Ran Away

The night suddenly felt darker. Holly froze in her place as Felix walked over her. Slowly, the silhouette became clearer. The look in his eyes was sharp, like the blade of a sword ready to draw into Holly's chest.

"Where are you going?" Felix repeated his question again.

Holly couldn't answer. It wasn't fear that she felt but a sense of guilt that made her stomach churn.

"Sorry," said Holly. She felt like she was betraying Felix.

Holly felt even more guilty when Felix stood right in front of her. Those sharp eyes turned into eyes that were in pain. And the one who hurt him was Holly.

A wolf howl startled Holly. Other howls began to be heard in unison.

Holly looked around. It was the first time she had heard a wolf howl here, and she knew it wasn't a good sign.

Felix also looked worried. He grabbed Holly's hand tightly.

"What is it?" asked Holly. The howl must be a code they made to tell something. Unfortunately, Holly didn't understand the wolf language.

Holly was starting to realize that Felix must be in the forest for some reason. He couldn't have known Holly would run away tonight. Holly held her breath. What really happened?

"Do you still want to live?" Felix asked.

Holly nodded quickly. Of course!

Felix didn't explain. He took Holly's hand and made her half run, following his steps.

They returned to the castle. Many guards circled the castle with swords, Cass and Gilbert were also there. This time, Cass wasn't wearing her pretty colourful dress. She was wearing her knight uniform. Their faces looked tense, as if they were facing an emergency.

They were shocked when they saw Felix come dragging Holly. But Felix's angry face made them hesitate to ask.

Felix took Holly into his room. His brow furrowed even more when he saw that the balcony of Holly's room was open and the blanket still hanging there.

Felix pushed Holly roughly onto the bed. "Where is the flower?" Felix asked in a cold voice.

Holly timidly pulled out a sprig of white rose from behind her cloak. That cursed flower made Felix's face even more gloomy.

Felix snatched the flower from Holly's hand and put it in his pocket. "If you want to live, don't leave this room," Felix said, ready to walk out of Holly's room.

"What happened?" Holly raised her voice.

Felix stopped. His face was still angry. "Humans are hanging around here."

"You're going to kill them?" Holly suddenly feared that one of the humans was her brother. Maybe the wolf howl earlier was a code if they found something.

"There is no Arthur. I can guarantee that," Felix said and then left.

Holly's heart was beating very fast. Felix didn't even have time to interrogate Holly about what she was planning. What was going on out there must be terrible.

Holly sat on the edge of her bed. She still remembered Felix's hurt look earlier. Was he so sad that Holly wasn't honest with him?

Holly gasped as the smell of burning wood caught her nostrils. Holly walked over to the balcony. Her chest rumbled, and her eyes widened. Flames soared into the air a few hundred meters from the castle.

The village! The fire came from the direction of the village.

Holly covered her mouth, too shocked. The wolf howl was heard again, louder and louder now.

Holly was shaking. What happened to the village? Was the village on fire? Did Felix already know about this?

Holly rushed to the door. Locked. No matter how hard she pushed, the door didn't move.

"Adda! Adda!" Holly screamed as loud as she could, but no one answered. The only sound that could be heard was footsteps outside the room. It seemed the guards were also busy with the circumstances outside.

Holly was suddenly worried. Was Felix okay? What if the humans were after him?

Holly tried harder and harder to push the door open. She rammed her body against the door, trying to break it down. But that just made her body feel sore.

"It's useless. The door won't open."

Holly turned to hear a voice behind her. Holly widened her eyes in surprise. A person in black robes stood in front of her. His smirk sent a chill into her skin.

And this time, that wasn't Felix.

***

Felix stepped out of the castle with a gloomy face. His teeth were clenched tightly as he breathed heavily. Cass and Gilbert looked at him but didn't dare ask.

As close as they were, Cass wasn't so stupid as to annoy the alpha king, who was on the verge of berserk.

"Has anyone been caught?" Felix asked in his deep voice.

Cass shook her head weakly. "They're running towards the village. You'd better stay on guard here."

Felix stared warily at the castle grounds. Tonight they were shocked by several humans who came and attacked the guards. Ten injured royal guards were attacked by a swarm of humans. But now, the humans scattered to attack the citizens at random.

Felix had caught up with them, but those humans were moving fast in the shadows. His sharp nose was confused following them.

"Fire! They set the village on fire!" A guard ran towards them. Everyone gasped in tension.

Gilbert looked at Felix, waiting for orders. Gilbert was supposed to be covering the castle since he was Holly's personal bodyguard. But now, they were short of people as the soldiers kept falling. It was a big attack.

"Go!" Felix told Gilbert to leave. The villagers needed more help, and Felix could take care of himself.

Cass and her knights went along to the village. Felix was left with only a few bodyguards.

Felix was pensive, staring at the black smoke rising high. Why did the humans suddenly attack? Was their king starting to feel threatened?

But this act was too rash. Felix could have wiped out a human village alone if he wanted revenge.

Felix suddenly thought of something. Holly. That woman might know something. She met a human yesterday, and she sneaked out earlier.

With hasty steps, Felix went back into the castle. Half running, he went to Holly's room.

Felix pushed Holly's door, but it was locked from the outside. Who did it? Felix couldn't possibly lock up Holly like this.

With one move, he shattered the chain of locks with ease. He slammed the door open.

Felix froze in front of the door. His eyes swept across Holly's room. Empty.

Holly wasn't there.