CHAPTER SIX

The sky grew darker, the air grew chill, and Ruby's steps faltered as she pushed further through trees, bushes, and high shrubs. She had lost count of time, not knowing how far she had gone, but the distance she had covered didn't seem enough. 'Keep going,' Ruby urged herself inwardly. Taking tiny, steady breaths, she tried to relieve the burning sensation in her chest from lack of air. Every part of her body ached. Her feet, clad in the worn-out shoes, felt raw and bloody. The clothes Betty had given her hung like rags on her body from being shredded by branches as she raced further into the forest. News of her escape must have gone out by now. A shiver ran up her spine, and she could almost feel the waves of anger that would ooze out of Aiden when he heard the news of her escape. If she had been charged with treason before, she sure as hell would be killed on sight if she was caught at that moment. The thought sent a new wave of fear up her already exhausted body, and she pushed further through the forest. A scream escaped her lips as her foot collided with something hard, and in a split second, she went rolling down a small ditch. Rocks and branches pierced and cut her, and in a frail attempt to protect herself, she wrapped her hand around her head. Seconds later, she reached the foot of the ditch. Her side collided painfully against a tree. A groan escaped her lip as she pushed herself to a sitting position. Her ankle was twisted, and she was sure her whole body was covered in debris and cuts. It was then she noticed warm liquid trailing down her face. Placing her head on her knee, she cried. She couldn't believe how much her life had changed. She cried for the pathetic excuse of a life she had, and she cried for being miserable. All she ever wanted was someone who would love her. For as long as she could remember, she had never felt love, which she knew was first present in a family. All her life, the only companion she ever had was pain. She had hoped with every fiber in her being that, for once, she could feel what it felt like to be loved. She remembered the soft graze of Aiden's fingers on her skin when he first walked into the room. The look in his eyes when he discovered she was his. By the goddess, she couldn't explain the feeling that surged through her when she first looked at him; it was almost euphoric. For that brief moment, he was hers, and she was his. Nothing else existed outside their little bubble. But like always, the bubble had to pop, dragging them both back into reality, the reality which entailed that they could never be together. And as stupid as it sounded, the smallest part of her still hoped that he wouldn't have gone through with the death penalty he had bestowed on her. Ruby wished that underneath his loath for her, he still cared. A twig snapping a few feet from where she sat drew her attention back to her surroundings. Her eyes scanned the area cautiously. The sun had long set, casting an eerie shadow in the forest. The trees that once served as shelter and camouflage for her escape now held shadows taunting her. Her senses peeked, waiting to hear even the slightest sound. Silence stretched, and the stillness in the air scared her. Ruby was sure she had heard a sound. Her heart thundered in her chest, and every hair on her body stood stiffly. She could feel eyes on her, but she couldn't make out the direction the intruder was in. She felt like a sitting duck. Unable to take any more of the deafening silence, she spoke up, trying to make her voice as firm as possible. "Who's there?" Faint movement from behind her had her swiping her head in its direction, but she saw nothing. Using a tree as support, she stood up, trying her best to avoid putting pressure on her injured leg. "I can hear you. Show yourself! I am armed." Ruby couldn't stop the quivering of her voice at the end of her statement. Of course, she wasn't armed, but she couldn't let whoever it was know she was a defenseless girl with a broken leg. "I'm sorry if I startled you," a masculine voice echoed from a few feet to her left. Ruby narrowed her eyes in the direction of the voice. Soon, a figure emerged. It was a man. His hands were raised above his head in an attempt to show that he meant no harm. But Ruby knew better than to trust his antics. Her hand, which lay on the forest floor, grabbed a handful of dirt, which she'd use as a distraction to flee if he made any sudden movement. She could make out the man's features as he approached her. His gray eyes ran over her frail form. He looked to be in his late 40s. Through the growing darkness, Ruby watched to see a predatory expression cross his face at the sight of her, but all she could make out was pity. "I am not going to hurt you," the man continued when she did not attempt to talk. "I am as startled to find you on my land as much as you are startled to see me." Ruby couldn't process what he meant. She had been running for hours, but sure enough, she didn't think she had gotten too far. "W-Where am I?" Ruby asked cautiously. "The Duskfall pack," he replied. "Are you hurt? Do you need help?" "I'm sorry for intruding. I mean no harm. I promise I am just passing through. I'll be gone before you know it," A whimper escaped Ruby's lips as she tried stepping away from the man. "Your leg is in no shape for walking, child. Come with me, my place is not far from here. You need to rest." The man took a step closer. Ruby raised her arm to stop him from coming any closer. For all she knew, his kindness was all a façade. "Stay back!" The man raised his hands once more. "On my honor, I mean no harm. If you do not trust me, then you may trust my daughter. She's at the house. I want to help; I'll leave if you want me to." He had given her the decision. Her whole body ached, begging her to take his offer. Darkness had fallen, and the woods had now come alive. The trees felt like they had eyes watching her, waiting for the right moment to strike. Her eyes went back to the man. His hands were still raised, and he stood there patiently waiting for her reply. Lowering her defensive arm, Ruby finally spoke up. "Thank you." She would go with him, and if he turned out to be the opposite of what he had shown, she'd be out of there before he could harm her. She had escaped once, and she'd do it again. "This way, then, the air is getting quite chilly." The walk back to the man's supposed house had taken about five minutes. Ruby walked at a safe distance behind the man. The more they walked, the more precise the path became. The once thick coverage of the first trees had dwindled to a clearing, and now, Ruby could make out the buildings in the small settlement. Dorian, whom she had discovered his name to be, led her to a house just outside the clearing. The house stood a few meters away from the next house. The stairway that led up to the entrance was adorned with golden lights, giving the house an illusion of peace and serenity. Dorian walked up the stairs, and the wood board creaked in recognition. At the top of the step, he opened the door and stepped aside, looking down at her still standing at the foot of the step. His smile was compelling, and Ruby found her tense muscles relaxing in his calm presence. Dorian was the first person Ruby had trusted for as long as she could remember, and she prayed silently to the goddess that she was making the right decision.