Breaking out

II. Chapter 2

Through the gallop back Aki didn't so much as glance back at him, racing head with a steady determination.

"Aki! Aki wait!" Yeran cried, worried of the heaving flank of his horse.

"We need to let the horse rest!"

Aki yanked on the reins, stopping so rapidly Yeran dashed past him a few more gallops and had to back paddle.

"What's wrong with you?" He asked, somewhat put off.

"There's a creek nearby," was Aki's brisk reply before unmounting and leading the horse through a narrow opening through the thicket.

'Huh?' It took a few more seconds before the soft gurgle of water was registered into Yeran's tired brain.

'How the heck did he hear that?' Yeran wondered, unmounting himself to follow after Aki.

Just as expected, the small stream was located snugly in the small thicket, the water running crystal clear.

Aki lead the horse to the water, letting the exhausted creature have its fill.

Yeran did the same, only a few paces away from him. He crouched down to fill his water flask and was completely off guard when a strong hand landed on his shoulder.

He jumped, startled, and was pulled to his feet and whirled around before his thought process caught up with his body and rise in its own.

Aki's gaze pierced through his eyes to the very window of his soul, seemingly dissecting his whole existence.

The enchanting purple eyes were far too close and Yeran could see the flecks of silver in them. Aki's pupils have shrunk to a slit and he looked as if he was only one wrong movement away from flaying him alive.

"I forgive many things Yeran Avos, but cheating is not one of them" he hissed under his breath, his grip bruisingly hard on Yeran's biceps.

"OH? It is there where you have morals?" Yeran asked, voice patronizing.

Aki narrowed his eyes.

'I shouldn't goad him on,' Yeran thought, but his mouth was not as wise as his brain.

"Your hands are dripping with blood, your entire being is covered in blood and you are telling me that you don't forgive cheating? What a joke!"

Yeran did not notice being let go, much less thrown. His back made a painful impact on the ground, air knocked out his lungs.

Aki was on him lightning flash, a knee painfully digging on to his rib cage and a hand fisted on his collar.

"Say that again," Aki's voice was whisper quiet, and so much scarier than being yelled.

"And what if I did? What if I am a cheater? Will you kill me?" Yeran smirked, panting from adrenaline.

"You think I won't?"

"Please Aki, we both know that's the last thing you want," Yeran raised a hand to trail his fingertips along the raised curve of Aki's cheek bones. His body left lax. Unguarded.

The pain was all consuming and suddenly there, Yeran did not had enough breath left in him for a shout. He gasped, weakly, mouth opening around a silent scream.

Aki had buried a dagger through his shoulder, pinning him down like a butterfly on display.

"OH, sorry, did that hurt?" Aki's tone was condescending and there was a silent fire behind his eyes.