The Lost Princess

XXXVII

Peter

I splash the water on my face. It's been three days since I left the palace. I haven't changed my clothes and I barely ate my food. My horse was getting tired since we had been riding nonstop since we left. It was time for him to take a break.

I pat him on the back, "I'll be right back buddy; stay here." He neighs in response and continues to gulp down the lake's water. I start to walk around the area and sketching out the areas on a piece of paper. This entire area was to wild to ever chart a formal map so I decided to do it while looking for her. In my aimless wandering and calling out her name; I discover  a thin layer smoke arising from behind a tree, similar to a chimney.

I follow the strand of smoke which leads to what looks like an abandoned cabin. I soon realize this area used to be the grounds of one of the royal cabins used for if there was ever an invasion or just simply to get away. The entire concept had been scrapped a while ago and the cabin was left in ruins. I walk over and open the door. There is a kitchen with tile flooring and a chair bent over as if someone fell. I walk over and notice the silhouette of the man is vaguely familiar.

I turn him over and realize that is Tom. He is knocked out cold with the back of his head wet with some blood. I notice that a floorboard with some blood. Someone probably hit him with it and cleaned out his pockets. I walk through the kitchen and notice a door. I open it and am immediately startled with the smell of cigarettes, burning flesh, and alcohol. I notice and slanted wooden post where the smell seemed to be the thickest. I gasp.

There's a small pool of blood that had some cigarette fragments. An empty bottle of vodka stood practically empty. A small piece of fabric is laid near the blood. Ashlyn.

Ashlyn

I keep running through the woods. I'm surviving on little food and my foot is killing. Thankfully my wrap has yet to fall off so I most likely don't have an infection. I stop at a clearing with a fork. Left or right. I grab Tom's map from my pocket. I think it's right that goes to town.

I turn right and keep running. I pass a blueberry bush. I can't eat; I must get to town and get home. I hear horses, "Help! Please help me!" I scream to the top of my lungs. The footsteps get louder and I sigh of relief.

But relief has yet to come. Deliah pops up through the woods and stares me down. She dismounts the horse and cackles, "Little princess can run."

She runs to tackle me and shoves me to the ground. The gun flings to the side. I scream and slap her in the face. She starts to throw punches which I narrowly avoid. This is it. I'm going to die.

I grab a tree branch and wave it around, trying to scratch her face. Deliah yelps as the cuts her eye and down her lip. Blood drips from her face. "You bitch!" She charges and we're both knocked off a very small cliff. I scream as I tumble down the muddle slope. I flop on the floor but thankfully don't hit my head. I look over at Deliah and gasp.

Blood squirted through her shirt and her eyes were opened. A large branch had empaled her stomach and was protruding out of her chest. Her head also bashed against the rock and blood is dripping on the ground. She's dead. The nightmare is over.

I stare at the clear blue skies and notice that there's a heart shaped cloud. I smile. I hear a scream. I think it's my name. I hear someone sliding down the cliff and picking me up. "Ashlyn, are you okay?" It's Peter.

I smile and turn to him, tears in my eyes, "It's over." My eyes roll back and I fall unconscious.

And I was finally at peace.

Sorry I took soo long to update. I've just been busy and also I forgot sometimes. Oop, please forgive me.

- Leslie 💕