Their Princess

Chapter 42

My breathing is heavy, and my heart is beating loud. The silence is stretching way too long. I don't like it. I don't like it at all. I want to go home. No, forget it. I want Daddy. 

I whimper when I hear a chain ringling. Hiding my face in Rey’s chest like whatever is going to happen now won't happen if I stay like this.

“ Shh… baby. I'm here.” His heart rate is normal, but his eyes are calculating everything around him. “ Zed, come with me. Nol, speed up and leave for safety when I tell you to. No questions asked. Alright?”

“ Yes, sir.”

“ Stay inside, princess. We will be back.” They peck my head and leave. I want to stop them, tell them to stay inside and far from the danger. But I know that's not possible. We can not cross the road until the vacant cars laying ahead are cleared.

It's pretty clear that it's a trap, but we still can't do anything about it. 

“ Mr. Nol? Can you please call Daddy?” I politely ask.

“ Sure ma'am.” He smiles warmly at me, silently comforting me.

But as soon as he picks up his tab, a figure appears on his door and then mine. Before I can scream and alert Rey, he covers my mouth with his hand.

But he is a fool to think that I will follow him without a fight. I struggle and struggle harder, throwing my legs, shoulders and head into his body until his grip loosens around me, and I scream loudly, alerting Rey and Zed.

“ LET GO OF HER!” Rey throws his body on the man and starts punching him. They roll on the ground, but Rey manages to keep him under him while Zed handles the second man.

The second is slightly less intimidating than the first one. Getting up, Zed comes toward me.

“ C’mon, let's go.” Zed takes my hand and starts to shove me in the car, but before he can do so, the second guy gets up and attacks him, making my head bang on the side of the car.

“ Ahhhh!!!” 

“ YOU IDIOT!” Zed grabs his neck and bangs his head on the door of the car repeatedly. 

I can't see this. It's getting too bloody. My head hurts from the bang, and now a bile is rising in my throat. 

“ You okay, baby?” Rey comes and forces my head in his chest, saving me from the mess that Zed is making right now. 

“ Enough Zed. We need to leave. We don't have time for this.” I whimper when the banging noise continues.

“ Rey Rey!! HOME! Please.” 

“ Shh… we’re leaving. Let's go.” He picks me up but stops in his tracks all of a sudden. “ Sh*t.”

Now I know, like, actually know that things have gone out of control because Rey has started to curse. He does not curse in front of me. Or at least try not to. Doing it now implies we are in serious trouble. My heart starts pounding in my chest, and my body starts to shake.

“ Zed. Enough. Take her and run.” Zed comes to his senses on his command, but now I start to panic.

“ NO!!!!! REY REY!! PLEASE NO!......Come with us!”

“ Zed, take her. I will be fine, baby. He will take care of you while I handle these sick morons.” I tighten my grip on his shirt, not letting Zed take me away from my Rey Rey.

“ We have to leave, princess. It's not safe for you.” Zed forces me away from Rey, probably bruising me in the process, but I keep fighting him even when he starts running. I cry when Rey disappears from our sight and into the forest. Alone. 

Why aren't we helping him? My Rey is alone in that scary forest. He can be in danger. I punch Zed's face, but it doesn't affect him even in the slightest.

I lose my fight when the dark surrounds us, and silence prevails. Only my hiccups can be heard in this dead forest.

“ You'll be fine. We'll be home soon. Yes. Home.” He keeps running while mumbling occasionally assuring me or himself, I'm not sure. 

“ I can walk.” I tell him after a few minutes when I realize his breathing is labored. 

No reply.

“ Zed? We need to inform Daddy and Eli. They can come and help Rey.” 

Again, no reply.

“ Zed? Put me down.” When he still doesn't respond, I start to struggle against his hold.

“ Stop! I have to take you home. It will be faster this way.” I stop struggling when I see golden eyes following us.

“ Zed. Someone is following.” I whisper in his ear. But Zed doesn't respond like he already knows that fact. He keeps running.

I swear I saw those eyes laughing at me maniacally like he is taking immense pleasure in my fear. I don't know how I know this, but I do. 

But all of a sudden, those eyes disappear. I don't know if I should be happy about it or concerned. It leaves me in a more panicked state because now I don't know from where it will attack us. Zed jumps and lands on a rocky floor, almost losing his grip on me.

Startled, I tightened my arms around his neck. It won't do any good if I'm saved from the predators only to die by falling down. 

Zed is slowing down. I want to think that it's because we're on safe territory, but judging from his look, I know it's not true. We are far from safe territory. 

I squeal in surprise when he falls down on his knees and lets me slip from his hold. 

“ Zed, you okay?” He is huffing terribly like he can't breathe. Then, to my utter horror, he collapses on my lap.

“Zed? Zed?” I sob, trying to get his body moving. When he doesn't move, I panic. He can't be….no he is alive. He has to be. He can't die. He is strong. He will be fine. He is just tired. I shake his shoulder frantically.

“ Zed, please wake up…..please……At least tell me where to go…I will drag you there. Zed?” 

I'm blank. I've no idea what I'm going to do now. I'm zoning in and out of focus. My mind whirls with different scenarios on how this night can end. And I don't like even a single one.

What should I do?

My fate decides it for me before I can, and I'm left with no choice but to accept it. I know I can't fight them. They're too many and way too strong. Still, I make it hard for them.

I run and run. My smaller frame makes it easy for me to slide under smaller spaces. But I know that's not enough. I lose my momentum when my foot gets caught in between some roots. 

They were just waiting for this to happen, and when it did, they were all around me. 

I want Daddy.