Memoirs of the Night - Chpt 4

Hand in hand, we ran for miles. I no longer felt tired after exertion; the fluid movement of my long, slender legs was exhilarating. We left the shouting behind, fleeing to our own world. A world where only we existed; nobody was there to judge or discriminate. The world in the forest.

We collapsed against a tree, panting with the exhaustion. The adrenaline was beginning to wear off, and my lags collapsed underneath me. Rosaline slid down the tree to meet me, smiling devilishly. She leant in to kiss me, her low-cut dress dipping seductively. I closed my eyes, kissing her back as her hands traced the outline of my figure. She pushed me further into the undergrowth, hiding us from any passers-by. Not that we would find any in this isolated part of the woods.

Were we staying here? I was torn between fear and excitement. Part of me longed to return home and to ordinary life, but would I ever be able to? Would I ever see my family again? Tears filled my eyes as I thought of my mother; what would she think happened to me? Rosaline saw my hurt; she felt my pain. She beckoned, calling me over. I crawled through the undergrowth to reach her. We led together, simply listening to out hearts, not beating at a natural rate but still in perfect synch.

The rain pattered on the leaves above our heads, tapping out a rhythm from the skies. Thunder rolled softly, gently reaching a crescendo in the clouds. It was almost graceful; the thunderstorm combined to create music. I wanted to dance, it beckoned me to move, but I never wanted to leave this position. Could I stay here, just me and Rosaline? I looked up to find her smiling at me, staring into my eyes. It was then I knew that nothing on this planet mattered, as long as we were together.

I’m unsure as to how long we led there, transfixed by one another’s gaze. All I remember is waking up in her arms; what I had dreamt about for so long. The peace was soon disturbed. Shouting, loud yelps and cries of people attempting to hunt us. I knew we needed to move.

Waking Rosaline from her gentle slumber, I dragged her through the forest. What would they do if they caught us? I did not know where I was going or what I was going to do. All I knew is that I needed to keep her safe. If I did not escape with Rosaline, I would spend eternity alone. I needed to find our sanctuary; the place we went when we were children. Our naïve assumption that we were the only ones that knew about our special place was childish and unrealistic, but they might not reach us there. So, half dragging Rosaline in her sleep-deprived state, I ran.

The cave was still there, still hidden. I was astounded I still knew it after all these years. I led her down in the shade, draping the cover of plants across the opening again. It was pitch black, but my new eyesight enabled me to see enough to find my way, if not enough to prevent me from falling over the slightest obstacle. I must have been causing a ruckus as Rosaline finally opened her eyes to question why we had moved. Needing no explanation, she just pushed me to the floor and kissed me as the mob rushed past us.