Noir

Chapter 3 - Departure

I waited until night fell, keeping up a civil and polite act when speaking with Yixing and his friends, as much as I wanted to sock all of them in the face. Pent up fury bubbled in my chest, and when night fell and I lay down in the bed, I stared so fixedly and so stiffly at the ceiling that I didn't even hear Yixing speak aloud.

"Jikyung," He said again, rolling over to his side. It suddenly occurred to me that he might take his friend's advice right now. "Did you hear me?"

"I'm sorry," I said, snapping out of my reverie. Already, my heart was pounding. "What did you say?"

"I told you goodnight," He said, smiling softly at me. Yixing reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, a gentle smile playing on his lips. I gave a weak smile back.

"Goodnight," I said, rolling onto my back again. I closed my eyes, but still felt his on me.

"Ji - Jikyung..." Yixing moved closer to me, and I opened my eyes with growing alarm. I saw him sit up in bed, his tunic loose. I sat up quickly, my body rigid. "I think...I think that we should take things to the next level."

"What?" I stiffened, my heart rate quickening. "I don't think - "

"We're married, Jikyung," Yixing looked hurt. "I'm your husband, you're my wife. Are you going to die a virgin?"

With you, yes, I wanted to say. I would not give up the only thing I had of value to this man.

"I - I'm not sure."

"Don't be afraid," He said gently, advancing towards me, and placing his hands on my arms. I gasped, realizing that we were only inches apart, and tried to draw away. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"Yixing, no," I laid my hands on his chest and pushed him back, getting out of the bed and standing away from him. "I - I need some air."

Without another word, I left the room, walking fixedly outside, and flinched when I heard him call my name. I turned my head to look behind me, and seeing that he didn't follow, I began to propel myself down the hall, running as quickly as I could. Now was my only chance, the only time that I could even try to escape.

My bare feet pounded against the wooden flooring as I navigated the manor, my heart ready to burst from my chest. It was as if I anticipated capture, or someone ready to stop me, to return me to Yixing, and for him to do as he pleased with me. So I began to run, lifting up my dress and sprinting down the halls, and making it outside. 

Lights flickered on through the windows, and I knew that I had been spotted fleeing. My bare feet stomped through the grass, the skirt of my night dress getting splattered with mud and dirt. The cold, night air was a shock against my skin, and I folded my arms against my chest, stumbling against the ground. My lungs burned and my legs were getting furiously tired. I could hear men moving behind me, and out of my peripherals, I saw a soldier, dressed in black, his face concealed, drawing closer and closer. 

"Milady!" He shouted, grabbing me by the arm, and in the process, pulling me to the ground. I shrieked, hitting the ground with a jolt as he stumbled and fell beside me.

"Don't touch me!" I scrambled to my feet but the solder grabbed me by the hand again.

"It isn't safe out here," He said, getting up. His voice was deep, his eyes, the only feature I could see of his, intense. "You must come back inside."

"I won't!" I tried to flee, but the masked man grabbed me by my arms. "Let me go!"

Voices around us filled the air, and I struggled to free myself from him.

"Jikyung!" I heard my name being called, and before I could speak again, this soldier clamped a hand over my mouth and pulled me behind a cluster of trees.

"Don't panic," He whispered in my ear. "I will keep you safe."