Death Rose

Chapter 1

She closed the door, the stolen food in one hand and the candle in the other. Keeping the light away from her sleeping roommates, Elvira stuffed her clothes and carried the bag of food out to the hall. Closing the door behind her, bidding farewell to the safety and comfort she once held dear.

The sound of wet mud against her shoes filled the silence of the night. With a rucksack full of clothes and pockets deep of food, Elvira trenched deeper into the wood. The sight of Bearru Academy becomes smaller and smaller. A voice inside her head told her to go back, wrap herself in a blanket and forget everything. Her mind went back to her teachers talking about the mistake they made letting her attend the academy, the betrayal she felt., Elvira walked further into the forest. Turning back was not an option anymore, whatever dangers lurked in the darkness ahead, she just had to brave it.

Tall trees and fallen leaves surrounded her, filling every sense as Elvira succumbed to the mysteries of the woods. Uncertainties laid ahead in the darkness, she was sure of it, only the gleam of the full moon shining above Elvira showed her any kind of support. The feeling of unknown danger crept behind her like a shadow she couldn't shake off. Every movement, every sound, and every unclear sight in the distance brought Elvira on edge.

Amongst the trees, Elvira saw a pair of piercing blue eyes. Eyes that reflected the night sky. Mysterious like the depths of the ocean. Beautiful like the gentian flowers around her. Dangerous like the bite of a blue pit viper

The feeling of awe that she felt towards the forest was slowly replaced by discomfort. She took a breath in and continued to walk forward, distracting herself from thinking about thecreature that those eyes belonged to. Elvira felt eyes following her through the woods, every step she made, every breath she took, every noise that came out of her, was being watched. In hopes of escape the prying eyes, Elvira broke into a jog

She heard the crunching of leaves under feet that weren't hers. A quick glance behind, the pair of eyes were now a creature. What Elvira could best describe as a mountain lion was coming closer to her. She broke into a sprint in the darkness. For all she could know, she could be running in the face of another creature. She stopped, contemplating between the creature behind her, or running into something possibly more dangerous. Drops of water yanked her back into reality, it had started to drizzle. The creature snarled behind her, getting louder with each second. Once again, Elvira ran, she ran till she could no more. Sharp needles poked into her calves, however greater the pain became with each stride, she pushed forward.

Turning right, swerving left, saving her head from low hanging tree branches, jumping over a log. Desperation consumed her entire being as she tried to escape the danger simply few metres behind her. It had started to pour heavily, drenching all the trees around her. Fatigue started to catch up with her, when she slowed down, the beast increased its speed. She saw the dreary bright blue eyes. A burst of lightning struck a nearby tree, which caught flame. In fear, she trips over a branch. She heard the snarl of the beast. As she turned, it stood on its hind legs, measuring to eight feet. A glimpse of silver claws slashing her right leg and immense pain. Like multiple daggers digging through her flesh. Elvira's cries of agony took over the silence of the forest. Holding her leg in hopes to stop the bleeding. The creature looked her way, as if to say that the blood on her leg was merely a warning. Slowly, it retreated back into the trees, continuing its night as if nothing happened.

In the distance, Elvira saw water. Staggering helplessly, she managed to hobble her way to the ocean. Visions blurred as her blood stained the water. Elvira needed a break. Hundred steps away from the castle and she gets attacked by a creature. Closing her eyes, she laid down on the forest floor. Suddenly, she felt her world spinning. The realisation hit her as strong as the breaking tide, that she had fallen in. With a bleeding leg and lack of oxygen, she started to panic. Her arms could no longer keep her on the surface of the water. With each wave, she went under. Elvira could not sustain herself any longer. She sank. Her eyes brimmed with water of their own as she realised. There was nothing to prove to anyone. Nothing except her bones on the ocean floor. The water filled up in her lungs . Slowly but surely, everything went black.