Acting Ladylike | On Hold

✩ T W E L V E ✩

  Okay, so perhaps jumping from the inside of a moving train car was not one of my best decisions.

  How do I know?

  Maybe it's the fact that I'm currently rolling down a steep incline at an outrageously fast speed, passing over scratchy flowers and brambles with a jewelry box clutched tightly to my chest, uncomfortably digging into my flesh as I continue to whiz farther away from the train tracks.

  There's also the muffled voice coming from somewhere nearby, shouting the words 'bloody insane' at me every chance it gets.

  I suppose I am kind of insane.

  Just when I figure it can't get much worse, the land starts to even out and I go flying into a pool of freezing cold water.

  I struggle to keep my head above the water as I let out a loud squeal for help. One of my arms is still securely wrapped around the box, holding on for dear life as the other thrashes around violently to keep myself afloat. If this is currently all I have of my possessions, I intend on holding on to it.

  My calls are answered when another splash is heard a little bit away from me and a few seconds after that a head pops up next to me.

  "C-can't swim!" I sputter to Mr. Ashworth, trying to stop myself from choking on lake water.

  He lets out a sigh before speaking, seemingly having absolutely no trouble keeping his head above the water.

  "The land is right there," he unhelpfully informs me, pointing forward.

  "And I can't s—!" My words are cut off with my thrashing and sputtering

  He effortlessly climbs out the water onto the grassy bank before holding out his hand to me. I struggle a bit to take it, but after a few tries, I'm finally able to grasp it.

  He pulls me up onto land with ease, sending me a somewhat amused expression when he notices me trying to shake all the water off like a dog.

  What an arrogant—

  "Hey, now I've saved your life once."

  "And I've saved yours...three times. Don't get...cocky." I hiss back between coughs, dropping to the ground dramatically.

  He lets out a low, disbelieving chuckle before turning around and letting out a loud groan.

  I glance over my shoulder to see what he's looking at, my eyes widening when I see the train, a mere speck in the distance.

  "Oh my—!" I yelp before struggling to my feet.

  I quickly start trying to move towards the train, but Mr. Ashworth grabs my arm and pulls me back, his other hand grabbing my other arm as well when I try to shake off his grip.

  "Unless you think you can move at the speed of a moving train, I advise you not to waste your energy."

  "Don't be an idiot! We can't just stay by this bloody lake forever!"

  "Don't speak to me that way."

  I glare at him over my shoulder before trying to move toward the train again.

  "Let go!"

  He forcefully turns me around to face him. My panicked eyes meeting his rather calm ones.

  How does he still look good with wet hair?! And why is he so calm? We're stranded in the middle of nowhere!

  "Miss Davenport, listen to me. You cannot catch up to a train at full speed because you are a human. It's scientifically impossible."