Nevermore

Chapter 1

I run. My breath is starting to come in heavy gasps and my legs scream from me to please, please stop, but I can't. Despite the ache of my tired body, a hoarse laugh escapes my lips. I can't help it. Before I can stop myself, a short whoop of elation follows. I hope I'm far enough that the palace guards can't hear me. Even if they could, would they follow?Nobody dares to enter the jungle.

Maybe I've gone crazy, maybe this is what insanity feels like: that overwhelming sense of freedom. Either way, I don' t stop running. The rough twigs on the ground stab at my feet, leaves snag in my hair, and my sari catches on everything.

My mother would be horrified. My mother. A wave of sadness eclipses the happiness. I could still turn back. I could sneak back to my mother, father, and sisters. Would they know? The thought only lasts a minute, before I am tripping on a nasty outcrop of rock. My arms fail to catch me. Instead, my forehead cruelly hits the forest floor and jars me into blackness.

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Not only is knocking yourself out by face planting embarrassing, but it's also painful. With a grunt, I slowly come-to on my bed of leaf decay. My head pounds, and I can feel a bruise forming on my forehead. Luckily, I don't think I've succeeded in giving myself a concussion. Then again, how would I know if I did? The idea is almost funny, until I realize I have no idea where I am and that I don't have any water. 

When I ran into the jungle, I didn't stop to think I would need food and drink. I suppose, I thought I would find lush fruit trees and some source of water. Looking around, I don't see either. Trees flank me on each side and periodically rustle with the movements of animals. I can hear birds, which is a good sign: no predators about. Plus, where there are animals, there must be food. 

Though exhausted, I haul myself to my feet and begin my search. As I walk ,the dense canopy all but hides the sky. Rays of sunshine project a dappled pattern onto the jungle floor. If I crane my stiff neck upwards, I can see sunlight dripping though chinks in the trees' leaves. Everything is so green. Though the palace had its own gardens, everything was orderly. Tamed. Here, the plants grow in disarray. Moss coats tree trunks and stones. Fallen leaves form a soft carpet, bald here-and-there with sandy dirt. Birds call to each other. I'm half tempted to whistle back, but fear the birds may leave. If they do, who's to warm me about the presence of tigers? 

That's part of the reason I chose to run into the jungle rather to escape to some village. The guards will follow me into mud huts, but would never dare the risk of a tiger attack. I could fall victim to one of those monsters, but I had to leave. I needed a someplace to hide in quiet solitude. Away from the fawning servants, the knowing eye of my father, and the droves of male suitors that refused to leave me alone.

Maybe it was selfish of the king's daughter to run from such luxury. I know that other girls would love to be in my position. The king's first born daughter. What a dream! I suppose it was, if you were willing to give up any chance of freedom. In the palace, I was always surrounded by people. I had to be accompanied by a chaperone and guard. I couldn't even bathe myself. When it came time for my father to offer my hand to the men of the kingdom, I knew it was time to leave. I just didn't leave soon enough. With a scowl, I push those thoughts from my mind.

I've been walking for about an hour. My tongue is as thick as cotton and my head feels worse. I need to find water. I'm about to sit at the base of a tree to rest, when I hear the whisper of  running water. I follow the melody  to a creek. I'm ecstatic. I don't hesitate to splash water unto my grimy face. I cup the drought to my lips and drink until the pounding in my head subsides. Refreshed, I even braid my straight black hair into a neat plait. 

I've drunk my share, and I wish I had a way to to carry more water, but I have to find food. My stomach is shrinking cruelly and moans in tight hunger. I'm confident I can find bananas, mangoes, or figs. I follow the water, making sure I do not stray from the side of the water. I keep my head titled upwards in search of fruit trees. I'm amazed that I haven't succumbed to the darkness I can find at he edge of my mind. I can feel the shadows on the edge of my periphery. It's infuriating. I know they're a product of my disturbed mind, but I can feel them waiting for the moment to fully recall what happened to me. If I look to hard, they'll expose themselves an the memory will swallow me. 

I'm trying to escape those recollections, when something falls from the sky. Grimacing, I squint up into the canopy to find myself staring at a group of monkeys. Luckily all that they've flung at me is a mango. I could almost bring myself to laugh, but the shadows are still following me. I'm still grateful for such despicable creatures, though. They've ignorantly given me a mango. I don't hesitate to rip into the golden fruit. 

With a full belly, I continue my walk. Now my hunt has moved to the discovery of shelter. I can feel the tension in the air that comes with storms.  Through the canopy, the sky has turned to color of a bruise. The clouds are green and sickly. It doesn't take an idiot to know what's about to happen. I figure I still have about half and hour. Anxiety is starting to clog my brain, though. I don't want to be stuck in the middle of the torrent. The forest floor could slick-en and I could fall. The shadows of the forest and the sheet of rain could blind me from ditches, rocks, or particularly unfriendly tree stumps. I do not want to risk a twisted ankle or concussion. Who knows, I could snap my neck.

The birds have gone quieted. The monkeys are no where in sight, but I suppose they've gone back to their nests. This is bad. It's probably been about twenty minutes, but I still haven't found a place that looks remotely safe. I'm beginning to really panic when the first drop of rain smacks my face. The cold of the water sharpens my thoughts and I can feel my pupils dilate. I need to find an outcrop of rock or climb into the bottom of a ditch. With a crack of lightning, the storm finally lets loose. The rain comes down in opaque quilts. I've never seen such a horrendous storm. It's almost as if I've gone completely blind: I can only make out a few feet in front of me. 

It's something about the insidious darkness that finally lets the shadows loose. Their greedy hands are clutching at my mind. My breathes are becoming labored. I panic. Like a maniac, I tear through the trees.

The memories are coming back with terrifying flashes of lightning. Eyes glinting with madness. No.  Hands coming to stroke my arms. Anything but this! The resonance of a slap after I stutter a meek, "No," Please, not now! But shadows are relentless, and right now they're smiling.

The rain has somehow gotten heavier. Thunder is a regular background noise. Still, I keep up my mad dash. I'm in a complete panic. My previous worries have dissipated with terror. Still, I'm shocked  when I find my ankle catching on a tree root. For some reason it's all too ironic. I start laughing, and I can't stop. My hands are curling into claws and I'm rolling as cackles rock my body. I've gone completely mad. I don't stop laughing until I notice the two glowing eyes in the bracken.

They glare amber fire and refuse to look away.

I fall silent.

Then everything goes black.