"Excuse me," She called to the handsome man as she approached the odd-looking pair. She stopped a few paces away and glared at him, noticing his features were more chiseled and defined in the sunlight.
He stood a bit taller as if he owned the town...
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"Owen, back up!" The man screamed before throwing a rock at the glass. The young child ran forward, and he was lifted through the shattered window. The man was careful not to drag his legs against the shards of glass that remained around the edges. The houses were crumbling from the flames that danced around the village.
"Where is she?" The child screamed in a panic, his head bobbing from side to side as people scrambled around the area, "Where is Darcy?" He asked as he was placed to his feet.
The older man covered the child and ducked toward the ground as an arrow was shot in their direction, "Quiet!" The older boy demanded roughly as he guided the child to duck behind the stone wall of the home, "I will come back for her. Right now, I have to save you."
"Where is my mom --?" The child cried, but the older man stopped him from turning his head.
"Don't look there," He demanded in an urgent tone, saying, "Keep your eyes closed, and stay quiet."
He lifted the child to his hip and searched for the right opportunity to run. Men on horseback surrounded the area. There had to be over fifty men in hooded disguise. Bodies rested lifelessly on the streets, the men were fighting to kill, "Listen to me, Owen." The man demanded as he scanned the area, eyeing the trees to the southern edge. He braced the child against him, "Whatever happens, keep running and don't look back."
Seven years old and running for his life, the pair snuck toward the woods with no knowledge of where they were headed. He ran with the young child in his arms, and the sound of an arrow being released from a bow confirmed his suspicions – They were being followed.
"I could spare the child, but you won't be so lucky, James," A male voice called from behind them.
A laugh echoed through the trees, and they kept running through the darkness. Owen tucked his head into James' shoulder, peeking up for a moment to see a hooded figure on horseback following behind them at a steady trot, amused by their cowardice.
"Keep running forward," James shouted moments before placing the child onto his feet, "I'll find you."
Owen listened, running forward without a pause as James turned to face the being that haunted him, "You brought this upon yourself." The voice grew louder as the figure approached him, but he stood confidently.
"Demon, I've done nothing to you!"
"You broke her," The man growled, pulling an arrow from his quiver, saying, "You changed her, and you're going to pay."
"I fight fair," James pulled his sword from its scabbard and watched as the hooded man dropped his bow to the ground. He jumped from his horse, and pulled a sword from its holster. It had ridged edges and looked to be hand crafted. James stood taller, "Do your worst."
