Beastly Changed

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

          It was him. She knew that voice anywhere. It haunted her, mocked her almost. She could not see him. Was he even there? Was she just imaging him?

          “I’m still here Princess.” His tone was cocky and arrogant.

          “What business do you have following me?” Katharine replied, trying to swallow down here fear and act as though nothing was wrong.

          “Ha, you think I’m following you? Don’t flatter yourself, Princess, I’m not following you. Remember, it’s my job to be here.” Although Katharine could not see this mystery man, she could imagine the smirk on his face.

          Katharine started walking away, trying to step lightly so that her feet did not make a sound. “I can hear you walking away, Princess.”

          “Whatever you job is, I suggest you do it and leave me be!” Katharine could no longer mask her frustration.

          “But you never did answer my question, Princess. Where are you going?” His voice mocked her. Every time he called her “Princess” it only degraded her authority rather than address it.

          “What business of yours is it to know of my doings?” She had a good argument, but she knew that she had to get away from him. There was no one to help her now. If she screamed, chances are that no one would hear her.

          “You don’t believe that I’m really here. You think I’m all some figment of your imagination. Do you want me to change that?” Katharine could not hold in her shiver. His tone scared her, even though she would not admit it.

          She was not about to reason with him, so she continued walking. Her feet made noise, enough to show that she was walking away.      

          “You won’t last a day,” he called after her, but Katharine was determined to prove him wrong…

          The next morning when Katharine woke up, she had no clue where she was. All she saw were trees. She had no idea how long she had walked for last night, but her legs ached.

          Brushing herself off, Katharine got up and did the only thing that she could do, continue on. Every so often, she would look around, waiting to hear that man’s voice again. Waiting for him to jump out at her and tell her how horrible of a job she did at running away. But to Katharine’s pleasure, he did not show up.

          Katharine stopped when she saw in front of her a road. Not many roads were built through the woods, especially in the middle of nowhere, in fear that robbers would ransack the caravans.

          Following the road led to the possibility of Katharine getting caught—a chance that she did not want to take. The sound of horse’s hooves hitting the ground startled Katharine from her thought. Someone was coming.

          As quickly as she could, Katharine darted back into the woods, but it was not heavily wooded enough to hide her. The trees were too spaced apart for Katharine to go unseen.

          “Is someone out there?” a man called out from the caravan. When she did not answer, he added, “I know I saw someone out there, so just fess up to it! I promise no harm will be bestowed upon you.” His voice sounded sincere so Katharine accepted defeat.

          “I am sorry, sir.” Katharine answered him as she fell to her knees. She was clutching her arms and shaking violently. “I have been out here all night.”