The One Unworthy of Legends - V1A1 - Maria's Ascension

~ Chapter 8 ~ Lion's Den

Maria looked towards Illia as she lay in the dirt, confusion and worry on her face.

"I know you want to have your fun with her, but think we could move to the forest doing this on the road could be troublesome yes?" Illia spoke before turning and walking towards the woods.

"Shut the fuck up, damn beast I'm tired of your mouth. Come on, let's go guys." Jack was livid at the fact that Illia was talking like the leader of the group. The two coachmen stepped down from their seats and started following Illia, Jack grabbed Maria's arm and yanked her to her feet. Maria's surprise and confusion faded and her survival instinct kicked in. She began kicking and pulling trying to get away as she realized what was happening. Father is finally trying to get rid of me!

"Fucking brat!" Jack exclaimed as he brought his fist out and smashed it into her cheek. Maria's eyes rolled as she spat blood and her legs went limp for a moment. Pain thumped against her cheek and nose as she struggled to readjust her thoughts. She tasted the iron in her mouth and struggled to put strength back into her limbs.

Maria winced as a tree branch smacked her in the face, she trembled in fear as the road disappeared from her view.

They dragged her for a decent bit of time, Illia seemed to be looking for something. Suddenly Jack stopped, he frowned as he threw Maria against a tree. She yelped in pain as her back connected, her clothes were torn in several places, one of her shoes was missing and her feet and knees were dirty and bloody. She had scraps and cuts up her legs and knees.

"Why are you stopping?" Illia asked, frowning as she spun to glare at them in annoyance.

"Where the fuck are we going? I thought we were just gonna drag her into the forest and kill her. Bury the body and get the fuck out of here." He was annoyed as he drew his sword and approached her, Illia sighed and shrugged.

"This should be far enough, but you're gonna carry her corpse to the disposal site." Illia responded before turning and walking to the side where a thick tree grew slightly slanted, a large branch grew out and rested on the ground. She leaped and landing on the branch where she sat down to watch. Jack was taken aback but just clicked his tongue and turned around.

"Hey, why don't we play with her a little before we kill her." The older man spoke up, Maria felt a chill slide down her back as she pushed her feet beneath her and struggled to her feet.

"This is a very serious crime, do you think you'll ge-" she was cut off as she winced from the sword blade at her neck.

"Shut up, you don't Even know what situation your in. You're going to die here and I'm gonna get a nice chunk of change for protecting the Macuroll family's reputation." Jack snapped.

"Yo dude, you're fucked up." Dean suddenly spoke up, though he was talking to the older man who'd suggested toying with Maria. "She's fourteen." Jack turned around and glared at his two companies. "Hey, guys, kindly also shut it." Maria watched them talk and she slowly put strength into her legs as she turned and ducked under the sword.

"Shit, Jack!" Maria bolted when she heard that. She was forced to run in the direction that Illia had been directing them. Towards her own disposal ground. She thought Illia would chase her, or try to stop her but she just watched Maria run.

Maria stumbled over the roots on the forest floor, there was pain and injuries across her whole body but she pushed on. Ducking under branches and smashing through bushes she soon came to a sliding stop as the forest ended and a ravine came into view. Damnit, I have to figure out how to get down. She was leaning over the edge when she heard the noises from the forest, they were on her tail.

Maria looked down, looked back, then as they burst through the trees she jumped.  Jack frowned as he slowly approached the edge, wondering if she'd survived or not. However he didn't get far as suddenly a blade was embedded in his neck.