Run or I'll kill you

ZaEl's brow furrowed his brow in confusion. He looked over his shoulder only to realize that the person who had hidden him was wearing a big hoof and because of this, he couldn't see his face properly.

As he struggled to break free from this stranger's grip, he heard an unfamiliar voice, "Stay still or else you'll die in their hands."

The people kept calling out his name and searching earnestly with touches. ZaEl's brow furrowed even deeper. 'Who would want to kill me? No one knows me.' He thought to himself.

Slowly, the stranger pulled ZaEl backward into the dark and then ran away from the search party.

ZaEl was not sure who this was but he knew for a fact that it was better to run away from the search party than run away from the stranger.

After reaching a far distance, the stranger let go of his hand and turned around to leave, leaving ZaEl confused.

"Wait, you can't just go without explaining what's going on." he tried to stop the person and his attempt worked.

The stranger turned around and lifted the hood from his face. ZaEl was even more confused after seeing this face. It was Darius his immediate elder brother.

No wonder the voice was unfamiliar. Darius never spoke to him and never even behaved ad though ZaEl existed. This was why it was even harder for ZaEl to believe that Darius was the hoody stranger.

"Father wants you dead. That's why he sent the search party after you." A sigh escaped from Darius's mouth. He looked as though he was doing something that he didn't really want to do.

"Just go. Run away as far as you can and don't look back. If you come back... I'll kill you myself." Darius had gone against his father just to save ZaEl. If his father ever found out, he'd suffer the consequences.

After saying this, Darius left ZaEl out in the cold woods without looking back even once.

ZaEl was not surprised by all that was happening but he couldn't understand why. He never caused trouble for the Banach family and he lived like an outcast in his own father's house but this wasn't enough, they wanted him dead.

He sighed and walked away confused about where to go. He had no friends or relatives he could go to. He was like a wanderer waiting for death.

***

In town, Alexia stayed with one of her relatives for the night before going back home. In her cold quiet room, she was sleeping soundly until her brows furrowed. She was having a bad dream.

There were a series of pictures that made it hard for her to understand the dream but this wasn't the first time she was having such a dream.

A boy was seated by the cliff and swinging his legs then the scene changed to the same boy sailing the sea but in the next moment, this happy scene changed to a dark one.

The young boy was caught up in the realm of the living and the dead and he had to overcome many obstacles.

Her eyes widened in the next second but everything was dark as always. She couldn't see a thing and wasn't sure who the boy was but she was sure about her dream as this wasn't just like any other dream.

***

At the Banach's house, someone from the search party came to give reports on their findings.

"We searched everywhere but couldn't find him... we are sorry..." he didn't even finish his statement when a metal hit his head causing him to bleed.

If there was anything Eldezar Banach hated, it was a failure. He hated the thought of being deceived and at that point in time, he just wanted to kill anyone and everyone around him.

"How is that possible!? He should be out in the woods as always how hard can it be to find a mare teenager?" his voice was as loud as a roar and anyone could tell that he was holding himself back from killing anyone.

"He was nowhere in sight. We combed the entire town but he was nowhere to be found. I think someone tipped him off." the man whose head was bleeding spoke fluently as though he wasn't hurt.

Eldezar was short of words. He wanted to say something but the words weren't loving his mouth. "Seems I underestimated that nuisance. Even in his absence, he causes so many problems for me."

"Search the entire town again. This time, I'll send some other friends to help," he spoke with his brow furrowed and his face wrinkled.

Elene sighed and walked towards him to comfort her darling husband. "We could as the monsters to help, the ravens and mermaids wouldn't mind helping as well but we can't let them know that he is our son. We just have to tell them that he stole something valuable from you and you need him back... dead or alive."

Eldeza heaved a sigh. He was obviously stressed by all that was happening but suddenly, his eyes fell on someone lurking in the dark.

He raised his brow and called out to the person, "Darius, what are you doing out here late at night?"

Darius who tried his best to make his presence unnoticed bit his lower lips worriedly.

He turned to where his father called him out from and gave an indifferent expression. This was something Darius was good at he was exceptional when it came to acting ignorant.

Slowly, he walked up to his father and greeted "Good..." he didn't conclude his greetings when Eldezar rushed like the wind and slammed him against the wall.

Elene was furious at Eldezar's rash reaction and rushed towards him. "Stop this! What are you doing to our son?" she asked with widened eyes as she tried to pull Eldezar's hand away from Darius's neck.

"Where are you coming from?" Eldezar asked with piercing eyes as though he could see through Darius.

Darius clenched his fist and spoke, "From the woods."