A Victim and A Victim

The cool morning air whipped his hair behind him as Atlier galloped along the dirt path heading away from the estate. Galloping hooves from his steed, the rippling of the air and the frantic beating of his heart sounded loudly in his ears. Hundreds of scenarios raced through his mind as he searched through the scenery looking for Mia.

If she was on her own, and stayed on her feet, then he might be in luck. He could tell from the bush at the estate where the piece of cloth was found and from some faded footprints that she had headed in this direction. It had been approximately 9 hours since Mia had last been seen. Assuming she had left immediately after Tina last saw her and didn't stop walking since she left, it would take him about an hour to travel the same distance.

What if that wasn't the case though? What if someone took her, or she went with someone? Then what? She could be anywhere!

Atlier pushed his horse on, increasing the speed of the gallop. He didn't want to be going through this again. Another person gone. Mia had breathed a breath of fresh air into his life again, he didn't want to lose her. No, he COULDN'T lose her rather.

His eyes darted side to side as he continued. "Mia, where are you?" he wondered, when finally his eyes fell upon a broken branch and disturbed earth by a small forested area. He pulled on the reigns and slowed his horse before backing it up to the spot. If he wasn't looking so hard, he would've missed it easily at the speed he was going. There was no guarantee that this meant anything and if it was indeed nothing, it could make finding her all the more impossible. However, there was the chance that this is the path she took.

He was willing to follow any lead, so he ground tied his horse on the side of the road and headed into the forest. His eyes strained to see, the treetops hid the light from the sun leaving darkness ahead of him. He shuttered. Was this foreshadowing?

"Mia! Mia! Are you there?! Mia, come out! Where are you?!" he screamed into the darkness, possibly at nothing. Atlier was greeting with nothing but the rustling of leaves from the howling wind and rushing water from a nearby river. He ventured farther in, shielding his face with his arm as the wind picked up. On the ground was an indent and more foot prints. It had to be Mia. His heart was racing both in hope and in fear, he was on the right track.

Atlier continued to shout out her name, and received no answer. Soon, he came to an area in which the light filtered in from the canopy. Standing before him was an abandoned water mill. The water from the stream had long stopped flowing and nature was already beginning to take the structure back.

Greenery and moss were coloring the broken wooden wheel. The windows were surprisingly intact although they were discolored from the dirt and dust covering them.

"Mia?" He called out again and waited. There was no answer but he did hear rustling coming from inside the building. Atlier bolted immediately up to the front door, throwing it open. There he saw Mia, curled up in a ball. He rushed over to her side and put his hands on her arms, "Mia are you-"

"DON'T!" she screamed and pushed him away, "Get away from me!" she scurried backwards, her eyes wide with terror.

"Mia? What are you talking about?" He stared at her in complete confusion.

"I won't tell anyone. I promise. I swear! If I was going to, I would've already said something! Just let me go!"

"Tell anyone what? Is this about what you found in my desk?"

"Just let me go!" Mia stood from her position and began to run. She didn't get far as Atlier wrapped his arms around her legs, causing her to fall. Frantically she kicked at him, but he held on tight.

"Mia, just listen!"

"I WILL NOT BE YOUR NEXT VICTIM!" she screamed out as tears now were running down her face. She was grabbing at the floor boards, trying to use her upper body strength to pull herself out of Atlier's grasp. It was no use, his grip on her was too tight and she wasn't strong enough to pull both of them.

"Stop, Mia! You're not my victim, nor will you become one! You have it all wrong!" He crawled on top of her, rolled her over and pinned her down so she would listen to him. "Calm down, you're in no danger with me. I am trying to solve the case, not create it."

Mia's chest heaved up and down with each gasping breath. "Do you expect me to believe that?"

"Don't you think, my dear, that if you were to be my next victim, you would be gone already?"

Mia flashed back to her last moments with Lance. He didn't hesitate to grab that hammer, there was no thinking in his eyes, he'd already known. She realized…..he had been standing there watching her that whole time, waiting until she noticed him. He wanted her to know what he had done, he wanted a reason to kill her. Atlier's grip had loosened already, but she didn't even realize it.

Her body started to shake uncontrollably as she burst into tears. She shut her eyes tight and cried loudly. Atlier pulled her into a gently hug, holding her tightly. This was different than it was with Lance. Atlier was different.

"You must've been so scared. I'm sorry Mia. I should have told you earlier." He rubbed her back soothingly with one hand and placed his chin on top of her head as she sobbed into his chest. If he had wanted to kill her, she would already be gone, just like she was with Lance. That's right, Lance had indeed killed her. It was coming to her now.

Mia awoke in her bed, it was dark outside. She blinked and rubbed her eyes, they were puffy and swollen. The last thing she remembered was crying in Atlier's arms as he comforted her. When did they get back to the estate? What time was it?

She went to get out of bed but was surprised by something warm beside her thigh. It was Atlier. He was sitting on a chair pulled next to the bed, his arms crossed and his head resting inside, sleeping peacefully. "How long has he been here?" she wondered.

Mia put her hand on his arm and gently shook him. He slowly opened his eyes and squinted as he looked around, disoriented from being awoken. As soon as his eyes landed on Mia he reached over and squeezed her tightly. "Mia! You're awake! Are you feeling alright? I've been so worried." She patted his back, signaling for him to let go.

"What happened?" she asked as Atlier began inspecting her.

"You were so upset that you wouldn't even move and you ended up falling asleep right then and there. I brought you back here and you've been asleep ever since. Mia I apologize," he placed his hand on her cheek and rubbed it with his thumb, "I can only imagine how terrified you were. I promise you with every fiber in my being, you are safe with me."

Mia teared up and Atlier promptly began wiping away any tears that dared try to roll down her cheek. "I'm sorry too…it's just there were other things too that I realized."

"What other things?"

Mia shook her head, "I can't tell you right now. Maybe one day though." She gently rubbed at her eyes some more. They were so sore. Atlier stood up and kissed the top of her head. "I should let you rest more. It's already late."

Before he could leave her bedside, Mia grabbed his arm. "Wait!"

Atlier looked back, "What is it my dear?"

"I wanted to say…thank you. Thank you for coming to get me and for fighting to explain instead of just giving up on me. Next time I say let me go, let me go though! Or else!"

Atlier chuckled and held his hands in the air, signaling a playful defeat, "Alright, I apologize. I will see you at breakfast?"

Mia nodded, "I'll see you at breakfast."