girl out of time

23) Sick

I was walking down the labyrinth of ally ways. I'd accidentally (on purpose) not turned up to a meting. Though I was normally required to go, being the next in line and a knight. My father had made it clear that today I was personally supposed to be there. this usually meant that the meeting was about me finding a bride.
I had no desire to get married nor was I interested In Any of the women that my father deemed 'suitable', I hated it! So as soon as I realized his intention of my presence I made it my priority to not be there.
The meeting would have ended about an hour ago so I was presently avoiding my father.
The street I was on forked of into two. The left a grate deal narrower and shadowier then the right. as I made my way right a thump was herd from the left. Pausing I peered down the darker ally, Looking for the cause.
"Hello?"
Nothing.
I stepped down the path, hand ready at the knife on my hip. "hello."
My attention was drawn to a bundle of clothes, why that were there I don't know but I could hear breathing from the bundle.
"Show yourself!"
I reached out to grab the first Peace of clothing. but before I could touch It a cat jumped out from behind it. I let out a long breath, feeling stupid. "what are you doing making a fuss like that?"
He purred in reply, rubbing up against my leg before wondering of down the path.
I shook my head making my way back into the more brightly lit path,but not for long.
Not five steps down the path I heard a set of fast passed footfalls tearing down the street. I looked up in time to see a blur of pink come crashing into me. On instinct my hands snapped up to steady us both.
Her hands also snapped up but not to steady us but to push me off. Her head snapping back and forth in panic, an ugly bruise forming on her check.
"Let go."
She struggled more only making me hold her tighter.
"Sakura what's wrong?"
"Arthur Let GO!"
The more she struggled the tighter my grip got.
What happened ?
Why is she running?

Two sets of heavier footsteps could be heard down the way she came. sakura froze all attempts of a struggle forgotten.
"Sakura what...." Before I could react I was bodily dragged into the vacant ally and slammed into the wall behind the pile of clothes.
"What are you...." "Shhhhh"
Her too worm, shaking hand came up and pressed against my mouth blocking any noise I made.
I stopped struggling letting her keep her hiding place against the wall. the footsteps grew closer and stopped on the edge of the ally. I unconsciously held my breath, leaning further into the wall despite not being involved.
"Where did she go?" Came a deep voice from that direction.
I could feel Sakura trying to quieten her breathing but being so exhausted she was having trouble trying to rain it in, her breathing kept hitching making Her presents known.
"BITCH!" There was a swing and a crash, the dull sound of wood against stone.
Slowly I unwound my arm from hers. pressing her head gently into my shoulder, muffling her breath.
I craned my head out, pressing her further into my chest, trying to get a good look at them without giving her away.
I could see two men. both well built, both welding planks of wood.
One I recognized as a farmer the other had his back to me.
"We've lost her again! I really thought we cornered her this time."
The second man turned to the first. "we would have killed her if you hadn't stopped to gloat. she looked half dead to begin with, if you'd kept her still long enough we probably would have finished her of quickly. But no, the rat found an escape route."
I felt rage boil inside. how dear that treat a woman like that! They should be lynched! Haw dare thy!
"What what do you think she went?"
I lent back into are hiding place holding my breath.
"I'm not shore. the slippery whore may have escaped onto the roof again. haw dose she do that?"
"I don't know but she can not have gone fare. this way."
for an awful moment I cold have sworn that they were coming this way but soon enough the footsteps faded and we were alone.

The moment she was sure they went about to come back she started to struggle but I wasn't going to let her run off after what I had just witnessed.
"What was that? Why are that after you?"
she manged to wiggle out of my grip but I Grabbed Her shoulders keeping her at arms length.
"It's fine. I was to slow this time. that court me by accident."
"How long have they bin doing this?"
"I'd dusent mater. let go."
"No"
For the first time I got a good look at her. her face was flushed with pail lips. a bruse was growing all the way across her left cheek bone.
She was shaking uncontrollably. hair sticking to her face and neck from the shear amount of sweat she was poring. She looked like she was about to Collapse any second but she still wouldn't stop fighting me.
" Sakura stop."
"No let go."
"Sakura stop. your in no fit state to fight me!"
"Le'go!"
"I'm not gone hurt you, just stop fighting me."
Slowly she stopped. Punic finally subsiding.
"Why?"
I looked at her "what?"
"Why... didn't you tern me in?"
Before I could respond she collapsed, leaning heavily into me. i stumbled slightly, using the wall to support us both.
" why dose not matter, right now we need to get you to Alfred." "no." She grabbed my tunic shaking her head feverishly.