Chains; Feathers

Chapter 3: Creature

Her eyes flew open.

Lythe stared at the pale face over her. The cloudy eyes drilled into hers and the edge of the blade pressed even further in. Droplets of blood appeared on the cut. Lythe opened her mouth to scream, but a hand fell onto it.

'Don't move.'

The voice, like a crisp whisper, echoed through her head. Blank tones, like a threat, but more of an order.

She felt her heart stop. Her body cold.

Who are you? What do you want? Lythe tried to look away from those dark eyes which suddenly started flickering from side to side, having a quick inspection of her body.

They went back to focus on her face. There was no knowing what could happen next.

Lythe felt the metal being removed, and saw a glint when it was turned slightly. A katana? Before she could breathe again, it was brought back onto her neck.

'Don't move. I'm going to kill you now.'

Lythe took a second to process this.

She suddenly felt a wave of fright wash over her and her heart hammered wildly in her chest. She kicked and trashed about, but The Creature sat down heavily on her thighs and drilled its heels into her wrists. She could not move. If she tried raising her head, her head would be sliced off instantly.

The droplets of blood made their way down her neck.

Lythe made muffled sounds of protest and tried to bend her head sideways, as she saw that it was held slightly slanted. Tears stung her eyes as she struggled.

It was now raised up, with the blade directed down.

Anytime now.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

It came straight down.

She waited, and could sense every part of her body still alive. As the seconds passed, her heart beat faster.

She heard the sound of slicing, but...

Slowly opening her eyes, she saw the blade was immersed in the ground, inches away from her neck. The Creature was no longer on her, but lying beside her, struggling to stand. Fresh blood dripped onto the floor.

Lythe immediately jumped up and walked towards it, with a hand on her own neck.

There was no sign of the weapon. As she neared, The Creature staggered to lean against the wall, under the light shining through the window. It held out a hand in front of itself, and tried to focus her gaze on Lythe by covering its left eye with the other hand.

It was a girl.

Her short hair hung over her face and there were still shades of brown where blood clung onto it. Her grey eyes seemed to glow as she squinted at Lythe.

The girl coughed and spat blood onto her face, but Lythe did not seem to notice.

'Who the hell are you?'