Victoria

Chapter 5 "Awake"

"I need to tell you something" I said hesitantly.

"What is it? You literally dragged me from my home at first light" Matthew said.

"Well, let me rephrase that. I need to show you something" I said.

Matthew looked at me with worried eyes. To be honest, I was panicking. Last night I kept thinking about it over and over in my head.

"I lifted the bow up with the arrow in place. Calming my breathing down and trying to keep my hands still as possible. Focusing on the animal, I pulled the arrow back. I aimed and  let it fly through the air.

A second later my ears were filled with screams. Loud and distressed screams.

Human screams?"

His screams rang in my ears. Which is why I couldn't sleep last night. You could see the dark bags under my eyes.

"Alright, show me" Matthew said hesitantly.

I didn't reply, but instead walked in the forest. Matthew quickly followed behind me. We passed the hut I worked in where I found the bow and arrow.

We quickly came to the spot where we met that night engulfed in intimacy. When we finally came to the entrance of the cave, I stopped. I turned to face Matthew.

"Remember, you said you love me, right?" I asked.

"Yes Victoria, you're scaring me. What is it?" He asked.

"Alright, follow me"

I pushed the branches out of the way and stepped into the cave. I stood by the entrance watching the unconscious man laying by the fountain.

Matthew came in and looked at me. His eyes quickly traveled to the place I was looking at.

"Victori..."

"It was an accident" I interrupted.

Matthew walked to the man and looked back at me.

"Victoria, I love you, but what the fuck?!" He beamed.

"It was an accid-"

"Did you shot him?" He looked at me.

I didn't answer.

"Victoria!"

"Fine, yes yes I did!" I started pacing back and forth,"I saw a bow and some arrows by the water hut and I thought I could show everyone that women aren't so useless as they think so I quickly went to shoot something I saw moving in the bush" I gasped for breath, "and then I heard human screams and saw a man laying with the same arrow I shot".

I could see the panick in Matthew's face.

"Alright, it's okay. We just need to keep him here until he's recovered. If anyone finds out about this, then not even Baker can save you"

"I know Matt, but I need your help to disinfect the wound. Otherwise he might-" I couldn't say it.

Matthew looked at me with stressed eyes, but a hint of pity.

He sighed.

"You may not like what I'm going to say, but it might be better to let him d-"

"Matthew, no!" I yelled.

"You need to understand, if he heals he'll probably tell everyone and again, Baker can't save you this ti-"

"Victoria!" We heard someone yelling in the distance.

Matthew and I stared at each other in dead silence.

"Speaking of the devil" I said.

"Victoria!" Baker yelled, again.

"I better go, before he comes in and sees anything he shouldn't" I said before walking out of the cave.

"Baker?" I called.

"oh, there you are" I heard from behind me.

"I see you love coming here?" He asked.

"Is there any reason why you're here?" I asked blatantly, ignoring his question.

"Well, there is som-"

"ahh!" Someone yelled from inside the cave.

We looked at each other, him being suspicious and I being scared. He moved towards the entrance, but I stopped him by standing in front of him.

Deafening silence followed as he looked at me. Now he knows I'm hiding something.

"Victoria" he said in a serious tone.

"Move" he ordered.

"Excuse me?"

He pushed me out of the way whilst saying:"This isn't the time for your uprising".

I wanted to yell at him, but he was already inside. I ran after him to find Matthew and my fatal hanging vanished.

"I'm geussing you just don't want me in here anymore" he said, "Fine I'll leave you alone, but be at the town hall by noon, it's urgent".

I walked after him as he left, seeing that he truly was far enough. I entered the cave to call for Matthew.

"Here!" he Shouted.

I walked to the fountain where I saw a clearing covered with bushes. I smiled.

"I see you found my secret, inside my secret cave" I lightly laughed.

"Haha" he mocked me, "now get this man of, of me before I hurt him even more".

I quickly took hand of the stranger and saw that his eyes were wide open. I moved, or rather dragged, him on the ground as he quickly moved to get away from me, but stopped as the pain in his leg increased.

"I see that's what made the noise" I stated.

"What did Baker want?"Matthew asked.

"Oh well, he just said we have to be back by noon. Apparently it's something urgent"I said.

"So they are coming here..."Matthew said unknowingly.

"Who?"

"Excuse me?"

"Who is coming here?"I asked curiously.

"This morning before you came barging in my house, the men hunting saw three roman ships a little further from here..."

My brows started to furrow.

"It looked like they were war ships..."

+++