Trapped ( Zarobljena prevedeno na engleski jezik )

9. Apparition

Evangelia did not know how long she had been walking. The path she was on reminded her of a dreadful march in a column, of breaks and stale bread that she shared with Matej. Tears were gathering in her eyes. Although she was suffering, she was happier then than she was now. She didn't know where she was going, but she was alive, and her brother was with her. She had some hope. Now she had nothing, not even her life. She also didn't know where or why she was going. She kept thinking about what connection the old man Vujadin had with her. Why was her mother sending her to him? She only had that instruction from her, it was her lifeline. She had to follow it.

They say he deals with strange things. And I am nothing but a miracle. I am probably within the scope of his interests. Maybe he is the only one who can help me and tell me something more about all of this. When I think about it, I need someone who understands the supernatural. Surely a tavern keeper wouldn't be able to help me, the girl chuckled to herself. She noticed that even though she had been walking for hours, she didn't feel tired. One good thing, she thought. She still felt the sharp stones under her feet, but her shoes did not tear.

Evangelia had to be careful not to stray. The landscape around her was unfamiliar. She had no idea how far she was from her town. She only knew that they had been walking through the gorge for three or four days. There were no crossroads, they had only gone straight ahead. This meant that now she had to follow the path they had once taken, and it would lead her to the clearing where they had been untied and thrown out of the carriage. For the next part of the journey, Evangelia was not sure. She did not remember well the details of the path she had taken while bound in the carriage. Numb from the fresh pain, it hadn't occurred to her to remember it. She thought she would never return.

She looked up at the sky. The clouds had parted a little, and the rain had stopped. The sun was even peeking out. It was high in the sky, which led the girl to conclude that it was noon. Soon, she would reach the foot of the gorge and that clearing where they had been thrown out of the carriage. For the next direction, she was not sure. She would have to think carefully and summon all her strenght.

Evangelia looked back. She could no longer see the pyramidal peak of the gorge. She had moved quite far from the place of her death.

Suddenly, she heard something behind her. The sound of hooves and wheels. The Turks are coming back! She thought in fear. Forgetting that she was dead and that they could not harm her now, she hid behind a bush by the road. She did not want them to see her.

Peeking out from her hiding place, she already saw two skinny brown horses. They were pulling a small cart. Two men were sitting in the front. Evangelia did not know who they were, but she assumed they were Serbs. They did not have the appearance, clothing, or haughty demeanor of the Turks.

- And so... I'm telling you, Milorad... - she heard one of them say. They were speaking Serbian!

Without thinking, she darted out from her hiding place and ran in front of the cart. The one driving it jolted and shouted at the horse with a strong "Stop!" The horses stood still as if rooted to the ground. So, they can see me.

- Girl, you could have been killed! Who runs out like a headless fly in front of horses!? - said one of them.

Evangelia observed them. Both had thick brown hair, brown mustaches, and round rosy faces. They were as similar as two peas in a pod. Twins, thought the girl with affection.

- I'm sorry, I was hasty. I was scared that you might be enemies, but when I heard you speaking our language, I was delighted. Are you perhaps going to Zdravinje? - she asked, hoping they were heading to her town. She was eager to reach Vujadin as soon as possible.