Innocent Creatures

Chapter 9 (P.O.V: Ariana/Misty)

(Ariana)

I never, ever, want to go back here again

I hope I never encounter these men either.

The big, scary man makes a mean face at Red, who is backing slowly away. I clutch Fia's hand, with my thumb in my mouth and my hair covering my delicate feathers. All seems calm... Suddenly, as if from nowhere, Red pushes his wings out through the fabric of his shirt, and flies down to the stage next to the man in the hat. It all happens so fast, that I scream.

"Are we all having fun?" Red shouts to the audience, who roar happily back. The man in the tall hat next to him looks really angry, and I see him say rude words to Red. The hat man tries to grab Red, then he calls his guards to get him.

"Red!" I shrill, tugging my thumb away, watching him fly to the top of the tent and perch on the tightrope. The tall man runs to get Red, but he cant, for Red is too high.

"Worry not, Ariana..." He says, hesitantly smiling. The guards are all running cautiously up the steps to the rope, practically falling over each other and they keep tripping up. He extends his wings and tries to fly away, but his foot gets caught in the netting below. This sends the audience into a fit of laughter.

They think this is part of the show...

"Blazes! Oh gosh no!" Red shouts, batting his wings in ferocious anger, he tries to pull himself away, but there is no use.

"I have got this..." Clive says, pointing to a little tree in the corner of the room. He pulls of his cloak, exposing his ears, and extends his arms. The little tree begins to grow, twisting and turning as it approached Red. Clive let's out an aggravated sound of pain, as he makes it grow more. The tiny pot that the oak tree was in, brakes, and the roots of the tree plummet into the dusty ground. The head of the tree comes up beneath Red, and Clive makes a large, up-wards jab with one arm. The tree cuts Red down, leaving him to clamber all over the tree in order to get to the ground."Go everyone!" Fia screams, and Red proceeds to fly quickly through the drapes. Then we run after him, feeling quite dazed. Through the drapes, I try to catch my breath, but there are around five guards blocking our way. "Please go!" I whisper, clinging tightly to River's leg.

I start to cry, and River places his hand on my shoulder.

"How about's we don't free ya, and we's lot can kidnap yous?" One of the smaller guards say.

"Yeah!" says another.

"Oh, I know your really nice gentlemen... would you.." Fia is interrupted by the guard."I bet you think your so smart!"

"Actually..."

"Oh shut up you lick-spittle young strumpet!""I have never heard such abundance of awful words in all my life!" Fia shouts, her skin going bright red.

The guard steps closer to her, and whispers "are standing up for your little old Mary friends?" Clive and River gasp, and clutch each other's hand firmly.The man to my left jumps at me, holding a black bag, and all that I can do is scream as everything blurs away.

*

P.O.V: Misty

I think I'm still alive, but I can't tell.
The edges of my vision is blurred with red, and the voices around me echo like the souls of the dead. I look at my hands, and see that they are covered in fresh cuts. Glancing around me, I notice a whip on the floor, and a chair with broken, light brown rope on it. I feel like I'm spinning, and place my hands on the floor to steady myself as I stand up. Suddenly, something hard makes contact with my head, and I fall to the floor. I cry out, but the force hits the other side of my head, making me scream. Three more times in a constant flow, making me curl up into a ball feebly. Suddenly they stop."Up!" says a sharp voice, not like that of Sebastian or Derik.I stand, slowly, trying to help my shaky legs support my weight.

"Now... drink!" the dis-embodied voice says. A bottle is on the table in-front of me...

"NO!" I say, shakily. I receive a large blow to my head, and let out a cry as I stumble forwards.

"Drink!"

I do as I'm told, drinking the shimmery green liquid.

I stumble, falling to the ground. I touch my head, and when I pull my hand back, my hand is covered in blood. Suddenly, a bolt of pain shoots into my stomach, making me yell. I fall onto my side, clutching my stomach. The blows to my head return, and I scream again and again.

"Please!" I yell, clutching my skull.

My mother would have... wait... who is my mother? I do not remember her, or my father. Did I have a father? If so... wait... what just happened?

Sebastian...

Why am I scared of him?

I slowly stop caring about the blows to my head, ignoring them as if they bored me, which I realized they did. The pain stops, but the blows continue. I don't understand, why am I angry with Sebastian? He has the most dazzling eyes... and the most beautiful smile... No! Sebastien is evil! Is he tho... I don't think he is. He's too lovely. I begin to laugh. The laughter is so loud that it's funny, so I keep laughing, clutching the pain in my stomach. I get up, laughing hysterically, dodging the blows.

"Tag, your it!" I laugh, running away. Running through the room, he chased me and he would not stop. We run around in circles, and I laugh until my voice box goes dry. He grabs my hair suddenly, pulling it hard, and pushes me down, taking the words right out of my dainty mouth. "I'm it!" I cry, laughing, and pulling the man down next to me.

He clambers up, and lifts me up by my collar. "Shut up child!" he says, looking into my eyes."CHILD!" I laugh, touching my head again and looking at it.

Its so red that I think I might die... WHO CARES?!