Runaway

***Seyren***

What’s going on?! WHAT HAPPENED!

“Father! Father! What happened! Why are y–”

I-I’m holding a k-knife? W-wait no it’s father’s dagger! It’s covered with blood!

W-why is it in my hand?

I leaped back on the rough floor, letting go of the blood covered dagger, trying to catch my breath as my hands were trembling.

It’s not just the dagger…my entire body…it’s covered in blood too.

No…No, no, NO!

The room was completely surrounded in darkness, besides a beacon of light coming from a single lit candle. The light reflected on my father’s dead body. His eyes were still wide open, but there was no reflection coming from them, they were dead.

The sight of all this blood started to make me nauseous.

I’ve never seen this much blood in my life.

Why can't I remember doing this! I don’t remember anything!

W-wait the chest is opened? The keys are in my pocket to—

Suddenly I could hear a voice coming from outside—”I heard a scream coming from the house!”—though it was barely audible.

Get up, get up!

My legs aren’t moving, I can’t feel any sensation from them either, they’re numb!

A memory of my father appeared in my mind, “Seyren, don’t trust anyone besides your father. No one will hear your words like I do.”

Footsteps.

They're getting closer! I need to le—no, I... I can't...

I can’t remember because I’m being framed right, father?

You’ve warned me how dangerous the outside world is.

But… does that even make sense?

I don’t know. I don’t know what happened.

R-rulvins right?

It must have been them, they used me to get to father!

Father, I don’t want to leave you here, I don’t know where to go…

I’m afraid…this house is all I know…I’m not like you father! I’m not a warrior, I failed you, and due to my incompetence you're dead. I’m weak, I can’t face this world alone…

With my shivering hand I grabbed the blood covered dagger, wiping the blood away with my other hand till the dagger showed a reflection of myself.

Tsk, my left arm is still in pain.

Father, you told me warriors go to an eternal peaceful place right? So would it better me to leave and die like how warriors do right? If so, could I meet you again?

Knock knock.

“Is everything alright in there?”

I didn’t do it, I know I didn’t, but they won’t believe me. Who would believe a child like me anyways?

Suddenly I felt a strong pulse coming from my chest, an indescribable feeling.

What is this…I’ve never felt anything like this. W-wait huh? My legs? I can feel them again, they’re not numb. This has to be a sign to go.

With a dagger in hand, I rose up from the floor, looking at my father one more time with tears stroking down my face.

“I’ll find who did this, father. I’m sorry…” I whispered.

Father told me to trust no one, so I can’t trust whoever’s at the door, even if it’s his friends.

Bang bang.

I could hear multiple voices outside, but one stood out, “We’re going in! Everyone be on guard!”

There aren’t any windows in my room, maybe in my father's room.

Rushing to my father's room I managed to find a window, there it was my exit…

BANG BANG BANG.

The door is about to break down any moment now, I can’t linger around here much longer. I’m too weak to carry my father’s body too, one day I’ll come back…

I opened the window and leaped outside. The thunderstorm was still raging on, the water started to clean the fresh blood all over my body, pouring down to the damp ground below.

W-where do I go now? I’ve always dreamt of living with my father, but I always planned on visiting the village first.

That isn’t a possibility now, I can’t trust them without guidance. Not only that, but they might not trust me either…

A wide forest was in my view, it was so massive that I wouldn’t know my way back if I entered.

I’m afraid…but what choice do I have?

Sprinting ahead I found myself entering the forest, but suddenly I stopped.

The scenery inside the forest was unimaginable, I’ve never been inside a forest before, it felt oddly peaceful. No! What am I doing? I can’t get distracted, I need to find who's responsible for all this.

Then—voices, multiple voices.

I quickly stepped inside a bush and tried to peek through the leaves to hopefully catch a glimpse.

"Are you certain you saw something?" a deep voice asked.

"No doubt at all. Someone ran into the forest. Could be the kid he kept upstairs," another replied.

Do they know of my existence? I’ve never personally met anyone who knew my father, since he told me to stay up when there were guests.

Regardless, I need to move otherwise they’ll find me.

I got myself up and started heading away—but the moment I stepped onto the wet leaves.

Crack!

I stepped on a branch, the voices suddenly stopped. It became eerily quiet.

“Over there!” a deep voice shouted.

As quickly as I heard the first word he spoke I bolted.

My father’s voice flashed in my mind, “Warriors don’t run away, never turn your back on an opponent.”

The truth is…I’m scared…I never wanted to be a warrior…

I just wanted you to be proud of me, I wanted to become your perfect son.

Suddenly I saw something zipping past me, I couldn’t make out what it was.

Then it was multiple things zipping past, I don’t know what they’re called but they definitely seem dangerous! I can’t turn back now—otherwise, I’ll be hit by those things!

A sudden sharp pain— “Agh!!”

The pain of my shoulder exploded, my body lunged forward from the impact. I almost tripped over, but managed to find my footing to continue. I quickly glanced at my shoulder and saw a wooden stick with an iron trip stabbed in my back shoulder.

That’s no sword–how are they managing to fire that with such range? Stop! Just focus on running, questions can be asked later.

If only there was something, if only my father wasn’t dead! I wouldn’t be in this situation!

I kept on running, they kept firing projectiles but I managed to avoid any further damage. It feels like I’ve been running for ages.

Abruptly I stopped—there was nowhere left to run. In front of me, a sheer drop. Below, a rushing river.

There’s no escape, none at all.

Yelling from behind could still be heard, though their projectiles seem to have stop at the moment. Any moment they’ll come and find me…

If I stay I die, If I jump…I could die…

I glared at the dagger, my hands still trembling. I attempt to look at my reflection from the blade once more. The tears are still there…but I don’t have the time to cry. My hair is all scruffy, I’m afraid to jump…I don’t want to die like this.

“The kid is over there! Men get ready to take aim!” a voice yelled behind me.

It’s now or never.

Then—suddenly—her voice.

"One step at a time, Seyren."

My mother’s words barged into my mind.

I took a step—

And let myself fall.