37. Some Company
1144 Words
I fly for 5 hours and start lowering. I land behind a tree near another human village. I eat the bread from my pocket. "That was probably south. This looks south." I see a rabbit. I lunge for it and miss. "I should just wait for frenzy I guess." Then a raccoon catches my eye. I tip toe as close as I can. I jump and catch it. It turns around and starts scratching and biting me. "AAAAHHH." I drop it and it runs off. I scratch my head. "That wasn't right." I go for the village and brush my dress off again. I need to find somewhere to sleep.
I sneak around peeking in windows again. It's the same as the last village. Maybe I'll find a nice lady here too.
"Wow, you're pretty."
I smell the man standing beside me. He's human. "I am?"
"Yes miss you are."
I give him a confused "Thank you."
"You're not from here."
"No, I'm only passing through. I was searching for some food and somewhere to sleep. I don't have any money though. I was hoping to find a nice lady that can help me. I found one in the last village."
"Well, I'm not a lady but I have a camp site not far from here. You're welcome to stay with me."
"I can't hunt... At all."
"I can hunt. You can eat and sleep. It will be nice to have some company... for a little bit anyways."
I give him a big smile. "Ok Thank you." I take his arm.
I hear a thud by a tree.
"Did you see that? The bird fell out the tree."
"Well that's different... Where's your campsite at?"
"This way miss."
He leads me to a little campsite. Its got a fire already set up. "Have you been staying here long?"
"No. I'm from a few villages over. I came here to do some trading. Only been here about a day. You seem sad, miss."
"Sorry, I miss things from my old life. I'm not sad. I'm happy to be here. This is much better."
"It's normal to miss things from an old life... People too. What's your name?"
"Nadine. Yours?"
"People call me Leon."
"Leon. I like it."
"I'll get us some food. You sit here and be pretty."
He comes back after a few minutes. "Caught a boar in a trap. Do you like boar?"
I start fighting tears. "Yes I do." I wipe one away.
"You ok?"
"Yes, I'm fine. You said you are here to trade. What do you trade?"
"Salt mostly. I live near a salt mine. Salt goes for a high trade value mostly. You ever do any trading?" He hands me some cooked boar.
"No. I tried once but that was a really bad experience." I start laughing. "I actually managed to trade all the way to nothing. My brother was so confused. He said 'how did you even manage to do that?'" I can't help it. I keep laughing. So yea, not my best day. What is the best deal you ever got trading?"
"I got a whole desk once, for salt. It's a beautiful desk. It has some diamond designs carved into the dark wood. It's really big. Drawers on both sides."
"It sounds lovely."
"It is. It really is. Come here, pretty girl." He lays down and holds out his arms to me.
I freeze solid. I don't know whether to run or cry.
"Just sleep. I'll help keep you warm."
I hear a couple more thuds. I turn to see but Leon keeps talking.
"I won't hurt you Nadine."
I lay down in his arms. It's not like I have any options. "You are so warm."
I wake up in the morning with him rubbing my hair. I stretch and sit up.
He gets up. "I'll go get us some breakfast. You stay here and wake up a bit." He rubs his thumb over my cheek. I like him.
I get the fire going again. I glance over and there is a rabbit sitting beside me. I reach over and grab it. I break it's neck and suck it's blood out. Then I throw it. That was oddly very easy.
Leon comes back and starts cooking something. I watch him. He brings me some meat after he's done. "It's not boar. But it's something."
"It's good."
"What do you want out of life?"
"What do you mean?"
"Like kids, husband, house, land, pets?"
"Oh hell no. no pets. If I'm not enough for my mate, I don't want him."
"What?"
"What? Do you have pets?"
"No. What do you want in life though?"
"I want a little house. A little land. Maybe enough for 1 or 2 horses and a berry bush. My brother's favorite berry is this big red one. Maybe he'll visit me sometimes, you know? I'd like to have one of those. In case. A little garden might be nice. Some peppers and onions. What do you want in life?"
"Little house. A wife. A couple kids."
I smile. "That sounds nice."
"Do you want kids?"
"I don't think that's in my destiny."
"Why pretty girl?"
"It seems every man I attract, I also repel. I don't think I'm supposed to have someone that can love me." I start to cry.
"Why would you think that?"
"I mess everything up. My daddy even tried to put me into contract to marry someone. He didn't even make it 2 weeks before he wanted out. I can't do it. It's not for me. I'm better alone out here on my own. I don't want or need anyone."
"There is no one else you've wanted?"
"Yes but I ruined it so fast. I never even got to kiss him."
He wraps his arms around me. "Someone someday will understand how lucky they are to have your attention, Nadine."
I shake my head.
"Yes they will and they will be a lucky man."
I kiss Leon. I push him to his back and get on top of him. I kiss him again.
My body is on fire.
"I want you pretty girl." He flips us over and gets on top of me.
I wrap my legs around him and pull him as close to me as I can get him.
He kisses me so deep.
I can feel that he's hard and thrusting against me. It feels so good.
He starts kissing down the side of my neck.
"You're mine pretty girl."
I close my eyes and enjoy it for a minute.
Then I push him off. "I can't do this. I'm sorry."
I try to get up and he holds me down. "Yes you will."
"NO! GET OFF ME!"
He grabs my dress and tries to yank it off me.
"Stop. That hurts."
I see red.
- Writer
