Escape PART 2

Vanessa followed his line of sight to see her handkerchief on the floor. She couldn't be more relieved.

"You should be careful where you drop your stuff." Dermot commented as she picked up her handkerchief, and she bowed at him for the hundredth time today. Not sure if it was for an apology or a thank you.

This time, Dermot was the first to walk away, and Vanessa watched his back until he was standing in front of the corridor.

Not too long, Theodore came to join him, and when she saw him, she hid herself behind one of the pillars while watching them.

Vanessa took notice of how Theodore was not in any royal attire, but a simple clothing and his hair a little messy. One would picture him to be a gentleman, where he wore a calm expression without his wicked smile adorning his face.

"That trick was only meant for someone who is seeing for the first time."

As Theodore and Dermot stepped out of the castle, just before they mounted their horses, he turned to look at that exact same pillar. As if he knew she was there.

And Vanessa was quick enough to retract her head completely without being seen.

When they left the castle and were out of sight, Vanessa made her way to the garden.

'It was now or never.' She thought.

Reaching the garden exit, Vanessa saw two guards standing in their spots.

She should have known that this exit would also have guards. What was she to do now?

Not a moment later, Vanessa heard footsteps heading her way, so she quickly hid herself behind one of the full grown flowers.

A maid walked to the guards. Her mouth moved as if she was telling them something, but Vanessa could not hear what was being said. And when the maid was about to leave, one of the guards followed her back.

"One guard to go." Vanessa muttered to herself.

She stealthily picked up a few stones, and when the guard wasn't looking, she threw one of the stones into a grassy area, making it rustle.

The guard caught sight of this, and his eyes narrowed. After watching for a minute, during which no rustling was heard in the bush again, his eyes shifted away.

Vanessa threw a second stone, with another following.

"Who is there?" The guard asked while his eyes scanned the bush. "Come out."

The guard took his stance and moved slowly to the location, drawing out his revolver.

On seeing the guard start walking to the opposite side from where she was and looking all engrossed in finding who was hiding there, Vanessa took this as her cue.

She walked stealthily to the gate, and just as she crossed the threshold, part of her dress got stuck in the iron gate.

Her mouth opened wide in shock upon noticing the situation. She tried to remove it, but somehow it didn't bulge, as if it were permanently hooked to the iron.

Vanessa's eyes moved continuously from her dress to the guard with anxiousness in her eyes. She felt herself on the verge of tearing up.

She had come this far only to be stopped by this. Now, the guard is going to report her to that tyrant of a king. Vanessa thought.

And when the guard didn't find anyone in the bush, he turned around to return to his post.

"Annoying crawling pests." The guard cursed under his breath.

He looked at Vanessa, and she stiffened. Instead of questioning her, he just simply ignored her, as if he couldn't see her.

"Was he blind? But he had been walking well so far without any support," she reasoned. "Perhaps I turned invisible." Staring at her hands to see them in the same condition.

Not having all the time to tarry on that topic, Vanessa forcefully dragged her dress away, landing on her butts, and she unknowingly left a piece of her dress that torn and stuck to the iron.

She didn't stop to think about the pain in her buttocks and instead went for a run.

She took the forest path and not the main road, as she was sure to meet people who worked for the king.

"AHHH!" Vanessa screamed as a sharp thorn tore the skin off her calf as she ran. Her head was thrown back with gritted teeth, and she felt warm liquid run down her leg.

"It seems like escape and the forest are never going to be friendly." She sighed, dragging her wounded leg, which was not helpful as it slowed her pace.

After some hours passed, away from Vanessa, in another forest, Theodore and Dermot had their arrows aimed at a deer that was busy eating on some leaves, unaware of the danger nearby.

At almost the same time, they both released their bowstrings, allowing the arrows to fly towards the deer.

WHOOSH! CLANK! WHOO—

Theodore's arrow hit Dermot's to the side, before piercing on the deer's leg.

"I forgot how much of a good cheat you are." Dermot commented.

"I don't think that's the right word for it," Theodore said, walking towards the vulnerable animal. "It is more like making the smart move."

"I talked to that lovely maid today, just before we left the castle." Dermot changed the topic, standing his bow on the ground to rest his hand.

"Really? What did you talk about?" Theodore asked with a blank expression, as if not interested in knowing what the two discussed.

"Nothing much." Theodore started dragging the deer toward Dermot, and threw it at his feet. "But she did seem to be in a hurry to be somewhere, and stiff when I stopped her."

"Mm," he hummed in response before recalling something about the pillar.

Apart from the pillar's shadow that was cast by the sun's rays, Theodore took notice of another shadow that stood along with it.

"So it was the forest girl," he muttered thoughtfully.

Theodore was the first to mount his horse, ready to leave the forest to handle a few pending matters.

"Where are you going? We just arrived, and I haven't gotten a game yet."

"I don't think that should be a problem, you were fine yesterday even without killing any animal." Theodore remarked slyly. He nudges his horse's belly to get it to move.

"Wait! Such a sly and uncaring king," he said when Theodore didn't wait. "Let's see which lady can tame him," he muttered under his breath.

Meanwhile, when Theodore reached the castle, he jumped down from his horse, patting it and allowing his servants to return it to the stable.

He walked with long strides to the front door of the castle, where Ralph stood waiting to welcome him back.

Ralph bowed and took Theodore's coat from him. "Where is the maid?" Theodore asked.

He was silent for a moment before he said, "She must be completing her chores. I will ask one of the maids to call her."

Ralph returned only to report, "She is nowhere to be seen in the castle, milord."

And Theodore's eyes narrowed. "Have the guards find her." He ordered.

Theodore also went searching. He couldn't leave only the guards to handle this; a search by himself was always more effective.

As if he knew the exact route Vanessa took, Theodore made his way to the garden exit.

"We have been here all day, milord, and no one has come to use this path." One of the guards answered when Theodore questioned them.

Theodore scanned the surrounding area until his eyes caught sight of the piece of cloth that was stuck to the gate.

He went to pick it up and brought it close to his nose. The small rose scent that lingered on the piece reached his nose.

'A one-time catch is something I can make time for.'

Theodore stepped out into the forest, and at exactly the spot where Vanessa got the cut, he caught the whiff of blood that still slightly lingered in the air, or maybe it was his good-smelling sense.

"Leaving trails for me, as if you were already expecting me."

Not a moment later, the space where Theodore stood was left empty, as if he had never been there.

It was late evening, and the sky was covered with a dark hue. Vanessa had covered a reasonable amount of distance but still hadn't seen any main roads or towns.

Deciding that no one would be able to catch up with her, even if they came for her, she slowly sat down under a huge tree to rest.

In one of the trees, a bat came to stand ceremoniously.

But Vanessa hadn't closed her eyes for up to a minute when her eyes snapped open to the scrunching sound of dry leaves.

In front of her stood two big wolves, their eyes as dark as the sky. They walked slowly to their prey, and she tried to move backwards but was only stopped by the tree behind her.

Seeing no other escape route, Vanessa stayed unmoving, watching the predators walk even closer.

'This must be how it ends.' Her heart thudded in her chest.