The Black Snow Circus

A Face Long Forgotten

Days have passed. I think so anyway. I have been blindfolded the entire time we have been moving. I haven't been allowed to sleep. My knives have been taken away. They know I will try and escape as we move along. I get water and food though, but I have to be fed carefully because I will use any object to get out of there. They all knew that now that my friend was alive and well, I would try and break free. As we walked, Fin would always be talking to me, saying things along the lines of
"Oh Circe, you made the right choice of joining me. Now we just have to get Jack!"
"Soon you'll never want to leave."
"Maybe we'll get Eric"
I ignored him pretty much the whole time. I was forced to because I had another voice in my head talking. Valia.
"Oh Circe, it seems you can feel something. You saved little Eric. Now what will you do? Stay with the one who has a face long forgotten? Or run away from the things buried in the back of your mind?"
That was what she said every single second. I had to get out. I had to break free, but how? They were keeping me awake like this so I wouldn't have the energy to fight. And it was working, though I have stayed up multiple nights in a row before. I didn't know what to do. I have to escape within the next day or else I really would be to weak. If I could just find a time where there were no guards around me. There had to be one time at least. Then I thought, during a break there was always one minute where I was definitely alone, when they switched guard shifts. I just needed to get red of the chains around my wrists. I thought hard on how I would. I couldn't get the key for the lock on them from Fin, that was out of the question, and I never used anything in my hair that I could use to pick the lock. Then the idea came to me. There would likely be a stick around me sometime. I might not be able to do it the first time, but if I could hide it and wait until the next time shifts changed, I'd have my chance. It was a good plan, and it could work. I'd have to fight the men most likely though when they came back. I don't know where they have my knives, and I don't think I will grab them. It will just cause more trouble. I'll use hand to hand combat made for a smaller body like mine. I was trained to fight against opponents much stronger and bigger than me. I breathed quietly, thinking to myself. Soon, we would stop, and then I would put my plan into motion...

The time slowly came. We stopped for a rest, well for everyone else, not me, they just sat me by a tree, guarding me, so that if I tried to run they could catch me. My hands are restrained, and they have my legs bound, by just a normal rope though. I knew because I recognized the texture of it. I sat against the tree behind me, the bark moving along my skin, scratching, but it didn't hurt nor bleed. I listened carefully, and then, I heard footsteps as they walked away. I had one minute. I felt around the earth, and felt something skinny, but hard, and I immediately grabbed it. I almost gasped, hearing footsteps again, and hurriedly moved the stick to my other hand. The footsteps got closer and closer, and I just managed to slip the branch into the pocket of my dress. Thank gosh I had asked for pockets to be added to my outfit. The guard stopped and stood in front of me, I think anyways. I couldn't really see at the moment. My plan was in motion. During the next guard change, I would escape.

We continued on our journey to who knows where. Probably their base. We would probably take a break for the night soon, I knew it was likely nighttime due to the air getting cooler. I could hear the sound of crickets in the distance, and an owl hooting. It had to be nighttime. And sure enough, we stopped again soon. I was brought inside somewhere this time, probably so I didn't freeze to death outside. I was put against some kind of pole again, or whatever held up the tent, or what I think is a tent. I laid back again, relaxing my shoulders. I was getting really tired. I felt like if I went to sleep, not even Valia would be able to bother me. I perked my ears, there were footsteps, and they were getting farther! The guard was gone. I immediately grabbed the stick from my pocket, and slowly moved the stick, and moved the end of it around, forming the entrance of the lock. I got it! I moved the stick around, turning it and twisting it, and I heard a clink! And...the lock fell! I wasted no time, and removed my blindfold. I was right, I am in a tent. I looked down and immediately undid the ropes, and stood up. It was really bright, as it had been nothing but darkness the past few days. I heard footsteps. It was time for a fight. I dashed towards the curtain that was the entryway, and jumped upwards the second the guard came in, and landed on his shoulders, and though I may be light, it would cause shock to anyone, and he fell down. I grabbed the stick, which had a sharp edge, and dug it into their neck, the blood spurting out. I grabbed it and took it out, and dashed out of the tent. I was noticed by the other guards, and so the chase began. I whipped around, and ran towards them, about to jump and do the same, but one managed to kick my feet out from under me, and kicked me in the gut. I coughed, and a little blood came out. I have to endure this, I have gone through far worse training. I landed on the ground, but crawled away and bouncing back up before they could grab me. I ran and dashed past a man and stabbed them in the side with the sharp end of the stick, while grabbing a rock and throwing it at the head of the other one, and that got thrown hard enough that it lodged into their head and they fell down. I didn't waste time, and abandoned the stick because I had more coming after me. It was all a massive blur. Men surrounded me, and I used whatever strength I had to fight them. They weren't all bigger than me, so my strength was enough to knock some out. I kicked some in the face, punched others in the gut, and made some of the men lose their dignity. They threw kicks and punches, and it hurt incredibly bad, I was near the point of passing out, but the adrenaline kept me going. Soon, I was finally out of their camp, and ran, and ran, and didn't stop running for probably twenty minutes straight. I dropped to the ground, and could barely catch my breath. I climbed a tree, and lay my head on the trunk. I was exhausted. Everything hurt... I didn't dare fall asleep, but for now, I could finally rest.

Thirty minutes have passed. I wander through the forest, and I don't know where I am. They kept me blindfolded so I wouldn't know the way back... I grunted, and coughed, blood coming out.
"Oh...that's not good" I coughed
"No, really? I didn't notice." That was Valia. She had been quiet for the past while. I ignored her, and fell to the ground. I was exhausted. My vision was blurring, and then, I heard footsteps. And for once,when I looked up, I didn't have to run. It was a figure with fluffy, light orange hair, and a small frame. They gasped, and I think I hear them say my name. They ran towards me, and though hesitated, grabbed me and held me in their arms...I looked up, my vision clearing for a second...it was Eric. Why was he here? I had been be days away from the camp...I couldn't think much more. I felt so tired, I wouldn't dare to try and move. It all hurt so bad. I didn't know what to do. It seemed like we were moving so quickly, Eric panting but refusing to stop. He looked at me, and said the same thing multiple times
"I'm sorry..I'm so sorry Circe..."
I wanted to stop him...he'd be so tired soon...this was the moment I truly realized something. I...have been feeling emotions...ever since Fin appeared I have been feeling things I haven't recognized...and Eric helped me realize that because...he is the closest thing I have to someone to care about...he had always helped me...though I could barely even move, I looked up at Eric, and smiled truly for the very first time in a long, long time.
"Th..ank you...Eric"
And then, everything faded to black,

.