Tainted

Chapter 5 - The Clearing

I woke up to the sound of water flowing, for a moment I was confused as to where I was. Thinking I was back in my high-rise apartment in New York City, overlooking the crowds down below. Taking a deep breath, the fresh smell of pine overwhelmed my senses. Slowly, I began to open my eyes and was greeted by blue skies.

I shifted around, noticing that the ground was much more softer than usual. As I got up I finally took in my surroundings. I was laying on soft grass right beside a pool of water, with water cascading down the cliff that was off to the side of me into it. It was a clearing, surrounded by the dark ancient trees of the forest but seemed completely out of place. The sun was directly shining on to the glistening water and green grass, as the rush of the waterfall seemed strangely quiet.

I got up and realized there was something draped over top of me. It was a soft silky white cloth fashioned as a cloak, hanging around my shoulders. I smiled to myself as Vasyl had finally given something to cover myself with. I wonder how he made such things appear out of no where?

Looking around again, and noticing that Vasyl wasn't anywhere to be seen, I took this as a chance to finally clean myself. Ever since getting here, I hadn't had the fortunate chance to bathe myself. So I quickly shrugged off the cloak and my dress. Leaving my underwear on, just in case Vasyl showed up. I would just have to wear my dress afterwards and wait for them to dry.

Kicking off my moccasins, I hurried towards the edge of the pool. My toes curling in excitement, without another thought I jumped into the pool.

I was completely unprepared for how cold it was as soon as I submerged myself under the water. I instantly froze and felt my body beginning to numb. I swam back up as fast as I could, and broke free at the surface gasping for air. Swimming back to shore, with chattering teeth I lifted myself up on to a ledge and started rubbing my hands on my arms trying to warm them up.

"What are you doing?" I heard Vasyl's cold voice from across the clearing.

"I-I-I wa-was g-going for a-a swi-swim." My teeth chattered as I tried finishing my sentence.

Vasyl's eyes roamed down towards my body and I suddenly felt very self conscious. I probably looked like a washed up raccoon. My usual long silky brown hair was tangled in knots and I had various cuts and bruises from the journey so far on my arms and legs thanks to the short dress I was wearing. I also should have just stayed in my dress since being caught in my skimpy black lace undergarments was probably a bad idea.

Giving out a sigh of exasperation as he usually did when I did something idiotic, he turned around and stuck one of his arms out with a bag. "I was able to go to a nearby village and find you some clothes, they aren't of the finest quality but they should do for now."

I sat on the ledge for a minute or two still in shock. Vasyl had gone out of his way to get me clothes? But then what he said registered in my head and all previous self consciousness dissipated.

"You went where?!" I half screamed at him while getting up and stalking my way up to where he was standing with his back faced towards me.

"A village nearby." He said cooly.

I stepped around him to face him. "A village?! A damn village?! You couldn't have taken me? Don't they have beds to sleep on? Or-or proper food to give travellers?!" I screamed at him. How dare he take me through the forest dragging me around like an animal while there's been perfectly decent places we could've stayed at.

"I cannot take you into the villages." Was his response, as his eyes hardened.

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because they would kill you as soon as they saw you." He replied.

"Okay well, umm, I guess that's fine then." I looked towards the ground, talk about awkward. "Why exactly would they want to kill me? They don't even know who I am."