My hero, my lover.

Chapter 23.

Chapter 23- Coldness.

No one's P.O.V

Rows upon rows of heavily clothed individuals scaled the forest slowly taking in immense detail of their surrounds looking for any broken debris or fresh foot prints in the squelchy soil. All walking in a perfectly formed line, everyone crouched low to the ground for a close enough inspection for anything but with the way the weather was last night there wasn't a chance of finding any kind of clue to her whereabouts.

Sun setting low already, unsuccessfully, everyone made their way back to the manor upset about the fact that someone, anyone of them had to break the news to Alan that there was no hope in finding her.

The most trusted guard stepped towards the door to open it for those who were searching for the girl in. The last person in stopped by him to tell him the news. The guard took in the news and then said he would make it his job to tell Alan as they had a pretty distressing day and a long one at that. Holding his head up high, trying to gain any confidence he headed towards Alan's room, knocking before entering.

Alan's P.O.V.

Looking up from his lap, he turned to look at who entered his room. Seeing the guard that he met earlier, he knew it was concerning Rebecca's whereabouts. Springing up from the bed he ran towards the man and grabbed his blazer holding him close to his face.

"Where is she?! WHERE IS MY REBECCA?!"
Alan let him go, and the guard hung his head down and shook it not having to say anything as Alan could guess from his actions that to no prevail, she was not found. Backing away slowly, he walked depressingly back towards his bed and sat down, lacing his own hands together with a picture of Rebecca between his thumbs. His pain was unbearable, he had to find her himself, but it might not be worth it. If several groups of people can't find her, then he had no chance.

But something told Alan deep in his heart that either way there still is hope to find her, even if it is minimal. Dismissing the guard from his room, Alan walked over to his wardrobe and grabbed a jacket from a hanger and put it on in a hurry, then grabbed a pair of big boots to protect his feet from the harsh, uneven ground of the forest. Closing the wardrobe he made his way over to his door and opened it quickly but not harshly and made his way toward the front door, avoiding any eye contact from anyone he passed. They all stopped and watched Alan go toward the door, dressed ready for what looked like a hike, but they knew what he was doing but none bothered to question why he would go alone and none wanted to stop him, and so they looked at him wishing him luck within their inner monologue's and looked at him as a brave and honourable man.

Walking out into the forest was a bad idea on my part. It was freezing though I was completely geared out. God knows how Rebecca can survive out here, if she is alive. Stepping past many moss covered logs and broken down tree's through the forever thickening forest, my fear began to rise as the further I got it seemed the less likely I was to find her through this maze.

The sky was darkening now and I still have yet to find her. The chances of finding her in the dark is an even slimmer chance than in day light so its best I call it a night. I hate that I'm going to be in a tent safe from the cold and perhaps the chance of rain when she is all cold with no tent or anything. Sighing, I placed down my bag and began to pull everything out and laying it on the filthy ground from the previous night's rain. Finally reaching halfway through the bag finally I found the tent and began to unfold all the metal rods and took the tent out of the bag.

After the tent was up I climbed inside and set up my bed and lighting for the evening. Yawning, I climbed into my sleeping bag thinking of Becca. Why would she do this? This question swirled around in my brain until I finally drifted off to sleep.

Rebecca's P.O.V.
The sky was darkening, but that didn't bother me. I wanted to bet further and further away. Knowing Alan, he has a man hunt for me but they won't find me if I don't stop travelling. I was starving and exhausted but I refuse to in to it. I will not stop until my body shuts down- until it is physically impossible. I have hurt myself by running from Alan and he is probably hurting as well. I did feel guilty but what has to be done, has to be done.

The moon began to get higher and higher in the sky and the coldness began to set in, not that Alan was aware of this as he was fast asleep in a cosy warm sleeping bag whilst his girlfriend trudged through the cold and dense temperatures, through vast amounts of fallen trees and debris. Refusing to let sleep overcome her Rebecca got further and further away from Alan and away from human life itself. Closing in on the border of another part of England Rebecca finally gave in to exhaustion and hunger and limply fell to the floor unable to hold herself up as her limbs went numb and purple and her world faded to black. Alan was still quite a walk from her but if he was an early riser, he would find her by late afternoon the following day.

Only time will tell in the hours following up to dawn. Will Rebecca last till then or will darkness become her new best friend?