A Taste Of Freedom

Part 5

To leave from here...

It was impossible.

She was stunned staring into the direction of the male. Her sharp eyes could pick up the outline of him, though the shadows conflicted with the features that she so wished to see. She needed to see her savior, she was sure that he was not from this area or even perhaps from this country. The inclination of his voice was certainly foreign. This startled her deeply, rocking her to the core. How was it that someone knew of her outside of this village? No one cared for her, not a single soul. She had never met someone who had stood up for her in the hell hole. She frowned slightly, confusion knitting her eyebrows. Surely she was intrigued to know who had sent for her life to be saved. This man should know, should he not? Biting her lip, she tilted her head in thought.

If she left, she would be leaving behind everything she knew, which was nothing but hatred and violence. Then again as fucked up as it sounded, she would rather stay here than face the unknown. The unknown could be just as cruel as life here, but it could also be more than anything she had ever imagined. She was conflicted. To either stay or taste freedom. Freedom could taste sweeter than the nectar of the spring flowers or it could be bitter like the taste of fruit yet to mature into its wonderful flavor. Her frail fingers fiddled with one another as she was lost in thought. This was an opportunity of a lifetime. She could finally be able to live in a brighter world, face challenges that she would have never imagined until now.

Would she go?

What of her father?

She knew deep down that he would never send for someone to keep her alive. That was impossible. He was crueler than the villagers. He would never see to it that she was unharmed kept in pristine shape, like some sort of priceless jewel. He would come after her. He needed her. The infatuation that he had with her was sick, nauseating. He loved her to the point where keeping her alive to the point that she was barely breathing was enough to satisfy him. It was an unspoken rule. No matter how much the villagers wanted to end her life. Her father would not allow such things to happen, for he was a sick bastard. He needed her like an addict needed their high. There was no possible way this man could keep her safe from the determination and power that her father had, could he?

Being saved and swept away to freedom seemed too good to be true, didn't it?

But...she had to try. It was all she had left.

"Verily, I would like to see the face of the male who saved me. It would put me at much ease before I embark on leaving this place," she said gently, not wanting to sound too demanding, though that would be difficult for a woman like herself. She was never outspoken, rather shy to even utter a word. She had worked up enough courage to trust her savior and speak out to him. If she had been in any better condition, she may have run from him though that would seem foolish. He was only here to help, wasn't he? Doubt shrouded her thoughts wondering if it would be wise to trust this stranger. Although he had saved her, she hadn't a clue what prize he had been promised. If it was anything close to what she had thought of before, she was sure she would not be able to comply. Then again, if he was a brutal man, like all those she had known, then she would comply, in the end. Shattering the small amount of pride she had managed to hold on to all these years.

Letting out a gentle breath, she slowly brought herself a fraction of an inch closer towards the male's hiding spot. She could no longer live in fear, could she? This was now or never. But...she couldn't just leave without seeing his face. That way...if he did end up killing her, she would at least remember his face before she was pulled into the fiery pits of hell. "I am willing to leave with you for you offer me something that I have been dying to get for years. I only request I see your face...if that is not too much. If not then I shall humbly follow you to wherever it is you must take me to..." She wished she was more blunt and straightforward. Then she would have not needed this saving. She would have been free a long time ago.

But that wasn't the case.

She was small, petite even for an Oni. She stood only about the height of an average Human woman, maybe even smaller. She was shaking as she stood there in the empty village. It was obvious that she was frightened by the unknown male and what he offered, but...she had to know if it was true. Curiosity killed the cat and if she were to die then so be it. How morbid of her, but what was one to expect from a woman who had been abused and isolated all her life? She was bitter in a since, though only in her mind. She shivered wrapping her arms around herself as if protecting herself, though surely she knew that it accomplished nothing. She bit her lower lip, looking down at her bare feet, the dirt and blood hiding her pale skin. Her clothes her soiled and tattered, she looked unacceptable to the public eye.

It would put her family's name to shame.

"Am I suitable enough to travel with? Verily, I wish not to disgrace you with my appearance. I apologize in advance for how I look," she murmured gently. She was self-conscious, which was laughable at a time like this. But old habits die hard, and she could not be fully happy if she would disappoint another. It would break her, in more ways than more. She needed to be approved of, for once in her life; she just needed to hear it.