Chapter 5: Guilt

Ever since I was little, guilt has eaten away at my heart more than any other emotion. If I so much as stole a single cracker from the kitchen, I would be consumed with shame until I came clean. This is why I felt it necessary to follow Dominik. Something in his eyes when I asked about his mother made my heart ache for him.

But he seems to have disappeared. I walk out of the dining room to a completely empty hallway. Not even the sound of his footsteps fills the air. Where could he have gone to in such a hurry?

I didn’t hear a door close, so I assume he absconded upstairs. Climbing the staircase once more, I look down this hallway. Still no sign of him. But still I travel down the hallway, listening closely for any sounds.

At the end of the hallway, there’s a sharp turn, leading down another identical hall. I wander down this one until a door catches my eye. It’s lavishly decorated, with gold filigree climbing up from the bottom and curling around the upper corners. The doorknob glitters like a red jewel, and the wood itself is a rich brown.

Perhaps this is his room? I grab the doorknob and turn it, pushing the door open. The inside is dark, and I strain my eyes trying to make out the shape of Dominik in there.

“Dominik?” I call, stepping into the room. My hands grope against the wall, and I slowly shift my weight forward.

Suddenly my foot catches on something hard, slamming into it harder than I intended. I hiss and rear back from the pain, and at the same time there’s a clatter and what sounds like glass smashing.

“What do you think you are doing?!” a voice yells behind me. My arm is roughly grabbed and I’m yanked out of the room.

Dominik towers over me, his eyes inflamed and his face red. His grip on my arm tightens. I gasp and try to twist out of his grasp, but it only worsens his hold on me. He slams his other hand against the door, closing it and pinning me against it.

“Do not ever interfere with my personal life,” he growls, hot breath spreading across my face. “Do you understand?”

I stutter, and tears spring to my eyes, clouding my vision. His hand twists my arm and I buckle. “I understand!” I cry. “I’m sorry!”

He lets go of me, roughly pushing himself away. “Get out of my sight,” he grumbles.

I don’t hesitate. I swiftly turn and run, through the hallway, down the stairs, and out to the foyer. It’s only as I’m placing my hand against the front door that I hear him call after me. But it’s too late. The heavy wooden door creaks open, and I’m out of the castle.

I run. Despite the air struggling to fill my lungs and my tired legs shaking beneath me, I run. The woods surround me, the trees growing taller and the stony ground turning to soil. It isn’t until I come to a river that I stop. The water roars in front of me, blocking my path.

It’s then I notice I’m crying. Hot tears warm my cheeks, and I wipe them away as quickly as they fall. The rest of my skin feels cold from the biting morning air, and I can’t suppress a shiver that runs down my arms. Though my legs are stationary, my mind is still running out of control.

He was beyond angry. He was furious. As gentle as he had been before, with his soft touches and embraces, he had been just as ferocious. I reach up and touch my arm where he had gripped me, still feeling the pain of his nails biting into the skin.

Suddenly a growl sounded behind me. I turn slowly, and there stands a large wolf, haunches raised. My heart stops in my chest. I have walked out of one monster’s den and into another.

“Easy…” I stutter, raising my hands an inch at a time. The wolf growls again, taking a step forward and baring its teeth.

I step back, but the ground behind me is uneven. My ankle twists beneath me, and I fall, landing with a grunt on the ground. The wolf stops its advance and lifts its head, letting out a low howl. The woods around me begin to move, and then I see that several more wolves have joined their kin.

This is it. I try to crawl away, but pain shoots up my leg, and my hand touches the edge of the river. Either I fall prey to the wolves, or I get swept away in the rushing currents and drown. I don’t know which fate is worse, and in this moment, I can only close my eyes and pray.

At least let my death be swift. Please…