Challenge #137
Option #3: Your character needs to...climb the hill... nothing goes right.
Peeping Alice pt.9 - Interlude 2
Both are quiet for a few moments, staring about them in the semi-darkness outside. A multitude of stars smils down on them from the clear sky as they lean against the buildings walls to catch their breaths. It only takes a moment before they are both breathing normally again, and Vincent turns to Fianne, his gaze insistant.
"Are you hurt?" He lets his eyes wander across her body, curious and concerned. "I am sorry it took me so long."
"No, it's alright Vincent. I'm fine." She reaches out to lay a hand on his arm, "Did you get hit?"
He shrugs off her hand, "No". He turns to examine the area around them, avoiding looking at her.
"Good." She stares at him as he looks away, and sighs. "I wasn't sure I'd make it this time."
He spins around to face her. "I am sorry Fianne. I had things..."
"I understand Vincent," she says quickly, straining her voice to keep it quiet. "But, seven days is a long time..." her voice breaks, and she lowers her gaze to the ground, and wraps her arms around herself.
He reaches out with both hands and pulls her into an awkward embrace. She holds her body stiff, and he wraps his arms around her completely before she exhales and lets herself be held. Her breathing is ragged as she leans into him, laying her head on his shoulder.
"I came as quickly as I could," his lips nearly brushing her ear as he whispers to her. "I am sorry it was not sooner."
She nods slowly, her smooth brown hair brushing against his neck. She looks at him, the glistening of tears in her eyes, "Never again," she whispers.
He takes a deep breath, to collect his thoughts - and to block out certain others - and slowly pulls her away from him. She steps back slowly, gaze still locked on his face, searching it for the promise she wants to hear.
"Fianne, people are scared. Of you..." he stops reconsidering his thoughts. "Of us. I am doing my very best to keep you safe. Now, we should get out of here before any of the remaining guards widen their search for you."
She nods in agreement, but does nothing to hide the disappointment from her face. "So where do we go now?" she asks, her eyes searching in the starlit night for an answer.
Arm outstreched he points off in the distance, "Over that hill, there's a place we can get horses," he glances back at her, "can you make it?"
"Yes."
"Then we go." He pushes off at a quick pace, and starts walking towards the hill.
They walk in silence, and the noises of the night surround them to fill in the void. It's darker as they make their way to and up the hill, there are tall trees on every side, branches blocking the light from the night sky.
Fianne stops walking when the top of the hill is within a few steps. She turns to look behind them, where the flat stone building Vincent helped her escape from sits quiet on the low horizon. In her mind she pictures where the small room she was kept in must be inside the building. Sensing her stillness, Vincent stops where he stands and keeps a wary eye out for any interruptions.
"It's hard to believe Vincent. That they could be so scared..." her voice quavers, and she looks behind her at Vincent's stoic face.
"They are always scared, Fianne; of what they cannot understand."
"But, am I not supposed to help them?" She crosses her legs as she lowers to the ground, sitting and staring down the hill they just walked up. She gestures with both hands towards the building, "That family..." her hushed voice trails off.
"Fianne, stop this. You did what you could for them." He snaps at her. She spares a quick glance in his direction, before looking back down the hill. They do not understand what you can do. What you could mean to them. And that scares them.
"I don't want to scare people Vincent. I want to help them. Why is that so hard?"
He doesn't answer. In a few steps he is at her side, and he lowers himself, knees bent to crouch next to her.
"Is it always like this? For all of us?"
He watches her questioning eyes water again, as she tries to hold back the tears. With his left arm, he tries to pull her into a half-hug, but she resists. She watches him, as he pulls his arm back and stands up.
"Every time, there are difficulties. People choose to believe or not, and when they do not believe, they are scared. Scared people can be dangerous." He follows her gaze down the hill, and his eyes go wide. "Fianne, get up." He offers a hand to help her stand.
"What?"
"They are coming. We must hurry."
She tries to find what he sees, but she sees nothing but torchlight near the building, and the darkness under the trees. She takes his hand, and pulls herself up. He's already moving as she brushes the grass off the back of her legs and short robe.
"Fianne, now!"
She quickly turns to follow him, up the rest of the hill, and they both run swiftly down the other side. They push hard not to fall as the night wind, and the darkness conspire to pull them down the hill faster. Within moments, they can hear the voices of shouting guards carried on the air all around them. As they reach the bottom of the hill, the night gets brighter as torchlight shines out from places it should not be.
<i>Fianne, if you must, ride west without me. I will find you.