The Devil's Temptation!

Chapter 20: Close Your Eyes

The storm seemed to be approaching heavier from north-east as she wandered further, looking up at the sky which had turned increasingly gray and gloomier than before.

“This is terrible!” She outwardly grimaced with her hands on her hips, finding the condition of the sky to be a little intense.

The night was starting to close in and the cold blistering winds weren’t showing any mercy to her fragile body as it rustled through the forest like an angry whisper, before leaving the woods to grow hauntingly quiet once again.

Her heart sped up in response and her mind, body would react to the tiniest sound she heard, most especially the lightning which sent heavens light transcending through the dark sky.

Remembering that she wasn’t fully out of the dark woods yet, it gave her goosebumps. Her steps quickened and she chose to fight off the cold and hurry to any shelter she can find but that thought alone was starting to feel impossible as the forest never seemed to want to come to an end.

Before she realized it, the drizzling was starting to add pressure and after a short time, the rain got a lot heavier, leaving Annalise to stare as beads of water slackened down the ceilings of treetops made by thick, dense trees.

“It’s already raining!” The frustration could be heard in her voice, giving her the expression of someone who was afraid, confused and lost on which route to take next.

.....

Her mind was suddenly preoccupied with some deep thoughts, the trees were farther apart the minute she approached the outskirt of the forest. Annalise suddenly realized that the more she progressed deeper into the woods, it only got darker and the forest got increasingly denser.

The rumbling sound of a lightning bolt brought her to the present as a gasp fell from her lips. She hated the sound of thunder and lightning to her very core because it only brought back the treacherous memories she’s been trying to let go for so long.

The boom sound came heavier the second time to the point she clasped her hands over both her ears while shaking her head, looking like a little girl in fright as she tightly sealed her eyes shut.

Images of that day flooded into her small head, the ship wreck, the painful screams of her mother who kept trying to reach her as the ship sank, the figure in the clouds. They were disturbing her.

“Go away!” She took to her heels instead, as though she would be able to escape from the sounds of the thunder and unbeknownst to her, there was a sparkling light above the clouds which followed her movement.

Running across the woods which turned darker than usual, she suddenly felt like she had been running in circles cause each route seemed to look even more familiar each time she wandered by, like she had taken this particular route and was suddenly taking it again.

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Which wasn’t supposed to be that way.

“How could this be?” She shook her head in demure as her heart sped up even more due to her confusion, she wasn’t going to let this dark forest mess with her mind. Already soaked from head to toe with her dress clinging to her skin, she was too preoccupied to feel the cold anymore.

She hurried through the same path again and before her eyes, the moon was starting to shine through the lattice of the leaves, the sky was painted black with not even a single star appearing, only the signs of lightning and the more she ran, the more she felt she was running in circles, like someone who was trapped and finding it impossible to get out.

“I_I have to leave this place, I...I can’t be trapped!” The moment she took a step forward, she felt the earth below her feet crumble slightly, causing her to lose her balance as she stumbled forward but had successfully managed to avoid letting her head slam first to a rock before her.

The shaking stopped but the proximity of her situation made her choose to remain in her position, in case it happens again but after a few minutes ticked by with the earth unshaken, she finally moved.

*SNAP!*

She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the sound of a twig snap right in the forest, her body froze and her breath stilled at the sound. It came from behind her but she didn’t have the ordersity to turn around and see what it was. It was dark and raining heavily, she thought she could be strong enough to deal with this but maybe she isn’t as ready as she proclaimed to be.

She could hear footsteps behind her, followed by the sound of a threatening thunder and she jumped. Stopping herself from letting a tear roll from her eyes, she forced her stiff body to finally move, slowly turning around to see what it was but a hand had stopped her immediately by covering her eyes and obstructing her view.

Alarmed, she quickly turned around to see who had stopped her from looking, only to see the handsome stranger was standing in front of her, except he had her in his arms, holding her close with her palms pressed against his chest.

Her eyes dilated as she stood unmoving but the being who held her close was more focused on what was behind her than their current position.

“Close your eyes.” He whispered in a warning tone, but his eyes held dominance, which was something she couldn’t understand.

“Huh?”

“Now.”

She fidgeted, all the while he spoke, his gaze never shifted from what was behind her and she wasn’t actually dumb to not figure it out herself. She knew there was something behind her, she sensed its aura and it felt demonic.

For the first time, she finally decided to listen and closed her eyes like the being had told her to.

She felt him release his hold on her and take the sword which hung at the side of her waist. His touch felt familiar and the minute she felt them no more, it saddened her for some unknown reason.

The fierce clashing and piercing of swords under the heavy rain caught her attention, she could hear voices and a painful growl as though someone had been stabbed.

Who was he fighting? She was curious but didn’t let that curiosity force her to open her eyes.

Within a few minutes, the clashing stopped and all she could hear was the pouring rain which she got soaked under even more.

“You can open your eyes.” His voice brought her back and when she flung her eyes open, he was the only one standing there with her sword in his grasp, he looked untouched, causing her to blink in obvious complexity of the situation. But she swore she heard the sound of two people viciously fighting.

“You_”

“I thought I told you to find a place to hide.” He nagged, causing the half dazed Annalise to think back to his words.

“I thought I could make it back to the village.” She countered back.

“And I told you it was impossible.”

“Well I believe that now.”

He tsked with the same annoyance etching to his face. Yes, she was wrong this time around and she admitted, he doesn’t have to make her feel like a burden when she never asked for his help in the first place.

“Come.” He suddenly uttered.

“Where to?”

“Found the exit, there’s a small cottage closeby once we leave, except you plan on sleeping here.”

He walked out after that, causing Anna to think about how horrible it’d be to spend a night in the bushes, she would rather spend a night with this stranger than stay here.

His presence had made her fear lessen without her even realizing it.

“I’m coming!” She immediately went after him.

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