Aɪᴛʜᴇʀɪᴏᴜs

Chapter 4

and some days a forever lasts for a few seconds.

                                                                           - Lewis carroll

| Floria |
| Florian Forset |

Unknown POV

I walked through the tall grass, pushing them apart as gently as i could, with silent footsteps I approached the man whom I targeted.

as soon as I walked out of the tall grass, expecting suffocating pitch black smoke but to my surprise I was met with pitch black eyes, tear filled eyes. Seeing that sparkly salt water in those black marble eyes made my heart pang with pain and worry. Why am I feeling this way?.....It must be guilt since I now realise that I've shot a faultless man. I should've confirmed my suspicion before taking action, I thought as I clenched my fist hard, my skin turning white from the lack of blood.

I should have step forward to help him but I was lost, captivated in his eyes, I couldn't seem to move from my place, everything had gone silent all I could hear was my slow thumping heartbeat in my chest and his erratic breathing, resonating through my entire being. My surroundings, my vision was a blur; only focusing the man with black luring eyes.

I suddenly snapped out of my trance when I saw he was about to lose his consciousness and balance, ready to hit the earthy ground. I moved forward before he could within a second and caught him in my arms, holding him tightly so that he doesn't fall, careful to not touch the arrow, to push it further down his heart. his.. Heart.. my..

I run my palm on his forehead, checking if he has the early symptoms of fever, it seems like he doesn't have a fever yet, good. As I was about to move my hand away, my eyes landed on his face, my hand froze......thin slightly plump lips, button nose, slightly chubby cheeks yet defined cheekbones, a soft scar on his left cheek, jaw sharp, and his eyes......few strands of hair were in front of his eyes, his eyes were half closed, still in the process of losing consciousness. The eyelashes lining his eyes were long, thick and dark.

I couldn't help but slowly move those strands of hair out of his eyes, pushing it back, my fingers lingering on his scalp. I got a clearer look of his face and yet again I got captivated, from this close I could see all the flaws he didn't have.

To my astonishment, it seems as he still had strength left in his body and didn't lose his sanity as he closed upon my neck, holding tightly on my shoulders for support, smearing his blood all over and wrinkling my kimono.

As he neared upon my ear, the strong smell of raspberries, pine and blood invaded my nose, his irregular breathing loud in my ear, hot puffs of air spreading all over my neck and ear painting it red, shivers ran down my spine and I felt myself release a shaky breath, my hand tightening it's hold on his waist.

He then spoke in a hushed, deep voice, slightly cracking "haha seems like your arrow hit it's mark....Right at my heart" I could feel his chest vibrate lowly at each word he spoke, goosebumps arose all over my skin, my breath caught in my throat, my eyes widening the slightest bit, my heart felt like it would jump out of my chest. I could feel my face heat up and I could not stop it, I bit my lips and as bizarre as it seems I could feel my lips quirk above, my eyes crinkling up ever so slightly into gentle crescents, my cheek's wrinkling and stretching my lips up, protruding out...I was smiling.... Who is this man? And what is he making me feel?.....

As soon as those words left his chapped lips, he fell limp in my  arms, the weight of his body increasing in my arms, showing his true weight; his consciousness finally stopped fighting.

Glancing at his face, he seemed so calm, like he's in an endless sleep, free from everything, like he'll never wake up, the thought brought my small smile turning downwards into a frown, my eyebrows furrowing.