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I don’t answer any of them, they don’t deserve my words or breath, especially now that I’m having to conserve it.
Deep down I know I can’t outrun them. I’m sore from being chained up and I haven’t had proper food in ages, while these guards probably had their fair sure of hearty meals and restful sleep. I try not to focus on that and grip onto my stick.
I’ll fight back. I’ll do anything.
I see a clearing in the distance and push myself to run a little faster. It’ll be easier to get shot but I might be able to gain some ground with a burst of speed before making my way back into the thick forest. Hearing the guards’ jeers behind me, it's not like I have any other choice.
Hard rocks give way to soft dirt, a blessing for my battered feet. Without having to worry about weaving through trees I break out into a desperate sprint. The forest grows thicker in the distance, much thicker than before, and it’s my best shot at losing them. With their heavy armor and bulky weapons, they can’t move as quickly as I am through the bushes. It’s my only shot
The trees are getting closer but the guards are behind me still.
“No way we’re letting you get away!”
I can do this.
“Not on our watch!”
Please, please, I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to be with him I just want to go home-
A rock hits the back of my knee and I stumble forward, knees skimming the ground. If I had a little more strength I could’ve probably recovered quickly but instead I buckle and land on a heap on the floor and I’m scared.
I turn around, gripping the stick I picked up, and face my captors. One of them laughs, another rock in his hand.
“Time’s up, little lady.”
My whole body shakes in fear of what’s to come, but I know that I’m not going back there. I’m not.
“Any last words for you?” the one with the bow and arrow taunts. I can see his lecherous smile peek from his mask.
I open my mouth to speak, but I’m interrupted by a loud roar. It’s like time slows down.
When I turn my head toward the source, ears ringing, I see a monster.
Black-scaled and large, it sprints toward us, and I think that if this is how it ends, at least I won’t become a slave again.
I close my eyes.
The wind brushes past my face and I wonder if this is it, but instead, I hear yelling and a scream.
“Wait for me!” one of the guards screams. The beast has already run past me and is gaining on him and I watch in growing horror as it leaps and pushes the guard onto his stomach and lands directly on its back. Even at this distance, I hear the metal and bones crunching, followed by a hoarse scream.
The creature leaves the elf in agony and makes his way towards the rest.
It’s a bloodbath.
Crimson sprays in the air as the first elf goes down, his head ripped apart from his shoulders and bitten down like it was nothing more than a grape. The sound is disgusting, and my stomach turns.
It only grows worse as the creature goes after the rest. Backed by the pained screams of the first elf, and the cries of panic by the other, the monster toys with the rest, but never turns his face toward me. The third and fourth elves go down, organs spilling out on the floor, and the last guard seems to have given up where he tripped in a panic. The first elf has stopped screaming, so I can hear every sob and cry for help the last has as the monster tears him apart limb from limb.
I wonder if that's just how it eats, but as I watch it's almost… methodical. Purposeful.
I swear it laughs when the dark elf cries.
I pull myself up to my feet, watching it systematically de-limb my captor, and I’m almost thankful. My hand is still wrapped around the stick and maybe this is my chance to be free.
I take one step back and the carnage stops.
Its eyes lock with mine, and I see gore and blood drip down its chin. A long, thick tongue peeks out and licks its lips and the mangled remains drop to the floor.
