causing him to smash Into the wall of a crumbling building. He looks at me and grabs my arm

"Your coming with me," he says. His voice sounded like it had been changed so he wouldn't let his real voice be heard. He begins walking me from the way I had come. I struggle a bit to get my arm from his grip and I growl

" I am not a child you didn't need to treat me like one. I could've handled that situation." The man looks at me them shakes his head.

"Really because to me it looked like you were a deer in headlights unable to move, who knows what could've happened to you if I hadn't stepped in?" He says before returning his head to look forward. I glare at him and think "well aren't you just a cocky prick". I make a humph sound and return my head back to face in front of me. I began looking around at the man.

"Where are we this place looks like trash." I say, the man looks towards me.

"This is sanction 25, one of the harder parts of the city. How In gods name did a girl like you end up in a place like this?" I turn to look at him suddenly.

"What the hell are you implying by saying a girl like me?" I question him and turn to look at him, my arms crossed against my chest. He looks at me quickly.

"What I'm implying is this. Look at yourself. Delicate skin, practically skin and bone. How did you end up in one of the roughest sanctions, it's not a place for people like you." He says as he pushes me along. I push him away from me and glare. "I'm not as delicate as you think I am. Besides I got lost in my thoughts and somehow ended up here. I don't know how but I did."

The man shakes his head.

"Well be more careful then, you seemingly don't have the understanding of this place. You can get yourself killed easily walking in at the wrong time with the wrong crowds. Just watch yourself princess." He says. I look at him questionable.

"Alright then answer me this why were you there then if it's such a dangerous place?" The man chuckles. "Easy..I was on a business meeting." I look at him for a moment then begin to laugh.

"You? A business meeting? Really? Haha yea like I believe that one." I say looking at his brooding figure. He stops and turns to me and looks stern.

"You need to learn not to judge someone by how they look, that could get you in a lot of trouble one day." I look at him oddly and chuckle.

"Alright dad you keep telling yourself that." I laugh as we begin to walk. I hadn't noticed it we were already back to a place I knew. Lights came on and the wind had settled and we stood on a street corner.

'I am not your father nor will I ever be" I look at him dumbfounded

"Ok bro take a joke" I say looking at him. He just gazes over my head. He looks down at me.

"You should get someplace safe for the night, there's all sorts of creeps out here right now." He says as he begins moving me in the opposite direction from where I came. He had a hold on me but I squirmed free.

"Okay look I appreciate you helping me but I don't need a babysitter I'm not 9 any- he stops me and says shhhh then begins moving me again. I look at him a little annoyed but before I push again he looks at me

"Look behind, do you wanna die or survive another night." Confused I glance behind us my hood covering part of my vision. From behind I could see three guards standing about two blocks away. They hadn't noticed us yet which was good because your not supposed to be out past 10. I turn back and quicken my pace letting the man move me along. We quickly duck behind a big tree then move towards a dark path and hide for a moment. We hear the guards say something then begin running towards where we were. The man Made me duck as he leaned over me and told me to be quiet, this time I agreed. We stopped to listen as the 3 guards run up the sidewalk,

"I saw something over there let's go see what it is. They say walking up the sidewalk. We duck deeper Into the dark. My heart began to beat faster. I couldn't be caught not now. Soon the guards were practically in front of us. I covered my mouth as they stood there. The one speaks

"I I swear I saw someone over here"

The second one grumbles

"Carl get your shit together there's no use right now it's a dead end, let's just get outta here and call it a night, I can't feel my toes right now.

"But sir we have orders"

"Fuck orders I'm going home to bed its 3 in the damn morning theres no use. Good night. "

The one named Carl slumps his shoulders.

"Alright whatever you say sir" then they leave making their footsteps just become a far away sound.

I release myself and land on the floor. I was getting exhausted. The man looks at me.

"Ok your coming with me tonight. Were close anyway to a safe zone. Follow me." At this point I was too tired to argue so I followed. Soon we came to a building and he went up the stairs.

"There are people in here that will help. Get some rest and wash up if need be. I must go now. " I look at him and ask him a quick question.

"Wait."

"Yes?" He looks at me

I look at him.

"May I get your name please you never told me it.'

He looks at me then the door.

"Just call me C" he says.

I look at him confused but I give a slight nod.

He opens the door. I look at it and feel the warmth from inside. I look to go thank him but once I turned he was nowhere in sight. I stand in awe and have at the now empty place where he had stood just moments ago. I didn't realize until I felt someone touch my shoulder and caused me to jump. I spin around quickly to see an older woman standing in the doorway. She looks at me

"Oh well hello there darling do you want to step inside. You hair is frozen and covered in snow and I can barely see you. You must be freezing. Poor thing, here let's get you warmed up. I simply nod and let her take my hand. She was very gentle with her touch. I followed her inside as the door closed I looked back out into the bitter winter night just to try and get a glance of the masked man that saved my life.

...a shadow stands off in the distance watching the door close. His scarf blowing in the wind. He watches the girl be taken in before turning disappearing into the dark of the night....