A Face that launched a thousand ships

Part 5

part 5

"Found him!"

"Run, Maria!"

"Arthur, I can't... my legs... they hurt..."

A few hours before...

"Maria..." he said in a gentle voice.

"Yes?" she smiled.

"When we grow up; when we reach the right age, I will propose to you." He said directly, looking straight in the eyes of the little girl in front of him. The girl blushed, "S-So soon?"

The older boy held her hands tightly, "That's why it's in the future, I'm giving you time to decide." The girl nodded but kept her eyes on their hands. He gave her a kiss on the forehead, "I love you."

They sat by the spot Arthur told her—laughing happily. A few minutes later, they heard a rustling sound coming from the bushes just behind them. They both stared at the bushes. "Must be a rabbit." The little boy said trying to sound unbothered by it. Maria shrugged then laughed, "Yeah... I hope it comes to us!"

"Found him!" a man wearing the British military uniform jumped out of the bushes. "Bloody-!" Arthur stood up in surprise. Then, another man jumped out of the bushes, "You have nowhere to go now." The man laughed evilly. "Who are they, Arthur?" Maria asked in confusion and fright.

"Come with me!" he pulled her up and began running away from the men. "W-Wait... A-Arthur? What's wrong?" she asked, trying to catch up with Arthur's steps. "They're evil!" he answered in a hurry.

"You can't escape us!" one of the men behind them shouted. They kept running for a straight thirty minutes. Arthur's breathing became heavier; Maria's legs were aching. They began to slow down and both men were getting closer.

"Run, Maria!" he shouted, trying to encourage her to run faster.

"Arthur, I can't... my legs... they hurt..." she replied with heavy uneven breaths. Finally, her legs gave way and she couldn't help but fall on the ground. "Maria!" he shouted, going over to the girl who was sitting on the ground. "Are you alright?"

"Go, Arthur. Leave me, go somewhere safe!" she commanded, worrying for the older boy more than for her. "I can't leave you here!" Arthur replied almost angrily. Soon, the two men chasing them reached the other two.

"Heh, got you." One of them said proudly smirking. The other one approached the blonde boy and grabbed both his arms. "Oww! Stop it! Let go of me! Take off your bloody hands off of me!" he fought back with all is might; unfortunately, the man holding him was stronger. "Don't struggle anymore; no one will get hurt if you don't struggle." The man holding him off answered indifferently.

"Arthur!" Maria called out. "Tch! Shut up little girl!" the other man snarled at the girl and kicked her stomach. She coughed and rolled over the ground. "Don't hurt her!" Arthur growled, "She has nothing to do with this!" The man smirked, "If you say so, Your Highness" mocking the little boy.