An October Night

Chapter 2: Into the Dragon's Mouth

A face, in the open window stared at her. It belonged to a hooded stranger. Quickly Harriet threw open a box that lay untouched. Her slim fingers curled around the hilt of a dagger. She moved her gaze up too see the door wide open and the mysterious boy directly in front of her. She lunged with the blade of her knife pointing towards the boy, but in one swift movement he countered the attack, grabbing her arm and pining it behind her back, clasping his free hand on her mouth before she had any time to work up her voice in a shout of surprise. He squeezed her wrist, not hard but enough to make her drop the dagger on the floor. He kicked it across the room and eased his grip on her, making it comfortable for her. He moved his face closer to her ear.

"Don't be afraid, please." Harriet could see the shape of his red lips and the sharp point of his nose in the corner of her eye. "I'm not going to hurt you." Even though she didn't believe any of his words, the sound of his cool, calm voice made her relax somewhat.

She whimpered. A single tear of fear slid down her face. Her eyes filled with fright. The boy moved his hand from her mouth, allowing her to speak.

"Please" She said, her voice cracked. "Don't hurt me." The boy listened to the fear in her small voice and released his grip entirely. Harriet gasped and made for the dagger that was kicked in front to the two. She snatched it up and pressed her back to the wall. The boy didn't move.

"Stay right there!" She warned. Her hands were shaking in fear. Her mind raced of all the possible things this stranger could do right about now. She thought of attacks and counter-attacks to use on him if he happened to lunge at her, or attempt in taking the dagger from her grasp. She was caught off guard the first time, she would be ready for a second attack.

Harriet eyed the boy up, taking in his figure. She could use his body weight against him. His legs were long, he would be quick, his tallness would make it hard for him to catch her if she ran fast and low. Half his face was covered by a dark hood, and he wore a pair of tight brown pants and what appeared to be a dark cloak. Shiny silver buttons pulled it together around his built figure. His skin was slightly tan, unlike her. Her pasty skin told him she didn't go out much. His lips formed into a sly grin. Showing off his perfectly straight, white teeth.

"Like what you see?" Harriet glared at the boy. She opened her mouth to reply to his cocky remark, but the shrill and shriek of a nearby animal interrupted.

Both Harriet and the boy stopped and listened to the sounds. Still keeping an eye on the boy, Harriet moved to one of the closed windows and peered out. The scaly green and brown coloured tail moved snake-like across the grass. The sound of a low rumble shook her bones.

She turned around to face the boy. She gasped softly and raised the knife. The boy pressed a finger to his lips and she let him push the blade pointed at him to the ground. He meant no harm and she knew that. He too peered out the window.

"We need to go. Now!" He rushed to the other side of the cottage where the wardrobe was located and threw the doors open. Meanwhile, Harriet fell into a daze. They found me. She screamed in her head.

"Psst!" The sounds brought her back to the real world. The boy stood at the opposite end of the room. "Do you have a pack?" Harriet nodded. She walked to the closet and reached down and pulled out a pack.

"Grab everything you need. Hurry." She did what he told her to do. She no longer felt afraid of him, no danger. She trusted him, but she didn't know why. It was like her mind had taken over and her instincts left completely. It confused her greatly. She almost always counted on her instincts to show her the way. Pushing the confusion away Harriet packed her bag of clothes, bread, gold and a canteen. She brought one hand to her chest and felt the hard metal of the amulet on the other side of her shirt, nestled between the warmth of her breast. She exhaled, she was ready.