When You Run Away

Chapter 2: When You Meet A Stranger.

I hugged myself tightly as I walked in the woods. I looked up at the clear black sky. The moon was barely half-way there and every sound send shivers down my spine. I wasn't used to this...any of this. The cold wind was biting it's way through my skin as I hugged myself even harder. The rustling of leaves, crackling of twigs, and gushes of the wind were enough to get me trembling with fear.

"This place is not safe. Leave... now."'

I heard a commanding and deep voice growl. The voice made me jump and I looked around the woods frantically. It was too hard to see in the dark. I bit my lower lip, trembling with fear.

"Whoever you are, stay back! I have weapons with me!" I shouted, panicking. Yea right, like he was going to fall for that.

I'm going to die, aren't I? 

"You will regret not leaving, princess."

The deep voice taunted me. I could feel the goosebumps pop out of my skin.

"Please don't kill me!" I whimpered weakly. And princess? What princess?

The voice didn't reply. He was gone. It was gone. I was literally hyperventilating now, standing in the same spot, unable to move an inch. Right now all I wished was that I would never have to hear that voice again.

I hid under a tree that was big enough to let me lean against it. I pulled out my pillow and placed it behind my back as I rested against the tree. I was hoping to get some sleep since I was completely exhausted from all the running. But I just kept on thinking and thinking about how mom must've called the whole searching force by the next morning, and dad would immediately return from Italy as soon as he would hear about my sudden disappearance after the whole adoption dilemma.

Mom must be so worried. I felt guilty, confused, angry and scared all at the same time. Thankfully, school was off for another three weeks here in Virginia because of the extremely cold weather. I shivered as the cold wind slapped my skin, I was stupid enough not to pack any sweaters. I guess I was way too upset to even think straight.

Before I knew it, I was crying uncontrollably. I missed everything and everyone already. I had to stay strong. The wind blew again and half of my organs would've probably already frozen by now.

"It's too cold. It's too cold. It's too cold. It's too cold." I muttered to myself repeatedly, crying and hugging myself tighter.

As soon as I closed my eyes, a warm fabric fell on my face from nowhere. My eyes immediately snapped open and I found a black, warm and inviting sweater thrown on my face.

"W-w-who's there?!" I whimpered, still shivering uncontrollaby.

"Stop being so stubborn and put it on before you die of the cold, princess." 

The same deep and husky voice growled at me. Without taking another moment to think I hastily put the warm sweater onto myself and sighed in relaxation. I felt warm now. Very warm... and the sweater had an amazing and manly scent to it, as if he had taken it off just now.

"Wait, where are you? Who are you? What are you? And why do you keep calling me princess?!" I shot a dozen of questions into the air.

There was no reply at all and before I had any more energy to think, my draping eyes slowly closed completely and I fell into a deep slumber.

*Next morning*

I woke up to the blinding sun, streaming through my eyes. I winced at the sun that faced me directly. I slowly got up and all of yesterdays events replayed into my mind.