Monster of the Woods

She sat against the cold stone wall, her hands bound tightly behind her back, and her mouth gagged with a rough cloth that muffled her cries. Her heart raced as the three men loomed over her, their expressions a mix of smugness and calculation. She could feel the bite of the ropes cutting into her wrists, her fingers growing numb from the strain. Every breath she took was shallow, the cloth pressed tightly against her lips making it difficult to breathe.

Despite the fear gnawing at her, she refused to remain still. She struggled against her bonds, twisting her wrists in an attempt to loosen the ropes. But each effort only tightened the knots, sending fresh waves of panic through her. Her movements caught the attention of the men, who stood a few feet away, muttering amongst themselves.

"Look at that hair," the shorter one said, stepping closer, his eyes gleaming with interest. He reached out, grabbing a lock of her platinum golden hair and twirling it between his filthy fingers. She flinched at the touch, disgust rolling through her.

"Never seen anything like it," he added, leering at her.

The tall man nodded, his eyes narrowing as he studied her closely. "And those eyes. She's gotta be noble—or at least from a rich family."

Her stomach churned. She didn't know what her appearance looked like, but hearing them talk about her as if she were an object to be appraised made her feel sick. Her mind raced, desperately searching for an escape, but the ropes and gag kept her helpless, bound to their whims.

The third man, the one who had found her, chuckled darkly. "If she's noble, that makes her worth a pretty coin. We could sell her to a slave merchant. Bet we'd make enough to set us up for months."

The others nodded in agreement, their eyes gleaming with the promise of profit. "No one's gonna come looking for her," the tall one added with a cruel grin. "And even if they do, it'll be too late."

Her heart sank. The realisation of her fate hit her hard—she was no longer just a prisoner, but a commodity, something to be sold off like a piece of merchandise. Panic surged through her as she twisted harder against the ropes, trying to free herself. But it was no use. All she could do was watch in horror as the men casually discussed her like a piece of property.

"Tomorrow, we'll head to the nearest town," the shorter man said. "Someone's bound to pay top coin for a girl like her."

Their laughter echoed through the empty mansion as they left her tied and gagged, their cruel plan set in motion. Her mind swirled with fear and anger as they disappeared to loot the place. She knew she had to find a way to escape, but with her strength fading and the ropes cutting deeper into her skin, hope seemed like a distant dream. But even so, she refused to give in. She wouldn't want to be sold without fighting to find out who she truly was.

The men ventured out of the mansion, dragging the poor girl behind them as they moved through the darkening woods. The trees loomed ominously around them, the shadows growing longer as dusk settled in. She stumbled across the rough ground, her wrists still bound by the same tight ropes. Every step sent a fresh wave of pain shooting through her arms, her legs burning with exhaustion. Each tug of the rope bit deeper into her skin.

The wiry man glanced back with a cruel grin. "She's quite the catch, ain't she? Maybe we should have some fun with her before we hand her off."

Her stomach twisted in revulsion, but before she could react, the leader spun around and smacked the man hard across the back of his head. "Idiot," he snarled. "Unspoiled goods fetch a higher price. Touch her, and you'll cost us a fortune."

The man grumbled but didn't argue, rubbing the back of his head as he shot her a dark look. She glared back, her disgust and defiance clear. Though bound and gagged, she refused to submit to their cruelty.

"Relax," the tall leader said with a smirk. "We'll be swimming in coins soon enough. Just get her to the merchant, untouched, and let him do the selling."

The shorter man, now looking up at the darkening sky, added, "It's getting late. We should camp for the night."

"Fine," the leader agreed. "Tie her to that tree and keep an eye on her."

She was dragged to a large tree, where they tightened the rope even more, securing her to the trunk. She winced as the bark dug into her back, but she swallowed the pain, refusing to give them any satisfaction. As they set up camp, she calmed her racing thoughts, her mind becoming sharp and focused. She observed their every move, and after scanning her surroundings, she found a small, jagged section of the tree behind her.

Over the course of hours, while the men talked and rested, she quietly worked the ropes against the sharp bark. Each slow grind weakened the bindings, bringing her closer to freedom. And with every shred of rope she cut through, her determination to escape grew stronger.

Hours passed, and the camp fell into an eerie silence as the men drifted into sleep. Her hands finally free from the rope, moved cautiously. The bindings had taken hours to weaken, but now she could finally taste freedom. She slowly leaned backward, using her shoulders to push herself away from the tree, careful not to make a sound. Each movement felt agonisingly slow, but she couldn't afford to be reckless.

Suddenly, the stillness of the night was shattered by a piercing howl that echoed through the woods. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, a chill running down her spine. The sound was so loud and primal, it seemed to vibrate through the air. The men jolted awake, confusion written on their faces as they scrambled to sit up.

"What the hell was that?" one of them mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. The leader, wide-eyed, looked around, instantly alert. It wasn't long before their eyes darted to the spot where they had tied their prisoner.

"She's gone!" the wiry man shouted, scrambling to his feet. "She escaped!"

Panic surged through her. Her heart raced as she ripped the gag from her mouth, the cloth falling away as she bolted into the woods. Her legs screamed in protest, but she pushed through the pain, using every ounce of her remaining strength to run. She could hear the men shouting behind her, their voices frantic as they fumbled in the darkness.

"There! This way! After her!" The leader's voice cut through the chaos, and the sound of their footsteps quickly followed, heavy and fast, closing in on her.

She ran harder, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. The woods were slightly dense, the shadows closing in as branches tore at her skin and clothes. The ground beneath her feet was uneven, threatening to trip her with every step, but she couldn't stop. Her freedom depended on it.

The howling grew louder, closer. It wasn't just one wolf—there were several, their mournful calls filling the night air. The more she ran, the more the sound intensified, as if the sound was drawing her toward them.

She could feel the men gaining on her, their voices growing closer. Panic clawed at her chest, but she refused to slow down. She didn't know what awaited her deeper into the woods, but anything was better than being caught and sold as a slave.

Her lungs burned as she continued to sprint, her legs trembling with exhaustion. The howls of the wolves still echoed behind her, blending with the sound of the men crashing through the woods in pursuit. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her vision blurring from the strain, but she couldn't afford to stop.

Suddenly, she felt a heavy hand grip her shoulder, yanking her backward with brutal force. Before she could react, a sharp, stinging slap struck the side of her face. The impact sent her reeling, and she hit the ground hard, the world spinning around her. Blood streamed from her nose, warm and sticky, dripping onto the dirt. Her head throbbed, and everything around her seemed to tilt as dizziness clouded her senses.

"How dare you make a fool out of us," the man sneered, his voice distorted, muffled by the ringing in her ears. She blinked, trying to focus, but the words seemed distant, like echoes bouncing off the trees.

She tried to push herself up, her limbs weak and trembling, but her body barely responded. The pain in her head was disorienting, and the muffled sounds of the man's voice reached her ears as though coming from far away. His words were lost in the haze of her dizziness, but she could hear the mocking tone, the satisfaction in his voice as he loomed over her.

"We treated you nicely," he continued, his tone filled with bitter mockery. "And this—this is how you repay us?"

She clawed at the dirt, using what little strength she had left to crawl away. Her vision blurred with tears and pain, but her body refused to give in completely. Every inch she managed to drag herself felt like a battle, her movements sluggish and desperate. The woods around her were a blur of dark shapes and flickering shadows, and the more she tried to escape, the weaker she became.

Behind her, the man's voice cut through the haze, dripping with venom. "I'm gonna break you so you wouldn't dare escape again," he growled, cracking his knuckles as he stepped closer. His shadow loomed over her, menacing and dark, and her heart raced with fear. She could hear him approaching, the weight of his threat hanging in the air like a noose tightening around her neck.

Just as she braced for the worst, something happened—something fast, violent. In an instant, the man was hurled across the ground, his body slamming into the ground with a sickening thud.

Her vision swam, the world tilting as she fought to stay conscious. She blinked, trying to focus, but everything was a blur of movement and darkness. Through the fog of her dizziness, she caught a glimpse of a massive, shadowy figure—a large black wolf standing over the now-unconscious man.

The sight of the wolf, its piercing eyes gleaming in the faint moonlight, sent a final shiver through her body. She tried to process what was happening, but her mind was too clouded with pain and exhaustion. The last thing she saw before everything went black was the wolf, standing guard like a protector in the shadows.

Then, darkness claimed her.