A Desperate Escape

I ran through the forest, trying to find my way back to town. It was a trial in itself, I found myself running out of stamina fast. To make matters worse, the darkness made everything look the same. I wish I had a lantern, but then again this is a blessing in disguise. The darkness is the only thing keeping me safe from-

“We know you’re out there, show yourself!”

I froze, they managed to catch up to me so quickly. I stood right on that spot, I wish I had someplace to use as cover. However, if I move at all they’ll notice where I am. All I could do was stand there and pray they would notice me, and that’s when I saw it. It was barely noticeable, but I saw a figure jumping from tree to tree. The figure looked around nervously, as if they were searching for a lost item.

“I gotta find her quickly, I don’t want Ebony to take away my pay again.”

It was the shadow that I managed to escape, I sighed for relief inwardly. If it’s just her I should be able to-

“You really thought we were that stupid?”

I felt a chill run down my spine, the next moment an arrow pierced my left shoulder. I let out a scream due to the fear and the pain. The green haired assassin turned in my direction, and gave a goofy smile upon seeing me.

“There you are, I was worried you escaped.”

I had no choice, I risked everything and put all my energy into running. The naive assassin followed behind from the tree tops, I made use of that and started weaving between the trees. Eventually she lost sight of me, so I used that chance to escape. Soon I made it to a river, I fell to my knees and tried to take a sip. Only for me to almost fall over into the water, I ripped the arrow from my shoulder and realized it was tipped with poison. I ripped off a piece of my sleeve and wet it, I then placed it on my shoulder and squeezed the poison out. I felt some vitality return to me, but that didn’t restore any hope to my eyes. That’s when I heard a twig snap behind me.

“Keep facing that direction, if you move you’re dead.”

I stayed still, sweat beaded my skin as if I was covered in water. This is it, I’m gonna end up dead. That bastard lord succeeded in killing all of my family, me included. Right when I assumed my life was forfeit, the black haired shadow addressed me.

“Now see, I’m pretty annoyed right now. I should kill you right now, but then my idiot subordinate won’t be able to make up for her mistake. So here’s how things are gonna happen.”

I heard her footsteps behind me, suddenly there was a hand on top of my head.

“You’re going to run straight forward into those woods, I’ll call her in to chase you down. If she kills you, the problem is solved. However, if you happen to survive…”

The black haired shadow brought her face close to mine. I could see it in her eyes, they held nothing but contempt for me. In those blood red eyes, I saw death itself waiting for me.

“...you better hope we never cross paths again. Now, go!”

I ran, I stumbled through the river in front of me and ran away. I could hear the black haired shadow calling her associate, soon I could hear her rushing towards me. Soon I felt a chill down my spine, in the next moment I felt the slight feeling of something sharp tracing down my back.

“Phooey, I almost got you!”

She almost cut my back open, I felt a trickle of blood flow down my back. It was only a graze, but it hurt as the cold air touched it. I screamed, I begged for it all to stop as I ran. I bumped into a tree and ended up hurting my face and breaking my glasses. I couldn’t take it anymore, I fell to my knees and cried. I could hear the green haired shadow slowing down, then she sat next to me.

“Hey, are you okay? That looked like a bad fall.”

“*Sniff* Go away! Please leave me alone!”

“...Sorry, I can’t do that.”

She sat next to me silently, I whimpered as I held my bloody nose. Then she gave me an innocent smile and looked at me.

“I know, you tripped accidentally so I’ll give you a free headstart.”

“*Sniff* Y-you will?”

“Yep, now go you got thirty seconds.”

“...Okay, thank you.”

I nervously got up and hobbled away, as I made some distance.

“Gods, did you let that woman get away?”

“I gave her a thirty second headstart?”

“*Sigh* Mavis this is why you’re still a virgin when it comes to murder. If you don’t get up and hunt that wench don’t, I’m forbidding you from eating sweets for the next-”

The result was immediate, the green haired shadow or rather Mavis, immediately resumed chasing me. I found myself in a worse predicament than before, I was starting to feel the effects of the poison and that tree gave me a minor concussion. As for Mavis-

“I must defend my sweets!”

She was attacking like a mad woman. I still had time, I had fifteen seconds left, but I figured she wouldn’t care anymore. I ran through the tree, as I did my body became weaker. In the meantime, Mavis' strikes became more precise.

“This is for my cupcakes!”

My left shoulder received a serious gash.

“This is for my muffins!”

My right leg was stabbed.

“For my brownies!”

My right cheek.

“And most of all, this right here is for my ccccchhhhhhooooocccccccccooooooolllllllllaaaaaattttttteeeeeeeeeee!!!!”

My grazed back finally received a proper cut in the same spot as before. I screamed in pain, as I finally made it through a learning in the trees. I stumbled away from her as far as I could, but all I could do was reach a cliff. I stared nervously over the edge, a fall like this would surely lead to my death. I turned around to see Mavis looking at me, her mouth foaming like a dog.

“I’ll never let anyone get in the way of my sweet time.”

I began backing closer to the cliffside, eventually there was nowhere else to run. This was it, feeling cornered all I could do now was laugh.

“You know what, I don’t care anymore. You win, but I have one last thing to say.”

I began moving backwards, Mavis’ face turned from a look of a starving animal to one of horror.

“Wait, what are you doing!”

“...I die on my own terms.”

I jumped off the cliff, willingly giving up my life. I’d rather be the one to end my story instead of leaving it to a would-be assassin. Mavis rushed to the cliffside, she looked like she would cry. Poor girl, she shouldn’t live this kind of life. I began falling to my demise, as I did I lamented not living long enough to fulfill my promise to my late mother.

****

I was crying, how could I not. I did something horrible. I broke out into sobs and tried to stop the flow with my hands. While I did, I heard someone walking silently behind me.

“So the deed is done?”

“*Sob sniff* Ebony, I did something awful. That Whitney lady, she fell off the cliff. I-I have to go and-”

“Go what?”

Ebony pulled me up by the collar and forced me to face her.

“We’re assassin dammit! We do our job, report back, and get paid. What if she fought back and slit your throat, what then!”

“B-But…”

“There are no buts! I would rather witness the demise of some random whore then watch my friend die due to her cowardice!”

…Ebony, you were worried I would mess up again. You were worried you’d need to save me, I understand now.

“Sorry Ebony, I’ll try harder now I swear.”

“Good, now let’s get back to Master Buford. After that you can eat all the sweets you want.”

…Ebony, you really are-

“Wahhhhh, Ebony you’re so sweet!”

“Hey, don’t touch me! You’re all gross and covered in snot. Get off me, Mavis!”

I was still sad from my first kill, but Ebony’s kindness cured my wounded heart. I won’t forget how sweet you are Ebony, and I won’t forget about you either Miss Whitney. Me and Ebony made our way out the Pewter Forest, and I told her about everything that happened.