No Greater Love

Chapter Nine

    My mind raced as I placed my hand to my forehead. 'Never see me again? Why would he not see me again? How am I going to escape? When am I going to be tortured?' I stood to pace. As I did a throbbing headache hit me. 'Ugh. It couldn't get any better could it?' Minutes passed painfully slow.

 In my annoyance, I rolled out the dirty cloth once more. My delicate fingers danced over the smudged words. "I love you." I recited. A smile slowly crawled up the sides of my mouth. 'He loves me. No. I won't let myself get attatched. But...' I couldn't bear the thought of hating him. He was too kind, too playful and.....too handsome. 'There! I said it. Happy?' I told myself. With a sigh, my thoughts quickly shifted to my escape. 

   'Okay, I must do it soon. Before they come to....torture me. ' My whole body shuddered at the thought of this. 'the escape is behind the cellar next to the entrance.' I repeated. I turned this phrase over and over in my brain. 'Escape is behind the cellar next to entrance. How am I going to get to it without gaurds seeing me? I have no weapon to conk them out with. How many gaurds are there?' 

   These thoughts were interrupted by the clanging of metal. Looking up I saw a particularily....routund man, with spear in hand. His wine stained lips parted revealing yellowed and some missing teeth. 'Ew.' I thought. " 'Ello there girl. Git rea'y to meet your fate." He laughed. 

    My heart began pounding. 'No! Not now! I'm not ready!' I had no time to say a word but was picked up and flung out the door. I hurridly gained my footing and with a shove I walked forward toward the stairs down which I first came.  'The cellar.' I thought, stopping short at the foot of the stairs. I tried to keep a straight face but I feared utter frenzy was written all over it. "Come on now, master's waitin'."

I shook it off and put on my dignity (what little I had left) and said, "Of course." 

Slowly we walked up the stairs. 'Its lit by torches! Just keep going....' I recognized. 'Now!' Like lightening I grabbed the flaming torch and swiped it furiously at him. I threw it with all the force I had which merely shoved him down the slick stairs. Staring wide eyed I saw my only chance. I bolted up the crumbling stairs. 

"Hey! You Girl! HALT!" I heard gruff voices shout. I had no time to turn to look at them, nor did I want to. My escape waas the only thing on my mind. 'The cellar!'  There, by the steep stairs we first traveled down was a rotting door with a rust pull handle. As fast as I could I entered and shoved the door closed. "No!" I heard the men exclaim. "Get her!" Seeing the heavy stuffed wooden couch, I threw my body weight against the side which flung it in front of the door. I placed averything I could carry or push in front of the door. The small book shelf, the desk, and the many barrels of grain and wine. 

"What's going on? LET ME IN!!" They screamed at the top of the lungs. 

'Never.' I thought. Twas the perfect comeback if I do say so myself. But enough of that. 'Now time to find the escape. My eyes scanned the room for a door or window through which I could depart. But...the room had neither! 'WHAT?!' I scoured the area--looking under tables, behind shelves and under baskets. 

My blood ran cold as someone's warm breath was felt on my neck as someone said raspily, "Do you need something li'l girl?"