Inescapable Situation

Before any could recover from their shock, Elle pulled her wrist away, breaking free from the rope that she had loosened from earlier. She then grabbed the nearest man's torch and roughly ran it across the man on her right so he let go of his hands around her.

She knew this wasn't the end as the rest of the men immediately ran to capture her, grabbing her by her hair and hands. Thanks to her previous job as the phantom thief, Elle could easily evaded their grabs, knowing what to do to avoid being caught by them.

She stood carefully at the corner and swung her torch recklessly from one side to the other, shooing off the rest of the men who were trying to grab her. Kyle who hadn't expected her to burn one of his man frowned, "There is no use in retaliating. Do you think a small girl like you can go against all five of us?"

Elle stared back at the bandit, "I don't know," she responded and her lips turned into a taunting smile, "But this fire can go against you all. You know what will happen if I burn this entire forest, right? Fire spread fast you know."

The men suddenly shivered as Elle held the torch's fire near the bushes. One the alarmed man yelled, "If you burn the forest you will die too!"

"Then catch it!" Elle yelled as she threw the torch over their head. Chaos started to ensued between the four men who desperately try to catch the torch above them. If it falls, the fire will spread all over the forest and kill them too!

Elle didn't wait around. Right after she had threw the torch, she ran behind the man into the dark forest. Although the torch was one good weapon to go against the men, it would only notify them her location if she brought it with her. But the distraction was good enough for her to escape now.

Elle's heels stepped over the crunchy leaves, she ran and ran. Whenever she heard the sound of footsteps she speed up again. But her ankles that were wounded earlier finally reached its limits. When Elle took a step forward she winced and the tears settled on the corners of her eyes.

"Damn it," she whispered. Her feet could not take it anymore. When she bent down to check her wound, she could tell that the big nail that had scraped her skin earlier had also torn some of her flesh. It was a miracle she managed to run so far with such an injury but then again, it was far too dangerous for her to stay in the forest.

If only she could escape the woods and find her way to the main road, perhaps she could find a way to go back in safety!

After so much deliberation, she pulled the edge of her skirt. While holding to one end of the skirt, Elle pulled the fabric with so much power and rip a single piece to wrap around her fresh wounds. The first aid didn't help much to ease her pain but at least now she could force herself to walk again.

The fear of being caught was greater than the pain. No mater what she has to go home! She hadn't even visited Marcie and Luca's graves. She can't die here!

Being a sitting duck for death to arrive wasn't her plan and despite her thundering heartbeat and pain, she pushed herself to stand up and run again toward the main road.

Although it was too dark, Elle had noticed if she followed the course of the wind, she would be led outside the forest.

Through sheer force and luck, Elle saw the sight of the muddy road. Her breath escaped her lips in relief as she didn't think that she would be so lucky tonight. Her tears fell across her cheeks as she thanked the heavens, more so Lucas and Marcie who must had protected her from the lurking danger.

Upon reaching the muddy road, she turned her head around. Only then did she realized how there was a folly in her plan.. it was too late in the night, there was no more carriage walking over here!

Which forest had she gone to? Why was there not even a single carriage walking over?

As she continued to walk, she saw the small wooden plank, on it was written, 'Skeleton Lake'

Wasn't this the famous lake for people to drown themselves?

Elle shivered at the thought that the bandits from earlier were going to push her inside the lake and drown her. That way it would look natural as if she had killed herself from the sorrow of losing her own family!

Most people avoid visiting Skeleton Lake for the fear of seeing ghosts and if she was found this time, she was sure she would be killed!

Elle ran even faster than before, sprinting over the muddy road and making her way to reach the end of the road until she arrive at somewhere with a carriage.

So far the men hadn't found her and although she was relieved she couldn't let her guard down.

The sound of a sudden clip clop filled her with hope. She raised her hand and waved her fingers toward the carriage which at first didn't stop but did when the coachman spotted her with her dress covered in mud.

"Are you alright, Miss?" Asked the coachman.

"Help! Help me, please. My father is Count Arthur and I- I got kidnapped. I was hoping if you could help me…"

Elle's eyes moved toward the carriage that she didn't took a good look at and after staring at it again, she realized the corner of the carriage that was covered with trace of blood. Upon a closer inspection which she failed to do earlier, she also noticed the rotten smell of blood that had filled the carriage.

Her eyes widened and the coachman smiled, "How could the boss release you? This could be our biggest shame as a bandit."

Elle's blood turn icy cold.

Oh no! He is one of Kyle's men!!