OUTLAW | A Snow White Retelling

Part 1: In Which I Sprint Through a Forest in the Dark

My heart hammered in my chest as I sprinted through the dark and tangled forest. A thick layer of mist had covered the ground in the pitch-black, so it was impossible to see. Branches and brush grabbed at my cloak. My pursuers crashed through the undergrowth behind me, gaining. Faster. I pushed, lifting my knees to lengthen my stride, but it did next to nothing. Something whistled past my ear and lodged into a tree on my left. I couldn't keep running forever. But every moment spent being chased was a moment not owned by her. Several other objects-arrows, I assumed- whistled past. A stabbing ache was growing in my side and I desperately sucked in the cool forest air. Something snagged around my ankle and I sprawled into a clearing, feeling a sharp pain in my wrist. An eloquent string of curses spewed out of my mouth before I could stop them.

"Don't move, by order of the Queen!" A deep, gruff voice demanded, still coming towards me. I had every intention of disobeying, but when I tried to haul myself to my feet, my wrist wouldn't support me and pain blurred my vision. Wonderful - broken wrist. Lovely. I rolled over to see my attackers. The man stumbled into view. I could hardly see him in the faint starlight, but I knew exactly what he looked like. He had his bow drawn and was covered in animal furs, a small hunting knife strapped to his belt. His hair and grizzled beard were streaked with gray. My eyes locked with his soulless black ones. A twig snapped behind me and I resisted the urge to jerk my head, refusing to break eye contact. I mumbled a few more creative profanities.

"Quite the vocabulary you've got," said the second person from behind me. It startled me, not because I didn't know how close he had moved, but because it was the voice of . . . an adolescent boy. It was strange, in the past, the Huntsman had always chosen older, more seasoned company, not younglings similar to myself.

The Huntsman sensed my perplexed unease. "Surprised that I've finally found a worthy apprentice? Turns out someone young and spry was all I needed to find you." I stayed silent, channeling all my resentment into my gaze. A slight rustle of leaves told me that the boy had crouched down behind me. I could practically feel his breath on my neck. Too late to make a grab for the dagger in my boot. Any fighting now would only result in agony. "Tie her up. We'll camp here for the night and set out for the castle at dawn," the Huntsman said, and moved to begin setting up camp. Warm calloused hands grabbed my wrists and pulled them behind me. I gritted my teeth when he bent the tender and already swollen injury.

He must've seen it, because he said, "Are you sure it's necessary, sir?" Good, he was a softie.

"Yes, and even if it weren't I'd do it anyway. I've done this too many times to risk letting her escape."

"Got it," the boy responded, skillfully knotting the ropes. "Little Miss Sunshine," I heard him grumble under his breath. As the Huntsman worked, I was bound sitting against one on the large trees. The kid worked quickly, effectively staying out of my line of vision. When he was done, he stood back, still out of my sight, probably admiring his loathsome job. "And now I'm supposed to ask you," he said like he was reciting it from a script, "Do you, as an outlaw wanted by the Queen, willing surrender to be taken back to the castle and tried for your crimes?"

"Never," I growled.

"Okay then. My apologies, M'Lady."

Then the world went dark.

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A/N: Hey guys, thanks for reading! Don't forget to vote/comment - I love feedback and connecting with my readers/ fellow writers! If you haven't already, go follow my amazing friend @KelsiNielsen and check out her AWESOME School For Good and Evil fanfic.

Read on!,

-Writer4Runner