Hidden within the shadows

Chapter 1

Beauty-

The sun had long since gone down. The fallen snow slowing my every step. But I run. I run further into the darkness of the woods. I don't dare look back; terror driving my feet farther. The darkness holds a silent warning, but I would rather take my chances with the dangers of the forest than those of which I am running from.

The forest is silent apart from my falling footsteps and the harsh howl of the wind.

My steps become sluggish and I stumble with exhaustion but I don't stop. I can't stop...not yet.

Of course I had heard the stories of the creatures that hide within the shadows of this forest as a child but I had never paid much mind to them; perhaps I should have. However, even if I had, there is no way I could have prepared myself for this day.

If only I could have stayed in my small cottage today and not ventured out into town, then I would have been safe. Maybe if I had stayed and fought my father would have been too. But, of course, we can always think of the 'what if?' when it'js too late.

***

I walk down the slightly crowded and muddy streets on my way to my Father's antique shop to deliver him his dinner. My father has been working long nights ever since my mother passed years ago, trying to pay the bills as best he can. He refuses to let me get a job to help him saying that this is not something that I should worry about. Stubborn old man.

The village shops all bustling with people of various shapes and sizes trading, selling and baking in order to make a living, all trying to make enough money to pay their monthly taxes knowing the consequences of not.

I slowly come up to my father's shop and heave open the heavy wooden door finding the shop vacant of any customers. "father are you in here? I have brought you some dinner." I call out.

"No, Astrid run!" My father yells from the back room and all of the sudden I am being pulled through the door way and a hand is covering my mouth muffling my scream.

"Now what is it we have here?" Says the man holing me to him. Terror takes over as I catch a glimpse of something cold and shiny against my throat. I begin to struggle, trying to get away from this man but his grip is like steel.

"No, no, no please leave her alone! Please don't harm her! I promise I will find the money, I...I just need more time!"My father pleads to the men.

"You had multiple chances old man and we are tired of waiting." says the man who seems to be in charge.

The man pulls me harder against him and brushes away my hair."She's quite a pretty little thing. Shall we have some fun with you?" the man says into my ear and I cringe away."Pity, it is much more fun when they're willing."

"We have no time! Someone has to have heard us by now." The man in charge hisses. "Just kill them already!"

All of the sudden my father pulls out a sword and stabs the man holding him. At this the man behind me loosens his grip enough for me to break away. "Run Astrid!" My father yells.

And I do. I run like the coward I am. But not before I see one of the men take out a dagger and bury it into my father's back not before I see him fall to the ground.

***

The beast-

Anger floods my entire body. How dare they, how dare they trespass on my land! There ignorant humans think themselves gods.

Don't they know who I am. 'What' I am? If they don't they will soon, very soon.

I charge through the trees on all fours paying no mind to the wind. Anger pushing me forward.

What I find has me halting me in my steps.

***

Beauty-

I must keep going but I can't seem to make my feet listen. I fall to the ground in a heap of frozen exhaustion. I try to get back up but it's as if someone has disconnected my mind from my body. I can only lay here as the cold seeps into my bones unable to even shiver. Fighting unconsciousness for fear that if I fall asleep I might not wake up.

I could have been here for minutes or hours, I don't know just that I can no longer feel my hands and feet. It seems to have gotten impossibly darker, or maybe that is just me falling into inevitable oblivion. This is it. This is how I will die. Alone. This more terrifying that the men I was running from.

I hear a twig snap and footfalls coming closer and closer to me. Panic consumes me as I look out into the darkness of the forest and soon come face to face with the most terrifying thing I have ever seen. Over 8 ft tall and the head of a lion with the body of a wolf with such black fur that it almost blends into the shadows. I recognize this beast as the creature of a story that I always thought was just a story to keep children from misbehaving, eyes of liquid gold peer back at me.

I had no idea that I must have unknowingly crossed onto its land. Cursing myself for being so stupid, for not listening to my father when he said to never venture into the woods when I was a child, but at the point it seemed like the only way of escape.

I don't dare take my eyes away from it and what I see has me questioning my sanity because as I stare I see this beast turn into a man standing where the beast previously stood. The man walks closer to me. Still terrified and unable to move away I let out a small whimper. At this his footsteps stop and an unrecognizable look crosses his face.

Nevertheless, the man comes closer and I fight to keep my eyes open, not wanting it to end like this, but my body betrays me as my vision comes and goes.

All of the sudden I feel myself being lifted into two strong arms. Against my better judgement I lean into the welcomed warmth as unconsciousness quickly overtakes me.

***

Authors note

I hope you enjoyed this first chapter and if so comment, vote and follow for more. Also please check out my other story. I promise to update as often as possible.