Street Signs

Chapter 45

BRIELLE

I thought I was safe now. All I knew was that those men would never find me again. But the world seemed so cruel to me, that wherever I'd go, there was always a threat. I had been running away for all my life-- running away from dread and harm. When would this end or would it ever end?

The queen knew about what his son did. She hated me more because the prince saved me from the men, and thought it was a betrayal. Her wrath grew even more than in this time, she was even more willing to catch me. She would not do this if the consequence was not that heavy. However, she kept on sending men to follow me, and that just meant that she badly wanted me to suffer. Why did she hate me that much? Was it just all about the disobedience I did or there was more than that? What if she found out that I was a human and not a Nokuni, would she still punish me?

I closed my eyes, clenched my fist, and took a deep breath, never minding the stench of the dust I had been inhaling. And when I thought burden had been released, I turned my gaze again to Prince Valor who was still peeking over the window. I knew he was making sure that the men would not be able to follow us, for the first time he told me they were outside, he was mistaken because those were just the wild animals that created the sound of footsteps on the dried leaves from the outside.

For some time, I let the hymn of the wind rule between us before I spoke again any word. I let the cold wind passing through the window embrace me because, in that way, I felt comforted and not alone. Even the chirping of the birds laying on their nests was a good sound to me. Despite the harm that was coming to me, nature was trying its best to give me convenience.

I was about to utter a word when Prince Valor placed his pointing finger right on my lip. And at that moment, my heart started beating rapidly again. My brain, like a computer, might get overwhelmed. There was a limit to how much dread I could comprehend, and when that limit was reached, panic attacks could occur. Normal functioning became impossible due to the disorganization of my thoughts.

This time, I knew it was not the wild animals anymore that were making the dried leaves crack. The rustling I was hearing from the outside was most likely of those men who were aiming to catch me. I didn't know what to do anymore, but showing up to them might give a difference. So, I planned to stand, but even before my face could have a little glimpse on the casement, Prince Valor carried me again and went on the second deck of the house.

I wasn't able to say anything while watching the prince run like a cheetah because I was too stunned to speak. There was still the stench of fear in my blood, especially that the group of men finally followed us on the upper floor, and worst, the prince was planning to jump over the window while carrying me in his arms.

He really did.

I shouted out of surprise when the prince really did jump over the window with a height of more than thirty feet just to escape from those men who did not give up on chasing us. I looked at the way as I hold tightly onto Prince Valor's arms, and just knew we were heading to the very end of the forest which was the sea already.

"We have nowhere to go now," I told him.

"Close your eyes, don't look back," Prince Valor said, which I immediately followed.

After the noises that had been continuously tingling my ears, silence then came. When I opened my eyes, I was in a different place already-- a small room where there was nothing but just the plain white walls, the dome, and the two of us. I asked the prince where we were and he answered,

"It's a product of my magical power," he put me down. "This room will equip us because it's invisible to their eyes. But, this will only last for half an hour. After that, we'll continue running again."

"But I'm so tired of running away," I sat deep-knee and rubbed my face with my cold palm.

"And that's why I'm carrying you."

"Not literally, stupid!" I slowly looked at the prince again. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. I was just annoyed, I'm really sorry. But please, stop joking around at this point because it's nonsense."

"Sorry, too, but I'm not kidding either."

I leaned on the wall and thought of what could I do for the thirty minutes of my stay in this room. I did not want to run away again because it would not make any difference, they would still continue to follow me until they catch me. Besides, I had nowhere to go since the end of the forest was a wide, deep ocean that when I chose to swim on, I would surely be drowned. I could not go either to the left or side path of the forest because both sides were blocked with caves.

A deep sigh from me spread around the room. I stood firm and looked at the prince direct at his eyes. "What is the consequence?"

Prince Valor also stood. "You don't have to know."

"And why?" I folded my brow. "I have the right to know because it is me who will suffer from it if ever. Why is it so hard for you to tell?"

He let out a deep sigh. "My mom already knew that you are a human, and that's why she's pursuing more to catch you. If you surrender, she will take your life for you to reincarnate and become one of us."

I swallowed my saliva. It was a hard pill for me to take. Shock gave a sense of silence but not calm within me, allowing me to feel my emotions shift and prepare my spirit for what was to follow. For a brief minute, my brain stuttered, and my eyes took in more light than I anticipated; every part of me came to a halt while my thoughts caught up.

"What did you say?" I asked the prince, and as expected, I received from him the same answer. I had heard it, but I pretend I didn't because I could not believe it.

If the queen's purpose was to kill me to become part of them, what was the underlying reason for this? Her tribe was so powerful and indeed different from the world I grew up in. She had magical powers and she was intelligent to everything. Was taking me would even make a simple change?

I doubt it because I was only human and I did not have enough strength. I didn't think so I would fit the world of the Nokunis because I was different from them. I didn't know everything about it and if reincarnating would be the reason for me to be familiar with their world, I would not choose to die.

"Why are you doing this to me?" I asked the prince, giving him a sharp look.

Fear was what causes rage, that hot, burning rage that strived to harm others. It was a biological switch that should be left alone. When I saw something that scared me, a primitive component of my brain would fire up, causing me to act aggressively. I had never been so enraged as when I'd been forced into inactivity against my will.

"I'm sorry," the prince bowed his head a little.

I remained completely still, my gaze fixed on Prince Valor. "You know that I don't know a single rule in your world. I didn't mean to go there, I was just lost. If I broke something in your norms, I didn't mean it. Why don't you just tell your mom everything? You know I am on the right track and what you are doing to me violates my right as a human." I knew my nose had a wrinkle that had nothing to do with an impending sneeze, my muscles were tense, and my mouth was clinched.

"Look, I'm doing everything to fight for you. Can't you see it, Brielle? I'm even violating my world rules because of you. The king and queen are my dad and mom, but I disobey them because of you."

"So, are you telling me that I should be thankful for what you're doing?" I creased my brow. "Okay, thanks! But can't you think of any other solution? I know I'm being demanding but I am so over it! If you really want me to be freed, you'll convince your mom to stop bothering my life. Running away from them isn't a good fight, Prince Valor. And in the first place, why would you help me? I don't want someone asking me someday for payment of his good deed."

"I'm not doing this for something in return, Brielle," Prince Valor said. "It's because I love you and I want to protect you."

I had a tongue-tied after hearing that, I could not even move. I was too stunned to speak. My thoughts were completely blank at this moment, but when I had an epiphany that what he said was true because of what he showed me, I unclenched my fist.

"I love you, Brielle, and I want to protect you for the rest of my life."

"So we will just run away forever just for you to say you are protecting me?" I asked him. "If you really love me, you'll do everything for this to stop. And if you do that, that's the kind of protection I will treasure for the rest of my life."

Silence then ruled between the two of us. No one dared to speak and move. The room was so quiet that even our breathing could not be heard. It was becoming deafening now and it was bringing a crack to the ear, not until the prince decided to break the silence by saying,

"I can't do that."