Shortcut

Hermione arrived at the local market. She tried hard to remember the particular stall the old man had emerged from.

People had already started parking, and some stalls where left empty. "Oh Lord, I pray he hasn't left yet." She muttered in worry. She immediately needed to find him but unfortunately, she was just not paying attention while strolling in the market that day.

"Recall something hermione." She urged herself.

The place she saw the bronze bow! Yes. If she remembered clearly, it was close to where she was being accused. Accused? Well now she can't tell anymore.

Hermione hurried her steps towards the direction she recalled just now. And as expected, it was locked. The owner had gone. "Jewelry shop, jewelry shop." She chanted out loud.

With every passing moment with the necklace in her belt, the more terrified she found herself becoming. She had to return it as soon as possible.

A well built man that walked past her, stopped and queried. "Miss are you not aware that it is time to go home?"

"I am so sorry, but please can you help me with a little something. Can you show me to the nearest jewelry shop from here." Hermione helplessly requested.

The man scrutinized her from bottom to top. "Fine, follow me." He instructed.

Hermione quickly followed behind him, not wasting a single second. She made sure to keep her eyes wide open and register every little thing or shop she passed by.

"There it is." He pointed to a direction further away from where they stood.

Hermione strained her eyes to look at where the man pointed for her. After seeing the place, she turned to him. "Thank you, Sir." She appreciated, and without waiting for a response from him, she scurried away to get to her destination.

Hermione strode as fast she could. Fortunately candle lights were still lited in the shop. Hopefully, the shop owner would still be around.

When she drew nearer, a sigh of relief escaped her lips. "Thank goodness." She sighed.

"Good, evening Sir. It's…"

"The witch." The man replied with an aghast look.

Hermione didn't mind whatever he called her at this moment, she blinked his words away as she started. "I came to return something of yours. I actually didn't know how it got to me. I swear I did not take it. Sorry for the inconveniences please." Hermione said with outmost sincerity.

The man did not say a word.

Licking her bottom lips, she hurriedly drew out the chain from her belt that was tightly wrapped around her waist. "Here it is." She stated, wanting to get it over with, as soon as possible.

The old man simply looked down at her out stretched hand which held his most priced possession, but he didn't take it. His aging eyes went back to settle on her scared face. "You should keep it, I have already collected more than enough money for it. I am not that greedy." He replied, turning away to finish packing.

"Please, I beg of you. You should take it back. I don't need it for anything." Hermione pleaded.

"Look wit-lady. I said I don't want it back. It will make me feel like a cheat and I do not want such disturbance in my mind. The fact that it's a fake is enough disturbance already." He plainly elucidated.

Right now, that strong urge of pulling her hair came to her. Hermione exhaled loudly. "Okay, you can return the money if that will make you feel better. I know the young man who paid for it, I will return his money back to him. How do you see that?" She suggested, hoping for him to give in to this one.

The old man sighed in tiredness. "That's the thing. I don't have the money. I used it to sort my problems."

Oh God! What problems could he possibly have that he had to spend a whole twenty Crowns? Twenty Crowns!

"Okay, atleast even if it's…."

"Nothing is left, woman." The Man immediately cut her off.

"Why are you so bent on returning it anyway. Does it not look real enough?" The man questioned.

The problems is not about it looking real enough. The problem here is that, she has doubt about it being fake!

"That is not it, Sir. I just don't want to keep it." She said, trying to show the man how desperately she needed to return it.

The man sighed yet another. "This thing is pretty useless to me anyway. You should keep it or maybe throw it if you don't want it." He dryly said, locking up his stall.

Hermione watched him as he walked away, leaving her standing there on her own. She exhaled. Just marvelous! She thought.

Tucking it back securely into her belt, Hermione wandered off. She just realized that it was turning darker. "Oh no!" She exclaimed outloud.

She hastened her steps but she knew she wouldn't make it before the moon shows up. "This is not good." The fear she felt before began to double in it's intensity.

She walked, half sprinting while hoping she does not come across any of the palace guards or knights. Because she could tell from the time, that she was the only woman outdoors in Avalon. Fear gripped her at the thought.

"The shortcut!" She exclaimed.

Immediately, Hermione diverted her movement in another direction. She proceeded to pass through the shortcut to her home.

The shortcut was a mild bush. The most dangerous place to pass but also the shortest. Hermione braced herself as she ventured towards that path. Besides, no one ever goes there, so it will be the last place for the creatures to hunt, right?

Shaking her head to dispell all negative thinkings, Hermione hurried her footstep as she entered into the once small bush that was now turning into a forest.

The thick branches disrupted her movements, the sound of the crying crickets made her feel uneasy together with the dark shade of green leaves that blocked the light from guiding her. She suddenly regretted taking this route.

Was it too late to turn back, she was even afraid of her own shadow and footsteps.

She immediately halted by the rustling of the dry leaves on the ground, which seemed to be coming from someone or something behind her.