Devil's Little Plaything

Part Four

All was quiet aside from my laboured breathing, I clutched my aching abs and grimaced. I was free from Mark's clutches, but that didn't mean I was out of the woods yet. He was probably searching for me, or calling upon his cronies to find me. I stood up, trying my best to ignore the pain in my sides and looked around. Growing up in a shaded woodland meant that I never saw much of humans, or their world. Their houses were so well built and strong, unlike our homes which were wooden forts adorned with whatever materials we came across.

"Are you lost?"

I jumped back, an old lady in a red coat was standing before me. "I...um...yes, I'm looking for the woods." I replied nervously. She raised her stick and I stepped back, she pointed it North. "That way my dear, but if I'm honest you look like you need a hospital, not a stroll in the woods." She smiled. "Thank you." I answered slowly, smiling to her as I stepped past. "Look after yourself!" She called back to me.

The little estate ended in a little caldesac, I spied the familiar woodlands behind a fence. "Finally." I scaled the fence and hopped over, twigs and sticks breaking underneath my feet, a familiar sound. I breathed a sigh of relief and began walking into the woods. My senses went numb as I listened to the sounds of birds singing and wild rodents scuttling around the trees. My hair blew gently in the breeze, I looked around at the tall trees and smiled, I felt at peace.

"Anti? Anti!"

I looked around and saw someone approaching fast, I shrieked and backed up, anxiety washing over me. "Anti, it's alright it's me." My eyes widened as Darkiplier jogged over to me. He threw his arms around me and I began to cry. "I'm so glad you're okay!" I cried into his shirt. We drew away and I wiped my eyes. "How did you get away?" He asked as we headed through the woods. "Mark locked me in his basement and tortured me, when he came in this morning I took a chance and ran." I explained plainly, my brain stinging as the memories replayed. "Shit, I'm sorry." He frowned. "I'm just glad to be out of there, maybe now I can find my mother." I replied. He nodded, "I hope I can find my family, too." He gazed up at the sky. "I try not to lose hope but, it'd be a miracle if I find them." He mulled. "I'll help you." I replied warmly as we headed into a clearing. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

Ahead of us was a makeshift camp made from branches and tarps. There was a dry fire pit just outside of it surrounded by rocks and stones. "I've been holding up here,  when I returned to my home it was destroyed. Only debris remained." He explained, plonking himself down by the firepit. I joined him and we exchanged stories of our pasts and where we'd lived before the humans arrived.

The sun was beginning to set and there was a harsh chill in the air. "There's room for us both in here." Dark shivered, pulling the tarp back. I crawled inside and he joined me, we pulled some rags over our trembling bodies and tried to get comfortable. "I do hope that Mark doesn't find us." I said through chattering teeth. "If he does he won't catch us again. I promise." Dark smiled, curling up and closing his eyes. I turned over and tried to close my eyes and relax but visions of capture kept flashing through my mind.

"You think he managed to get far, Sir?"

"I doubt it, he looked worse for wear when he took off."

My eyelids fluttered as I came to, I must've fallen asleep at some point in the night. Darkiplier was snoring peacefully next to me, his black hair drooped over his face. My ears pricked up as I heard distant talking. "Who's that?" I whispered curiously, edging towards the gap in the tarps. I peered through and spied two shadowy figures in the distance. "Anti? You awake already?" Dark yawned as he sat up. "Shh." I hissed, slowly poking my head out of the tent. "Shit. No no." I gasped, slinking back inside. "What is it?" Dark whispered. "Humans, they look like hunters." I replied hastily. Dark growled lowly. "Follow me." He pulled the tarp up behind him and crawled out. I followed, the leaves crunching beneath my knees.

We dove behind a nearby tree and watched as Mark and another hunter analysed Dark's tent like police dogs. "He's been here." Mark exclaimed, holding a clump of green hair up to the light. My hair. I rubbed my head instinctively, cursing myself for loosing it in the first place. "Gather the others, I want this place swept from top to bottom, that little rat isn't going anywhere." He ordered to his acompness who nodded loyally.