Fair Maiden - Alcina x Fem Reader

2: The River Runs Red

You run until it feels as though your ankles might snap beneath you. Pain is already surging through every part of your body. You realize that the pain you're feeling might also be emotional pain. You did just leave everything you've ever known behind. You had no choice. You were better off running into the unknown.

where exactly had I ran to?

You finally slow your pace, and stop. Your vision is still blurred from crying, so you couldn't see anything except faint twisted outlines of trees. Your lungs burned from driving your body to exertion. Your heart felt as though it might explode. As you try to calm your body, you blink the remaining tears from your eyes. Finally, you can see.

Looking at your surroundings, you notice you've wandered into the forest outside of the village. However, you're not exactly sure how far you have buried yourself in the depth of the towering trees. Most of the branches are bare, their leaves clinging to the moist ground. It had began to rain while you were running. You're thankful you didn't slip and injure yourself more than you already were.

Your whole body ached. You took a moment to observe the damage. Your legs are torn up from scraping against the rough ground when your father was dragging you. Your hands had some scrapes on them as well from catching your fall. Your gown is now red with the blood of your fathers stab wound, spread by the pelting rain. Your neck you cant see, but you feel the phantom grip of a hand clenching your throat. You can't quite wrap your brain around the events that had just occurred.

It's getting dark now. Although their branches bare, there is barely any light allowed through the snarled limbs of the surrounding trees. You look around, trying to find any hint of light. There's nothing. Not even the glow of lanterns from the village. Soon, complete and utter darkness will swallow you whole. At that thought, you move forward. You're body feels as though is might give out, but you still push yourself to continue.

I can't believe what just happened. Well, to a certain extent, I can. It is no surprise that father laid his hands on me. I am use to his violence. Ever since mother died, he's caused nothing except pain. Mother. I wish she were here. She would know what to do. Or would she?

There was a haunting thought that was beginning to slither into your mind.

Mother died in this very forest. She was ripped apart by those creatures. Lycans. Am I going to meet her same fate? No, Y/N, don't think that way. You are going to be just fine. Pull yourself together.

You continue walking. Unsure of where you are going. One thing is for sure, turning back is not an option. So, forward it is. Leaves crunch beneath you. It's the only sound you hear in this dense forest. It's so late that not even birds chirp. The sun has fallen, revealing the hazy glow of the moon.

At lease the moon is bright tonight. I don't believe I would be able to see without it.

The ground has begun to shift and change, no longer the flat land that you had been traveling on. It seems as though the trees are growing closer together too. Their roots tangle into each other above the surface. You try to watch your footing closely, careful not to catch a root system as you step. The terrain only gets worse as you continue your journey. You're trying to be as carful as possible. However, your caution fails you.

As you take a step forward, your toes barely catch a mangled root. You try to catch yourself, but instead, your body is sent tumbling down an embankment. Your body thunders through disfigured tree limbs and roots. You can hear the leaves crush as you plunge downward. As you fall, you wonder if the crunching sound is really leaves, or maybe its every bone in your body being snapped from the impact.

With one last shock, you feel your skull collide with something hard. For a moment, you can hear the sweet sound of babbling water. And then, a surrounding whisper of snarls.

Darkness.

You wake for a moment. Your head pounds with pressure, causing you to wince in agony. Your body feels cold and mangled from your fall. You cant move. Dirt coats the inside of your mouth. You even taste a hint of iron on your tongue. Trying to open your eyes, you can see a river. Your head barely touching it's edge. You notice something else too...

The river is red.

Or at least the water in front of you. You assume that you have begun to pour out into the water, causing it to become tinted with your blood. You notice the glow of two orbs flashing back at you. You can't quite see straight, but you're positive you can see them. They flicker in the night. Slowly. Almost as though something is staring at you. You blink your eyes, determined to clear your cloudy vision. And when you do, you see it. Big yellow piercing eyes peer at you from the other side of the river. You don't know who, or what, they belong to. But as you hear a low grumble, your realize exactly what it is.

A Lycan.

Your heart stops. Your breathing becomes hushed and ragged. You stare at it, and it stares at you. Suddenly you're thankful you are unable to move. If you could, You might alert it of your living presence. You can, however, tremble. And your body does just that. Violently.

The beast glares at you. Unmoving, just as you are.

It's body is massive, muscular, and indescribably hairy. You can tell that it's hair is unkempt and matted, just as yours has been before you bathed. And truthfully, your hair is probably back in the same condition. It's eyes are fixed on you. The creature slowly takes a step forward, closer to the waters edge. Never breaking eye contact. It's mouth opens slightly, revealing jagged and irregularly large teeth. You hear a penetrating grumble escape from the depths of it's throat.

So, this really is my fate. Father was right. I will be seeing mother soon.

Without the capability to run, you close your eyes. You accept the fate before you.

I rather die in the jaws of a monster rather than in the hands of my father. Although, the two are more alike than I realized. Both unholy behemoths of evil.

You close your eyes, focusing on the gibberish of the water in your ear. For a moment, you feel peaceful. Your senses start to fade away again, but before they do, you hear something else in the distance. Not the snarl of a hideous lycan, nor the homicidal screech of your father. What you do hear, is the sweet welcoming whisper of your mother calling you home to her.

Before you fade away entirely, you take one last glance at the beast. It's closer to you now. Making its way through the rushing water towards you.

Let it take my life. I am fed up with this suffering.

Glancing into it's eyes, fear escapes your body. With the last breath of air you have, you push out your final words...

"Kill me."

Your world goes dark once more.