Love For The One I Hate (on hold)

Chapter 3

I just stood still for a second, my chest rising and falling clearly displaying my fear. I took a huge breath in and ran. My feet flattening the dewy grass. I didn't stop. I knew that everything was depending on this. I needed to keep running. My legs ached and my troat was painfull because it was so dry but I couldn't stop for a rest or a drink. I was in too much of a panick.

I started to run beside a large river I decided that I could allow myself a minute to rest so I stopped and lent over towards the water. I cupped my hands and collected water in them. I threw it over my face washing off the layer of sticky sweat that had built up on my brow. I sighed feeling a sense of calm wash over me. Reaching forward to get more water my feet slipped and I hit my arm violently off a nearby rock. My body was swept underwater and despite how hard I tried to get back to the surface the strong currents gripped my body and my arm was now too painfull to move from my fall. I was continually spinning in circles and my body was screaming at me to reach the surface so that I could fill my lungs. I could feel my body beginning to weaken but I didn't stop fighting with the currents.

A sudden current pushed me to the surface and I reached out to grab a root at the river bank. I held on tightly while the water pushed against me and I regained my breath. As soon as I gained enough strength I pulled myself out of the water which was difficult enough without having to use one arm.

I sat on my knees spluttering at the water left my lungs. I stayed there for a while breathing deeply before I straightened out my dress, readjusted my bag and stood up.

I had no idea where I was. Not that I had any idea before I fell. I took a deep breath before starting to walk. My legs ached and my arm throbbed but I cose to ignore both and kept going.

Tall trees surrounded me all of a sudden and I began to feel wary. It was dark and cool in their shade but I could see a light ahead and decided to head for it.

Outside the trees there was a hige city. Huge funnels stuck up towards the sky pushing out endless streams of smoke. Everything in the city that I could see looked dull and grey.

People moved around in front of me, all of them too busy to notice that I was there. I decided that it was a good idea to enter the city because I had run out of food and wanted somewhere with a bed to rest for the night. I walked along the worn out dirt roads. Sharp stones pushed at the soles of my feet. A few people watched me but not enough to make me worry.

I walked past many houses, all roughly the same in design and just as grey. Some people has tried to cheer them up with hanging baskets filled with flowers but all that remained was shrivelled plants covered in ash and dust.

I couldn't find anywhere that I could stay or trade. Evfery building that I passed was a house. I had a feeling that it would be different when I reached the factories at the centre and maybe there would be something for me there.

The further I walked the more I got nervous. I felt as if someone was following me but I didn't want to look suspicious by looking around so I kept walking. A hard calloused hard landed on my shoulder preventing me from moving and causing my arm to ripple with pain again. 'Your name.' Came a deep gravely voice from behind me. I turned around to find a huge muscled man. Behind him stood two other men both just as tall and muscly as the man in front of them. All of them watching me made me feel extremely vulnerable but I tried to hide it.

'Roseanne of the Oak.' I lied. I was really from the Delm but I couldn't say that. Nobody was allowed to leave the Delm except the Priests and Priestesses. Everyone knew that. People from the Oak are known to be peacemakers and I hoped that this fact alone would be good enough for them to leave me alone.

'Your papers.' He said simply. I had no papers with me. Not that they would have survived when I fell in the river anyway.

'I don't have any papers.' I said hoping that it was ok to not have them. But I guessed that it wasn't by expression change of the man standing in front of me.

'You must come with me.' He said grabbing my arm roughly and pulling me forward causing me to scream out in pain and stumble. He ignored my scream and kept pulling me forward while I tried not to scream again. There was no way that I was getting out of this man's grip.

'Excuse me,' Came a confident voice beside me. We immediately haulted. I turned to find a tall handsome man with deep brown eyes and hair. 'Where are you taking her?' He asked not looking at me once.

'Sir.' Breathed the man holding my arm almost as if he was in shock. 'She has no papers. We must bring her to the court.'

'There is no need for that you brute.' The man said and my eyes widened in shock. 'She is with me.' He said staring deep into the eyes of the man holding me. My arm was immediately released.

'I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again. You know we are just trying to do our duties.'

'Shut up.' Said the handsome man. 'Don't say anything about her to anyone or all of you will find yourselves homeless and poor.' He said harsly before offering me his arm. I wasn;t sure if taking it was the right thing to do or not but I found my arm in his and we walked away from the three men.

When we were far enough away from them I turned to him. 'Why did you help me?'

'Never leave a damsel in distress.' He said smirking. 'Plus I know who you are.' My heart began to race. Was he with the Priests and Priestesses and was trying to find me? And how did he know?

'Don't worry. I'm not going to report you. It's not often that I meet someone from the Delm.' He said smiling. 'Your lucky that my dad is so powerful and that I know more than anyone here about the divides and what is happening in them . 'I didn't say anything. I knew I couldn't deny where I was from but I wasn't comfortable with him knowing.

We turned and entered a small house. Once we were inside he turned and bolted the door. I must have looked scared because when he turned around again he smiled. 'Don't worry. Nobody should find us here but I don't want them to get in if they do. They'll kill you if they find you but I'm sure that you know that.'

I shock my head. 'They can't kill me. My matching was too important. If I die then Jasper will be driven insane with hatred and I know they don't want him to kill anyone or to have to kill him. His family is too rich and it will start a war.'

'So you are matched.' He said. His expression changed slightly but I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

I nodded. 'I am matched but not out of choice.'

Author's Note:

I'm finally back! I hope you enjoyed this chapter :) I liked writing it. It was nice to write something again :) Sorry for taking so long... Please don't be annoyed at me...

What do you think this misterious guy is going to do? Can he be trusted? Is he going to turn her in?

Song of the chapter Lee Hi - It's Over

Comment, vote and fan!

See you soon

Panda :D