Remember Me

Chapter 9

                                                                          CHAPTER 9

               Rosalie couldn’t believe the man in front of her. Despite claiming he knew her, she doubted she could have forgotten such face. There was not one detail she could recognize from her past, and it scared her.

                The man saw her discomfort and took a step forward. He was slightly disappointed she didn’t remember, but reminded himself time passed quickly, they saw each other last time when they were children. She was a grown, strong woman now, nothing like the one he used to know.

                ‘’Who are you?’’ She asked, ashamed of her short memory.

                ‘’A childhood friend. We used to play together by the river every Sunday.’’

                She was suspicious of him, she never played by the river because her father made her stay home and play near it. Checking behind her to see if she left something, she turned away and gave him an apologetic smile.

                ‘’I’m sorry, you must have mistook me for someone else.’’ She carried on walking like nothing happened, hearing him calling her name. Don’t look back, don’t look back, she chanted inside her head to convince herself he’ll give up soon if she ignores him. Thankfully, it stopped when she quickened her pace and swiveled between the intimidating trees. Unscrewing the cap, she took a gulp of water, immediately starting to feel better once refreshed.

                A pang of guilt was on her conscience, she ran away from a man who claimed to know her without thinking twice. He knew her name, but it might have been a simple coincidence, or she was too stubborn to admit she was wrong. The green fence wall came into her sight and she slowed her pace, trying to remember the day she came here with Darius.

There are multiple slits, but most of them have poisonous thorns hidden. Remember the way you entered, he said. She wasn’t sure which gap was the right one, but had only three options, other dismissed. Instead of trying her luck, she threw a pebble she found on the ground through every hole. Only one safely made it to the other side, so it was probably the right way.

                Pushing her body through, she noticed it was a bit harder than the first time, her body gained a lot of muscle. She looked back once she made it to the other side, trying to catch sight of any intruder. The man must have given up, she hoped.

                A low howl echoed in the meadow, heir on her arms rising at the terrifying sound. She wasn’t afraid, but confused. The animal must have been hurt badly, because the howl was weak and broken. With a sigh, she tried to track the sound source, knowing it may cost her. I can’t just leave it to die, she thought. It must have been the hunters which got more often those days. Mercilessly, they captured, tortured and killed animals, but not for food, but for fun. Just the thought sickened her, making her furious and determined to take care of it as well. If she survived the kingdom attack, of course.

                Rosalie walked slowly not to scare the animal, or attract attention to her by the hunters. She scraped her arms on the sharp branches and thorns that got in her way, but couldn’t stop. The howl got louder with every step she took deeper into the woods. The gloomy atmosphere chilled her to bone.

                Her instinct told her to run and don’t glance back, yet her heart told her to help the poor animal. Torn between those two, she chose something in between: first try to find the animal, help it and run away if it’s ferocious. Finally, she saw a silhouette slumped against a tree, heavily breathing. Breath came out in short, painful gasps and she hurried her step, seeing there wasn’t time for hesitation. As she got nearer, she got a good look at the animal and subconsciously took a step back, widening her eyes.