Crimson

Chapter 6: The Rules

Hannah's Perspective:

My heels dug into the dirt as the two boys dragged me further and further away from the entrance of the camp. I kicked and squirmed, hoping it would do some good, but I was surely mistaken. Their grip was tight and unforgiving, just as they were instructed. They continued along the path, not a stutter or hiccup in their step. As they dragged me my head looked up to the sky whilst I released a breath of exhaustion. There's no way I'm going to be able to handle whatever is to come in a few short moments. The instant I looked down from the sky my face met with the dirt as I slid down into a deep pit. I coughed as all I saw around me was a thin cloud of dust. The murmuring of boys surrounded me from above the pit. One at a time I placed my hands steadily on the ground and my feet shortly afterward. Finding the strength to stand up straight I opened my eyes to the sound of someone...or something sliding down into the pit with me. A cloud of dust blew into the air, surrounding whoever had just joined me at the bottom of the pit. I had covered my face with my forearm to protect my eyes from the harmful dust. My heart skipped a beat when the murmuring of the boys ceased almost instantly. I opened my eyes as the dust had nearly cleared. Through the cloud I could see only one thing. I saw a set of piercing green eyes paired with a mischievous smirk; one I could never mistake. They looked straight through me, sending those same chills up my spine. The dust cloud had completely dispersed, leaving Pan standing before me with not one, but two swords. He can't be serious...

Pan spoke;

"If you want to stay here..."

He paused.

"You play by my rules..."

With a sword in his right hand he dragged the blade in the dirt, drawing a line in front of him. He looked up to the boys who spectated above the pit.

"Where's Felix?" Pan called.

The boys exchanged confused looks and shrugged their shoulders. A red headed boy spoke up;

"We haven't seen him all morning..."

Pan scoffed and glanced at the ground for a moment.

"Then I guess you'll have the honor to duel me" he smirked.

I eyed him questionably.

"Duel?" I cross-examined.

He ignored my question and kept his eyes on the ground. Digging the sword deeper into the dirt, he began to walk around me with it dragging behind him until there was a full circle drawn in the pit.

"Stay within the circle—"

He tossed the sword he was dragging up in the air. As it came at me I caught it by the blade. I hissed quietly when it cut across my delicate skin. His emerald eyes locked with mine.

"-Or you lose."

A wisp of air rang in my ears as his reflective silver sword swung an inch in front of my face. I took a few steps back, leaving myself almost outside of the line indicating the circle. My heartbeat began to increase. He sure wasn't messing around. I was nearly petrified to attempt to swing my sword at him...nearly. Let me tell you, swords are way heavier than they appear. How in the world are you supposed to do any damage with a sword if you're a string bean like me? The only way to do any harm would be to drop it on someone ten feet up in the air; that's about it. I tried with all my might and swung the sword in his direction. Though I didn't drop it like a fool, I had completely missed. He chuckled, which only fueled my anger. I attempted another swing at him, this time slightly closer to his torso. But quickly he swung back powerfully, nearly knocking the sword out of my hands. I took a few steps inward to clear myself from the edge of the circle. But I found myself getting closer and closer to the edge with every threatening swing Pan took. I began to feel overwhelmed the more swings I took. The boys above us watched silently, which honestly surprised me. Their obnoxious and rowdy personalities had vanished, leaving them emotionless and plain. It had almost seemed like all of this was rehearsed in a way. I threw another swing toward Pan in which he deflected, pushing me toward the very edge of the circle. Without warning he swung again, cutting a slash on my face close to my hairline. He pushed his sword toward me as I held mine up to shield my skin from the harmful blade. But my strength wasn't enough. He continued to push without mercy, and eventually I laid on the ground for dear life. His face was close to mine as he continued to push his sword against mine. He was crouched on one knee, using his back to push his sword closer and closer to my neck. I was close to being decapitated, and there was only one thing I could think of that might be able to get me out of this. I butted my head against his as hard as I could, making him grunt and release his hold on me. He fell to the ground as I squirmed to get up. However, I wasn't quick enough. He was already on his own two feet, ready to chop me into tiny little pieces. Barely getting to my feet he swung at me one last time, making me fall back to the ground, completely outside the circle. I lost a grip on my sword.