Reverse Perception

Bloodstains and Back Alley Deals

The stone path from the castle to the village calls me. My steps as I run leave a flow of gravel and dust flying behind me. My hair bounces back and forth the wind leaves whiplash on my now rosy cheeks. I start to think about who i've left behind, but I can't turn back now not after I've gotten this far. Still running tears falling down my face I near the end of the path where I am greeted by the village. It is soundless. Not a peep. It must be a late hour. I walk a little further where I see some horses. I steal the pure black one that will hopefully blend in with the woodland area. As I saddle the horse up, having no idea where I'm heading , a man appears from the shadows. 

"Stealing my horse are ya?" 

"I'm sorry" I'll pay for her. 

He starts to move closer to me. "How you planning on paying up little lady." 

I start to scrounge for any lose coin that I may have on me but there is nothing. "I'm sorry i dont have anything. 

I know something that a pretty thing like you can give me. He stood up next to me his bulgy belly poking mine. I can smell his spirit-ridden breath. My breaths deepen. He brings his hand towards my face and moves a stray hair behind my cold ear. 

"Get away from me you creep" I yell. 

I push him and he lands on a sharpened wooden fence meant to keep the horses in. The sharp edge pierces his throat with squirts blood on my pale face knowing its unmistakable on my complexion .  He tries to lift himself up off the stake which spurts more blood on me. Im now covered in a dark crimson color and a body in front of me. I panic and freeze there for a moment staring at what I've done, what kind of monster am I, I had to he would've raped me. I hear a guard yell and I'm pushed back into what's real. I jump as high as I can and climb up onto the horses back. No turning back now, I snap the reins and dig my heels into the poor horses' sides and we take off into the black night towards the part of the village I was never allowed in.

********

I wake up in a mud-stained stable , confused until I realize everything that happened last night. All of the fear and panic and regret hits me at one time and I can't hold back from vomiting immediately.

"Ugh, get out of here you lousy urchin, the place is filthy enough as it I, shoo" I hear an elderly man yelling at me.

I wipe my mouth , pick myself up out of the mud and run as fast as I can. How could I have been so insanely stupid. I'm in the worst part of  Kavaria covered in blood of a man i didn't even know. I run to what I guess is the safest place, somewhere that's more public, the market my mother used to walk to near the summer months. I make it and I'm surrounding by what feels like hundreds of staring eyes. 

I take refuge in a nearby alleyway right off of the main market street. I lean against one of the building wall and slide down ,exhaustion taking hold, my head held in my hands. Just listening to the bustle of the market life and reflecting on all the terrible decisions I made last night. Two guys about my age walk past me deeper into the alleyway and start talking in hushed voices, I focus and can just hear them off the market noise.

"I need to get out of town, I need to get out of the province!" one says

"What the hell are you talking about man"

"I'm talking about a safe transportation out of town. If I don't leave the queen will have my head. I murdered her head guard. She won't just look the other way man. I gotta get out tonight. It's now or never.

"Well where you headed man?"

 "I heard about a gang down south that can protect me if I initiate."

"Are you talking about the Blitzer's man? Because they have a bad rep for newbies. I heard they killed a new guy for speaking out of turn."

"No I'm talking about the Reneveer's.  I heard they take care of their own. It sounds like my only chance, you gotta help me just this one time" 

"Um," I interrupt "Ill pay for everything if you can get both me and him out of here"

The guy I'm assuming is a fugitive smuggler looks shocked that I heard at first then looks me up and down and says "You aint got any coin" 

I smile gently as a pull out the coronation crown I was supposed to wear ,I forgot i had hidden it under my dress till now. "What does this get us?"

The guy takes it away from me and examines it expertly, bending and knocking and biting on it. "This'll get you and him the best damn carriage i can arrange and enough water to last you the trip " he says after he's been satisfied.

The other guy looks thankfully at me and says "Ill handle the arrangements, there's a spot two blocks away from here with a yellow door the woman will take you in, say you're with Tarrow, get the blood off you and well be gone before midnight."

For the first time since last night I felt independent like I always wanted to be. I walk and follow Tarrow's instruction's and this time with purpose. 

From now on , I choose my fate.