After a series of plagues sweep through her village Marrianne is left alone, her nephew, her unborn child, and herself the last of their family. After the death of her mother she flees into the forest for fear of the plague coming through for what is left of her family. But the forest hold many dangers, as does the world itself, especially for a lone woman. With the skills taught to her by her mother and father Marrianne has to find a way to care for herself, little Joseph, and the child on the way.
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A rustle in the woods behind me has me twisting around. I scan the tree-line for what might've made the noise and start when a small rabbit jumps from the shrubbery. It twitches its nose at me before turning and hopping back into the woods. Chuckling at myself I stand and untuck my shirt, reaching under it to undo the bonding over my breasts before the loud crack of a twig snapping has me twirling around just as a hand grasps my arm. My movement causes the thin, wiry man behind me to loosen his grip and we both stumble, me falling to the ground as he regains his balance and Oak cries to the sky before swooping from his branch.
The man's small, beady eyes rake over my body as he steps forward, reaching for me. I kick out, catching him in his shin, causing him to drop to one knee as I scramble back, shooting a terrified look at Joseph who is starting to stir. Oak sweeps down, clawing at the man's flailing hands as he tries to stand. Flipping over I jump to my feet and race to my bag. Hands circle my waist before I can grab it and spin me around.
Strong hands pin me to his body; he runs them over me, his breath clogging my nostrils as I struggle to free myself, becoming desperate as I feel him harden against me. Oak makes another dive just as Joseph awakes fully, his cry of fear distracting the man enough for his grip to loosen. Oaks claws leave deep gouges in the man's cheek as my knee connects with his groin. He releases me and staggers back. Spinning around I grab my dagger from the top of my bag.
His outraged bellow spins me back around as he rushes me. The pressure of the hilt makes me tighten my grip as the heat of his blood spills over my hand. The shocked look in his eyes as he stares into mine will forever haunt me. He staggers back and I lose my grip on the dagger. I watch, horrified as he stumbles to his knees and falls to his back, watch as the blood seeps from under frantic fingers searching for a way to repair the damage done, and as the light of life slowly fades from hate filled eyes.
The man's small, beady eyes rake over my body as he steps forward, reaching for me. I kick out, catching him in his shin, causing him to drop to one knee as I scramble back, shooting a terrified look at Joseph who is starting to stir. Oak sweeps down, clawing at the man's flailing hands as he tries to stand. Flipping over I jump to my feet and race to my bag. Hands circle my waist before I can grab it and spin me around.
Strong hands pin me to his body; he runs them over me, his breath clogging my nostrils as I struggle to free myself, becoming desperate as I feel him harden against me. Oak makes another dive just as Joseph awakes fully, his cry of fear distracting the man enough for his grip to loosen. Oaks claws leave deep gouges in the man's cheek as my knee connects with his groin. He releases me and staggers back. Spinning around I grab my dagger from the top of my bag.
His outraged bellow spins me back around as he rushes me. The pressure of the hilt makes me tighten my grip as the heat of his blood spills over my hand. The shocked look in his eyes as he stares into mine will forever haunt me. He staggers back and I lose my grip on the dagger. I watch, horrified as he stumbles to his knees and falls to his back, watch as the blood seeps from under frantic fingers searching for a way to repair the damage done, and as the light of life slowly fades from hate filled eyes.
Marrianne's Characters