Achoo!
Cold, cold all over. Shivering with every ragged breath, my hands tried to shield my body from the lethal, biting cold.
The dangerously cool winds waved and twisted like snakes in the air; the cold was their poison.
And that poison seeped into me, into every inch of my being.
It ached just to exist.
My feet gave in, succumbing to the winter's tyranny. It seemed that the leafy ground of the frost-covered woods would be the place of burial.
With every passing breath of winter, my own breath appeared to dwindle. It turned increasingly hushed, nothing but a mere whisper.
I caressed my skin, now pale. A last-ditch effort to give it some heat. But in vain.
I gave up.
I just wished for it everything to end. After all, I had died before this.
As my eyes were to shut close, I found out that sadistic fate was once again playing with me.
Shadows. In the distance.
Through my frosty eyelashes, I could barely make out their faces. But their heights made clear that they were a robust bunch.
'I wish they'd end me soon.' I whispered in my head, lips too frozen to use.
The tall figures unsheathed strange, serrated blades, as they drew near.
The aim was towards me.
I smiled, relieved that the pain was about to end.
Whiss!
A blade tore through the wind currents whistling in the air.
'Finally,' I thought, but my smile froze when I found myself unscathed.
Growl! Whimper!
It was the howl of a beast, a monster. Body bigger than mine, it seemed a hellhound from my worst nightmares.
"Are you okay?!" A tall figure emerged from the crowd looking at me with a strange care in his mud-colored eyes.
'Yes, completely! I'm having a whale of a time.'
I teased in my mind, not even trying to open my lips. 'Who would go through such hellish pain to talk to these brawny-looking brutes?'
I could only signal through sulky puppy eyes. 'Hey there! Kill me. Please!'
Unfortunately, my suicidal tendency was confused as a plea for help. The muscled brute came close to me, taking off the thick 'scarf' around his neck.
That 'scarf' he wrapped around my body with such care that I practically screamed 'Yandere spotted'. In my head, of course.
The other musclemen—all brawn and concern—too jumped in to help. It would have been hilarious were it not for the genuine care and gentleness with which they treated me.
Once they were satisfied, It was safe to say that I had become more cloth than flesh.
"Karyl, he looks weakened. Pick him up, we should let the holy priest treat him." A rotund one said to Mr. Mud Eyes.
And soon, I was in the embrace of a gigantic individual hellbent on doing noble deeds... bridal style.
'Sir! I think you misunderstood the assignment. You are to save me!'
'Stop pretending this is some delusional damsel in distress story.'
I couldn't help but stare in disbelief at his audacity to carry me bridal style.
Soon my head was spinning as the figure ran like an aunty runs to humblebrag over her genius child's grades.
(A/N: Overly specific but definitely not related to the author's life. ┐( ∵ )┌ )
***
The farther he ran, the heavier my eyes became. Red-rimmed and exhausted, they barely stayed open.
But then, through the soft curtain of mist, a village emerged. Wooden houses scattered like forgotten toys across a sea of grass. Foreign, yet… familiar.
I could distantly see children maneuvering through the streets, like playful butterflies.
A warm tear trickled down my lashes melting the thin layer of ice—a bittersweet smile tinged my face a red hue.
Something fuzzy seeped into me.
Memories.
Skyscrapers towering into the clouds.
A house nestled by fields.
Mom. Dad. And him—the one with eyes that both haunted and obsessed me.
The days where I was without a care in the world. Strolling—sliding through the field crops. All my friends following my shadow, like minions to a leader.
But the sunshine soon dimmed out, like a star nearing its lifespan.
Skrrrsshhht!
In a blink, those sweet snapshots turned to ash.
Only darkness remained. Heavy. And absolute.
But Within it, I saw a pair of eyes. Dull, yet dazzling. Watching.
Piercing.
Haunting.
No!
I screamed, almost begging to God for help. It was the same pair of orbs I had seen before everyone I knew. Everyone I loved. All were ripped to shreds while I watched—frozen. Silent. Helpless..