CHAPTER 3: The search

(COMPLETED)

In the kingdom of Ugah, king Malachi sent out his guards and Bryan, in search of Aurora. After hours of journey with a Chariot, they stopped close to a waterfall. "We will set fire here," said Hannez, one of the guards. " No, we will keep moving," replied Bryan. "Bryan, the king wouldn't want us to keep moving when we're supposed to rest," he said softly.

Bryan dragged his shirt angrily, and said, "This is my wife you're talking about!" The guards at the back began to murmur.

"Stop calling her your wife. You two are not married yet," Hannez answered and took his hand away from his shirt. "All of you listen!" Bryan said furiously, "The king put me in charge and you'll do what I say!" he added.

John, an elderly man who has known Aurora since she was born. He stepped out from the Chariot, "I've known Aurora since she was a baby, you think if she sees you now, she will accept your proposal?" He said to Bryan as he got closer to him.

"Yes. I will make her to," answered Bryan, "You're totally wrong," replied John, "After the death of..." Bryan cuts in, "Not that same story now, please!"

John adjusted his trouser and laid down on the grass, "Do what you want," he said. "Who's with me?" Bryan asked but there was no reply. After some minutes of total silence, he added, "Fine! Bunch of lazy pussies!" He went away with the Chariot.

In the Unknown, Aurora and Gregory set out with Alpha, for exploration. "Why is this place called the 'Unknown?'" She asked. "It's 'cause we hardly come out and it's hidden. Many travellers have lost their way, they end up here," he answered. "I see," replied Aurora.

"Where are you from?" Gregory asked. "Not your business," she said, "I ran away from home," she added. "Woah, are you one of those princesses that tries to run away from their stepmother or from the man they don't want to get married to? Like snow white, Cinderella... Blah...blah... blah..." He said, mocking her.

Aurora pushed him down from Alpha, "Ugh! I'm not a princess!" she said angrily. Gregory grunts as he stood up, and dusted his trouser, "I was only joking," he replied and frowned. "I don't take such jokes," she answered and got down from Alpha.

"Where are you going?" Asked Gregory. "I don't know," answered Aurora. She tied a scarf on her forehead. "You comin' or not?" She asked, "Yeah. Yeah, hold up," replied Gregory. He took Alpha by the bridle, "Aurora, where are you taking us to?" he asked. "Us?" Replied Aurora, "I'm taking myself alone, I didn't force you to join me," she concluded. "I... I know," he said feeling tired.

"Can we rest a bit?" He asked, breathing heavily. "Aurora, I feel tired. I need water," he added. "Heads up!" She said as she threw a bottle of water to him.

The water fell on the floor, "Wow, such a pain you're," she added. Gregory picked up the water and drank it hurriedly. "Thanks," he thanked her. "Yeah, shall we?" She asked, "Okay," answered Gregory.

After an hour of their journey, they reached a waterfall, "What is this place?" She asked in wonder. "It's Momo's waterfall. It's beautiful right?" Gregory asked with a light smirk, "Hell yeah it is!" Answered Aurora in excitement.

"Can we check it out?" She asked, "I'm not sure..." He replied, "Look Alpha must be tired," he added. "She'll be fine," she answered, taking off the scarf on her forehead.

"What are you doing?" Asked Gregory. She looked at him awkwardly, "What does it look like?" She asked him back. "I want to swim!" She added in excitement. "Woah. I am so going back home," he said, going back to the direction they came from. "Greg! Get back here! Greg!" She yelled out his name but there was no reply.

She murmured to herself as she enters inside the water. "Ahh..." She said softly, in relief. A while later, she came out from the pool, and put on her trouser, as she was about to put on her shirt, she heard a noise from the tree branches.

"Hello?" She asked going towards the noise, "Who's there?" She asked again but there was no reply. Quickly, she put on her shirt and headed back to Alpha. Alpha neighs, "C'mon girl, we're leaving now," she whispered to Alpha and got on her.

As she wanted to go, a boy called Preston, on a sack clothe rushed out from the bush. "Hey!" He said in a loud voice. Aurora, gulped her saliva, feeling frightened.

"Who are you?" She asked. "I'm supposed to ask you that," replied Preston. "I don't want any trouble," Aurora said moving back slowly on Alpha. "I'm leaving now," she added.

As she turned back to leave, some group of men on sack clothes came out from the bush. "Who's this?" They whispered to each other, "I don't know," answered Preston. Hulio, one of the men on sack, he adjusted his trouser to his big belly and whispered back to Preston, "Shall we take her to Zona? He'll be so pleased to see her."

Aurora watched them suspiciously and yelled out, "I don't want any trouble, I... I was leaving before your guy came out!" Hulio walked closely to her, "We know..." He said and smiled at her, "But we don't care."

All of a sudden, Preston hit her on the head and she fell from Alpha. "Take her. Let's go," said Hulio. They tied her up and took her away.

Alpha ran away quickly and met Gregory coming, she neighed, jumping up. "Woah, woah. Calm down girl," Gregory said as he stretched out his hands to calm her down. "Where's Aurora?" He asked, Alpha neighed again.

Immediately, he got on Alpha and headed back to the waterfall. "She isn't here," he said, looking around. Alpha saw the tracks on the ground, she started running quickly, following the tracks. Some minutes later, they arrived in a cave, Gregory came down and sneaked inside. He found Aurora tied up, close to a fire. When she saw him, she muffled but he couldn't hear a word she said. "Don't worry, I'll be back," he whispered to her and went outside. Aurora, muffled loudly for him to come back.

Zona, came out with the rest, some were holding a plate and some took their cutleries. "Such a beautiful meat," said Zona. "Yeah," Farzan replied in agreement. "Time to eat!," Kriko said excitedly. Two men from the back turned the weel Aurora was kept on so that fire could heat the other side of her body. Aurora cried and muffled, but non of them answered.

They brought their tools closer to her flesh attempting to cut her. As they all raised their hands in harmony to tear her appart, fire began to burn inside and distracted them. They all went to check what it was. As soon as they left, Gregory untied her and took off the handkerchief tied on her mouth. "I told you," he said and smiled at her.

They both ran outside and got on Alpha. Unfortunately for Zona and his group, their 'beautiful meat' had already escaped. Gregory and Aurora reached in an open field, and stopped. "Why?" Aurora asked.

"What do you mean?" He asked her back. "Why did you come back for me?" She asked again. Gregory laughed a bit, "'cause, you're my friend," he answered as he brought his face closer to hers. Aurora lost words to say.

"You're too pretty to be left behind," he added and touched her hair slowly. "Okay please stop it," she said in a harsh tune and got back on Alpha. "Let's go. I feel hungry," she added. "Okay," replied Gregory, he got back on Alpha and they continued their trip.

Meanwhile, John and the others finished resting, they got on their horses to begin their search. "Should we call Bryan?" Asked Hannez. "No. I know he's still close," replied John. "Okay," Hannez answered.

Later that day, the other bodyguards met with Bryan. "Where have you been?" Asked Andre, one of the guards. "I've been searching for my love. I didn't sleep. I stayed up all night," he said dramatically. "She must be close," he concluded.

They went further and found a huge wall made out of tree branches. "What's this?" Asked Courage, the Chariot rider. "I don't know... We will find out," replied Bryan with a smile on his face. He brought out his sword and began to cut down the branches. "We will create a way in," said Bryan. As they were cutting down the branches.

Cora, a girl from behind the tree fence climbed up. "Hey, what are you guys doing?" She asked. "Who are you?" Bryan asked her back but she didn't answer, "How did you create a way in?" He asked again. "It doesn't matter," she answered, trying to sit on a branch.