The Knights and the Princess

Chapter 6

I awoke in a cold sweat, gasping and breathing heavily. My heart was pounding loudly in my chest, racing from the sudden rush of adrenaline that was flowing through my body. I looked around frantically in fear and confusion as I tried to figure out where I was and why I wasn't in my room, when the memories and events of everything that happened flashed through my mind, hitting me like a ton of bricks. I quickly shot up, panting, my eyes burning with tears that threatened to shed. Mom!

A searing pain suddenly wracked my side and I let out a short cry, before clamping my mouth shut with a hand over the wound. I had forgotten about that.

"P'kyuu!" A squeak caught my attention and I slowly turned my head, staring in surprise at Akito.

"H-Hey there, Akito... how's it goin'?" I reached a hand out to pet the squirrel, gently running my finger across her head. "S-Sleep good?" I felt a bit breathless.

Akito gave another squeak in response and I relaxed, gradually getting my breathing back to normal. I wasn't sure how long I sat there petting her, too scared to try and go back to sleep. I had a nightmare about the crash, about my friends and family... The worst part was how vivid and realistic it was. I honestly thought what was going on was really happening to me, but right when a glass shard came flying towards my chest I had snapped awake. All I had seen was blood and mother's lifeless form, and everyone just staring at me with these cold, hateful eyes...

I pulled my knees up to my chest, squeezing my eyes shut. I pulled my hand away from Akito, who let out a protest, and I grabbed a fistful of my hair. I want to go home... I took a shaky breath, trying to ignore the ache in my chest. I inhaled deeply before exhaling, telling myself, "I'm okay. I'm okay." There's nothing that can be done now. I died and that's that. I'm just in some strange afterlife.

But if that's the case... why am I so hungry?

I held back a groan as my stomach growled angrily, twisting uncomfortably. I was so hungry I felt like I was going to throw up-something not uncommon, but still painful. I don't really eat properly, or get enough sleep like I should, and my step-mom tends to get on me for not taking care of myself. I'm used to not eating a lot, but having eaten something and then just not makes me feel sick all over again. I promptly fell onto my good side, resting my head on my arm as I curled up into a ball as best as I could without aggravating my wounds any further. I closed my eyes, ignoring Akito who was prodding my face with her nose trying to get me to open my eyes.

"P'kyuu!"

"Mmm... not now, Akito..." I don't feel very good.

"P'kyuu!" Akito sounded alarmed and I heard the pattering of her footsteps fade away as she ran off. Suddenly the sounds of bells hit my ears and I opened my eyes, slowly sitting up to see Blue near. "P'kyuu!" Somehow, and I have no idea how high squirrels can jump, Akito had leaped up off the ground and jumped straight up onto his shoulder, climbing up and sitting on top of his head.

"Pfft!" I snorted and clamped a hand over my mouth. "Cute." I then paused, frowning when I saw him near. There was something on his mask. "Hey, you okay?" He sat down a few inches away from me, turning his head to look at me. "You... You got some... red stuff right there." I pointed to the spot on his mask, concerned. My voice shook a little as I recalled my dream and my heart pounded harshly. "Did... Did something happen or-?"

He was silent for so long I thought he was going to respond. When he did, I thought my heart was literally going to stop beating from shock. "There... was an intruder." Does he... Does he mean like an "enemy"? He said I wasn't one, but...

"What... did you do exactly?" Please no. Please tell me you didn't.

He carries a sword. He wears a mask. His mask has blood on it.

My eyes stung for some reason and my heart just pounded faster and louder as I waited for a response. I was frozen. My fingers twitched as I tried to get my body to work again. Blue was quiet.

I wasn't sure how I felt when he answered. "They... wanted to use me... and my curse. It is my job... to eliminate... enemies." He had seemed extremely reluctant to answer. I tried to wrap my mind around what he told me.

"But..." I had no idea what to say. I didn't how to react or think or anything. I was in shock. "D-Did... did they try to hurt you?" S-Self defense? S-Say it's self defense, please... "A-And... you only... k-killed them because you had to?"

Every part of my brain that was logical screamed at me to run, yet all my instincts said this man meant no harm. That he wouldn't hurt anyone. I wasn't sure which part to listen to.

Blue stared at me for a long, suffocating moment before turning his head and lowering it, reaching into his fur coat and pulling out what seemed to be a red apple. "They... harmed some of the villagers here... because of me. I... had to stop them." I watched, almost in slow motion, as he reached behind him and pulled his sword out from behind his back. How he didn't cut himself by doing that I didn't know, but I could only watch in slight panic as he lowered it to the apple he set on the ground. He sliced it in thirds easily. "I... didn't want... them to hurt anyone else." I stiffened when he picked up a slice and held it out to me. "They... had food on them, so... I took it." It's not like they would even need it anymore.

I was scared to move, but I tentatively reached out and took the apple slice from him. My fingers brushed against his and I almost recoiled at how warm his hands were. A murderer's hands shoulder be cold, right?

Akito was already nibbling on one of the slicer that were on the ground. Blue reached up and grabbed his own, biting into it and chewing slowly. I just stared at him, then looked down at the slice in my hands. My stomach grumbled painfully, but I couldn't do anything. I felt numb, paralyzed to the spot.

This is how he got food. This is what he meant by "enemy". If... I had been after him, he would have-but how did he know I wasn't? "H-How...?" He swallowed and looked at me. I wished I could see his eyes so I could see his emotions. My face felt cold and my eyes burned, a part of my mind registering I was crying again. His mouth went slightly agape before he closed it, lips tiling down in a frown. "How did... How do you know I'm not an enemy? Wh-Why didn't you kill me, too? Why are you being so nice when you don't even know me!?" My voice cracked, it going higher and higher in pitch. "How do you know I'm not after you, too!?"

He stared at me for the longest time and I tried not to blink, attempting to keep my gaze steady, bu the stinging pain was hard to ignore.

"H-How do you kn-know I'm not a... b-bad guy?"

Then, to my confusion, he tapped the spot on his mask right next to where the eye holes were. Despite the holes being there, I couldn't make out anything of his eyes. "You... appeared out of nowhere..." My eyes widened. "Akito... trusts you. When you saw me... you had no idea who I was. You don't... know about my curse."

"I-I could just be playing dumb!"

What... am I doing? I... don't know. Do I... want him to kill me? Why am I saying all these things...?

Blue shook his head.

~~