I belong to me

Taken in darkness

I was shocked. Go with him? No thanks, I like my life. I backed away and my back touched the door. I reached for the door handle.

"You hurt my feelings, Isobel." The elf, Malik, said and faked a sad face.

"I don't want to go with you, please go away." My voice faltered and I my legs started to shake when I touched the door handle.

"Fine, have it that way." Malik's relaxed demeanor changed and I could almost see his green eyes blazing with anger and frustration. There goes his patience. I felt as if the time had slowed down when I pressed the handle down, pushed myself in and just when I was closing it I lost the grip and the door swung open. Malik stood in the doorway and I ran behind our table, grabbing a knife and held it towards him.

"Stay back!" I yelled. I was completely terrified and I gripped the knife harder making my knuckles starting to turn white.

"I'm becoming weary of this now, Isobel." He stretched out his slender hand. "Come with me and you won't have to worry about anything anymore."

"I'm perfectly fine here." I said through gritted teeth. Now he was just making me angry.

Malik retreated his outstretched hand while giving me a cold stare that made me shiver though it was warm inside. The little cabin was engulfed in darkness with only a beam of moonlight in the open doorway. I quickly pondered on what I should do. Throw the knife at him? No, I would definitely miss and perhaps it would anger him more or just give him a weapon against me... Think, Isobel! I panicked and searched the room. Malik slowly began to round the table without breaking the stare.

"Put the knife down, Isobel, before you hurt yourself." His voice was dead serious and calculating.

"Make me." I spat out, surprising myself. His stare got, if not impossible, harder and my mind was racing with an escape plan.

"Oh, I will." I didn't have time to react when he leapt across the table and grabbed the knife from me. I stumbled back, surprised, when Malik regained his posture and waved the knife at me.

"Satisfied?" He asked and smirked. I swallowed hard and my heart raced.

Without thinking I acted on pure instinct and ran towards the door. I pushed myself and kept thinking that I would fall or that he would catch me, but it didn't happen. I just ran. I ran out the door and through the forest. The wind whistled in my ears, my feet leapt over roots and my dress was ripped by boney tree fingers. The moon lit up my path before me and everything beside me was a blur. I was in a state of pure panic and fright and I just wanted my brother. Would he find my body in the forest? I could see his face I front of me, pale and worried. He would see the wide open door and look for me. He would blame himself for my death. I'm not dead yet. I thought and kept on pushing myself while I tried to listen for noises behind me. Was he running behind me? I didn't dare to look. My lungs were screaming for air. Just a little longer. Suddenly my legs gave away and I landed roughly on the ground, covered in soil. My chest heaved and I tried to get up but failed. Please, god damnit! I heard something closing in. With panic I dragged myself into a sitting position behind a big tree. Please, please, please. I squeezed my eyes together, trying to get away from my nightmare. I heard something that sounded like footsteps softly walking my direction. The owner walked almost deliberately slow.

"Come out, Isobel. I won't hurt you." His voice was soft, almost calming, but it turned my heart to ice. I held my breath. Did he know where I was?

The footsteps stopped a few meters from me. It felt as someone had squeezed my heart, crushing it under the pressure and the blood roared in my ears. The almost primitive fear made my body want crawl away and run from this beast. That's what he felt as to me. Like a predator sniffing out his pray. I willed my body to stay put, knowing that it was the best chance that I'd got. I didn't have the strength to run anymore. My eyes were still closed and it felt like I could hide like that, but if I opened my eyes he might just find me. Suddenly I heard the footsteps again, but this time they went in another direction. A feeling of relief washed over me, like cold water on a hot day. I could almost laugh from the tension, but kept my mouth shut. I waited for a little while before standing up on unsteady legs and leaned against the rough tree. I strained my ears to the sounds around me but all I heard were nature sounds. The wind rattled the leaves in the trees and I could hear an owl in the distance. Slowly I peeked out behind the tree, almost expecting his dark stare watching me, but I only saw trees. My muscles relaxed and I slowly backed away, carefully avoiding any branches that might give me away. This would soon be over and I could get back to my... I suddenly came to a halt with something sturdy. Expecting to find a tree I turned around and instantaneously my head tilted back and my blue eyes met his green ones. I became numb and my body wanted to flee and fall apart all at the same time. No. He was gone! And I was so quiet. My head kept spinning with thoughts. Instinctively I backed up making my back hit the tree behind me. He smirked at me and crossed his arms which only made him look more intimidating. His brown hair had been tucked away at one side, revealing the distinct pointy elf ear. That, his height and something in his eyes was proof of the elven blood running through his veins.

"You don't have to be afraid of me." Malik said in an almost eerie voice.

"I don't know you." I blurted out and moved sideways.

"But you will, Isobel." He sounded so sure of himself that it made my heart clench, and I knew that he would never stop. But I would not give up.

"I don't want to, so please leave me alone." My voice sounded very small next to his dark voice. He sighed, looking like he had an internal battle going on, and a few emotions flew across his face. Frustration, anger and then determination. He stretched out his hand towards me. I just looked at it.

"Come with me, and you will have everything that your heart desires."

"What my heart desires is for me to go home and for you to go away." I don't know what gave me such courage, but I kept on moving away from him. Something in his eyes darkened and thought about running but decided that backing away was my best move right then.

"I'm really tired of this ungrateful attitude of yours. Come. Now." He emphasized each word and my heart hammered in my chest.

"No." I said with all my strength. His green eyes blazed with fury and that's when I decided to flee. I turned and ran. Pushing my legs yet again, while the wind tugged at my hair and my dirty dress flew around me. I knew that the next time we'd meet I wouldn't get this chance again so I sprinted between the trees while going weaker by every second. Suddenly my foot got caught in a twisted root making me fall and I reached out my hands to break the fall, only to be caught my something, or should I say someone. I was in the strong arms of Malik. I squirmed and kicked when I realized and screamed in frustration. He then pressed me up against a tree with his hand over my mouth, his body holding me into place while his other hand reached for the dagger I'd just noticed hanged of his belt. I panicked, screamed in his hand and thrashed. I didn't want to die. Why me? Why now? My head throbbed and adrenaline surged through my body. I wanted to see my brother again. He would be alone and wonder what happened to me. Tears began to stream down my face and suddenly Malik held up his other hand in front of my face, with the palm open revealing some kind of dust. I stared at in confusion when he suddenly blew it in my face, making it swirl around me and entered my nose and making me blink rapidly. I suddenly began blinking slower while my limbs started to become heavy. My legs started to buckle under me but before I fell I could feel myself being lifted, with my cheek resting on something warm.

A dark voice chuckled and I could feel myself slip away before darkness engulfed me completely.

Thank you for reading this far! More to come...