Hope

Chapter Fourteen

I open my eyes when Harry sets me down. He surveys my face as if looking for something. I suddenly become aware that I haven't bathed in days.

I look around, taking in my surroundings. We are outside in the middle of a dark forest with tall narrow trees.

“Where are we?” I whisper.

“Prasinis, just outside my father's land,” he says.

“What's going on, Harry?” I ask, knowing that he won't give me answer. Sure enough, he just stares at me, his lips moving but no sound coming out.

Finally he steps towards me and caresses my cheek. “Just trust me. Please,” he says.

It takes every inch of control I have left not to lean against his hand. I remind myself that I am here because of him, trusting him would be pushing myself deeper into danger and maybe pulling Jeff with too.

I hastily pull away. What choice do I have? I can't go about this forest alone, I don't even know where we are. The only thing I can do is allow him to lead me to wherever place he has in mind.

It hurts knowing that the person who allowed me to open up, the person who I trusted with my life and the person I loved more than anything else betrayed me so. I've tried so hard to push the pain away, ignore it but I've been trying in vain for every time I try, the pain becomes more profound than ever.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Where you belong, with your aunt and her husband. You'll be safe there,” he says.

“Jeff. What about Jeff?” I nearly scream.

“I can't take you back to Jeff.”

I don't say anything for I am afraid that if I go back there, I might lead the men to Jeff.

He starts walking and I follow behind, silently thanking the darkness for its dark wall that prevents him to see the the tears that slip occasionally down my cheeks.

After I was sure that no tears will escape I ask, “Is it true? What your father said about how you're... able to control an element?” This absurd, utter madness.

He takes a while to answer. “Yes. He also said I can influence a person's thoughts and emotions, that is also true.”

I draw in a sharp breath. He hears and quickly says, “I have only used my ability on you once. You were going to see Sophia but you wouldn't tell me where you were going. I... forced it out of you.”

I shake my head. Madness, utter madness.

He stops walking and faces me. “This is real, Kathryn. Us. I love you. I always will for as long as I-”

“Don't. Just don't,” I cut him off. I don't have the strength for this. He took all my strength and left me open, vulnerable and suffering on my own.

He turns away quickly and continues trudging deeper into the forest, me close on his heels. I could've sworn that, when he coughed, he was trying to disguise a sob. The sound tears through me, bruising me further.

I remind myself that it is false. It must be. It is.

We walk in silence for what feels like a long time before my feet give up and I slide to the floor.

“Kathryn?” Harry asks when he doesn't hear my footsteps behind him.

“I'm tired,” I complain.

He leans on the nearest tree, watching me and I am reminded of the days where he used to fetch me from school. My knight without the shining armor.

Suddenly the hairs on my neck stand and my skin starts to prickle. I stand up, looking around.

“What?” Harry asks, pushing himself off the tree.

“Can't you feel that?” Something is wrong.

“No... Kathryn, what is the matter?” He asks, panicked now.

Something is wrong and I can feel it, like a sixth sense.

“Kathryn- Oh!” He cries, as though surprised. He grabs my elbow and pulls me behind him.

“What's-”

“Shh!” He silences me. He reaches in his pockets and grabs something short and sharp. “Here, take this.” He hands me a pocket knife.

“Harry, what is going on?” I hiss.

And before he can reply it appears, walking dangerously slow, its golden eyes on us. Harry steps back, pushing me with him.

Its black sleek fur ruffles as a cold eerie breeze passes by. I grab Harry's arm as it releases a snarl.

“What is that?” I whisper so low I'm surprised he heard me.

“That is a juga,” he says.

“A what?”

It releases another snarl and I gasp. This seems to excite it because it pounces forward, curling its mouth back, showing sharp jagged teeth

“Run! Kathryn, go!” Harry yells as he pulls another knife from his pocket, pointing it at the animal.

“I said GO!”

And I do. I turn on my heel and start running as fast as I can, adrenaline pumping in my veins.

I throw occasional glances behind me, making sure that I'm not followed.

I come to a halt when I see Harry wrestling with the animal. He tries to stab it but it pounces away, its movements catlike. It walks back to Harry, its body as tall as a lion's but as slender as cheetah's.

I start climbing the nearest tree, hoping to find refuge while I try to think of a way to help.

But how? I gasp as the branch under my foot snaps, taking me down with it. I scramble to my feet, cutting my hand as I push myself up.

Then it occurs to me.

I take the broken branch and start sharpening its end with the pocket knife. Soon enough its end looked sharp enough to pierce through skin.

I run back, the sharpened end pointed towards the juga.

“Kathryn, no!” Harry yells as he takes another swing towards the animal.

I jab the branch into the juga's neck and it releases a howl. I take several steps back before I trip.

The juga turns it's attention to me, snarling.

I scream as it pounces on me, sinking its teeth into my raised arm.