Chapter 12: Engulfs in Danger

Marina doesn't protest anymore, she holds my hand firmly. We both run away.

"But the doors are closed on all sides, how can we escape?" I ask her.

"I know a secret way," Marina assures me taping my shoulder.

She starts running with me along and we stand in front of the secret path. She starts removing the waste materials from the door of the path, I assist her to save time. Fantasy is revolving all around my mind. I'm just expecting to face a magical door covered with beautiful flowers, herbs and creeper. How amazing it will feel then. Oh, I can't think about it more. Getting so excited and then when the door will get opened, a magical world with magical creatures will be there to receive us with utmost love and care.

When we remove all the wasted materials, I find there's a narrow pipe through which waste water is discharged. "This is your secret way!" I ask her. "Yes, Alexandra." "Well, reality is far away from fantasy."

Our journey begin as we start crawling through the pipe. My condition is getting worse due to the rotten smell but there is nothing to do to survive I have to face all odds. Earthworms and leeches are spread all around.

We can hear chaos all around which means they are looking for us by now.

We carefully move through the dark, slowly going through a small pipe. Finally, we come out into the open air after a really long time. We look around quickly and see Patrick's flock far away. Marina shifts into a big wolf which is a combination of grey and white in color quickly to help us move faster. She carries me on her back and start running quickly. We keep going like this through the rough ground until it starts getting dark.

When it's almost night, we reach a calm lake with shiny water. Marina is so tired that she no longer has the energy to shift. I remember what Nathaniel taught me about fishing and catch some fish for Marina to eat. She eats them slowly, feeling thankful.

As the night gets darker, we feel hungry but there is no way to light a fire here. I have not eaten for two days, and Nathaniel is not here to feed me with fish. We just eat the raw fish I caught. It's not as good as cooked food, but it's all we have. After eating, we both sit under the tree and start taking rest.

Even though things are tough, we stick together and help each other. We sit under a tree, tired and wanting to rest.

After a while, in the dim light, I look at Marina. As she gains some energy, she shifts quickly. Her figure indeed attractive. I give her clothes to wear that I carry all way long when she shifted.

She comes and sits beside me, her mood seems down. And I can easily understand the reason behind her sadness.

"Don't be sad," I hold her hand to solace her. "If our journey ends, I'm going to miss you so much," she says in her sad tone. "Me too, your companion is refreshing."

We're really tired, and the scary monster Patrick never stop chasing us. We fall asleep, but then a hunter catches us in his net. We get up quickly sensing the danger. We are tied to a tree, indicating that we can't get away from danger.

The horrid sound of footsteps, like the approach of death itself, echoes in my ears. It makes me realize we're trapped; escape seems impossible now. The warrior hitting me doesn't stop, and each time it hurt even more than before.

As Marina's whimpers fill the air, my heart sink further when I see more of their companions joining in to torment her so that she shift. The scene occuring before me becomes increasingly unbearable, the cruelty of it all burdening heavily on my soul.

With our hands bind tightly, he shows no mercy, dragging us away without remorse. The intense pain flowing through my body made me tremble, each movement a painful reminder of the suffering.

He brings us back to his area. That night locks us back in that dark prison. The next day we are taken to his courtroom for trial. Fear is clear in the eyes of all residents. He brings everyone back to see what would happen if anyone try to escape.

Patrick looks at Marina and says, "Look what I did to the one you dared to run away with."

I stare back at him with anger and utters in the tone of condemnation, "What else can a coward like you do? You are an ugly existence who puts your hands on a woman. I don't fear you, I hate you."

"Your place will be at my feet, bitch!" He roars in anger making me chuckle.

"You're saying this to me?! You! The world is ashamed of your existence and here trying to get in nerves!" I say being mad at that hyena.

He immediately tears off my top, leaving me only in my bra. I try my heart and soul to cover up the eerie embarrassing situation but fail to hide myself from the lustful eyes of the surroundings. The members of his court look at me with lust in their eyes and start laughing. The residents heads are lowered, nobody dares to uphold their head.

It makes me feel helpless, like a nightmare. Nobody comes to rescue me from this situation. "Someone please help me!

"Please, don't do this to her. I'm begging you." As Marina says, he crashes her hand under his feet. Tears keep rolling from our eyes. "My fellow residents, are you dead? Can't you see how this monster is abusing our only well-wisher? Can't you fight against this monster to protect her? I'm ashamed that my father's pack is full of cowards," Marina cries out loud.

Patrick starts laughing out loud making the hall shake and says, "Do you really expect this? They're all my slave, nobody will come to rescue you and your friend. Your father died for those cowards who doesn't know how to protect themselves!" He keeps blabbering making her break again and again.

Those hyenas are just keep laughing at our poor state. He walks near me with rage in his eyes making me flinch foreseeing my future.