Nadine's Journey

Chapter Six

Nadine

Four days passed like it was nothing. After waking up in the morning, we trained. At high noon, we trained some more... only to tie up our day with more training. Of course, between those times we continued to travel, briskly walking. Occasionally, Agustin calls me Princess or some other formal title. However, I let him off with a warning (if I didn't just ignore it altogether). I feel different somehow-- more mature.

The once dense wood thins out. The trees are farther away from each other than before as we start to reach the end of the woods. Bright orange flowers on vines that resemble fire when basking in the sun's warmth coat the trees. They're so beautiful and smell so sweet. I reach out to touch one... only I am pulled away by some force. I fight, trying to claw whoever is holding me, preventing me from touching the beauty. My world is focused on those flowers. "You will release me this instant, filthy commoner," I scream out. "I command you."

"Sorry, princess," his pain-laced tone barely penetrates my mind. "But you are not in your right mind." I screech out and lurch forward. His grip only tightens, slowly dragging me away.

"Release me," I howl. Both of his hands move up to my face, covering my mouth and clasping my nose. He grunts as I thrash more and more. My lungs scream for air, and my body wants more of that wonderful odor. I shake with need. The flowers call for me... I need them so bad. "No, no, no," I scream against his hand. "Let me go!" I growl and try to bite my way free. No such luck. Blackness spreads across my vision, the little dots expanding, blocking out those lovely sun-kissed flowers.

I try to thrash harder... try to free myself. My arms will not move. My legs are frozen. My torso becomes numb. My eyes are glued shut. I sink to the ground, the fight gone from my mind as everything shuts down.