Running of the Light by nimphadora (free novel 24 txt) 📖

This story is not set in a place like our own. In a time when technology is exceptional but is only available to those who can afford it. It is a place of fear and hatred. The government is cruel and seeks to eradicate people who threaten their strict regime, those who do not fall in line are severely punished. Those who have escaped the horrific torturing are driven into hiding. These people are left to live a life of constant terror. They seek out the places the government itself fears to look, the forbidden caves, the mountain ruins and of course the forest. There has been legends and stories told about Sherwood Forest since the times of the 5 kingdoms. They tell of horrid beasts and unimaginable terrors, the legends are the only thing that keeps the people living there safe. The people left to these place live in relative peace. But now the government has sent in the officers of the light. They are the most heartless and ruthless of men. Now they are being sent to hunt down the leaders of the clans that have formed in these isolated places.

I stood there, I couldn’t move a muscle, all I could do was stare. He watched me silently from his vantage point, about 100 ft. away. He was slightly hidden by the trees but still visible to me.
‘’ I had to see you ‘’ James said, coming into full view. His hair was long, curled and messy he also now had stubble.
I stood there motionless. What could I say to the man who had tried to kill me but who I could never stop loving.
‘’you shouldn’t have come, why are you here James?’’ I said after some time had passed. The forest around us suddenly fell silent. It was an eerie silence, no wind whispered through the tall, think oaks. There were no sounds from the animals, nothing. The little hand at my side loosened out of my grip and tugged at my purple lace dress. I bent down to look at the little girl at my side. Her glass blue eyes came up from the leafless ground to me mine. She fidgeted with one of her perfect curls.
‘’ Mamma? Mamma? ’’
‘’ Yes baby girl’’
I knew what she was going to ask, it wasn’t hard to guess really.
‘’Mamma, who is that man, and all the other people?
‘’ People baby?’’ people, people? Shit what people?
I immediately looked all around me, nothing. I stopped squinting, and really looked. True to what Luna said there were people. Hiding amongst the leaves and the moss there were people only just visible. They were all around us, everywhere. We were surrounded.
‘’mamma?’’
I bent down to look at her properly. She looked so much like him. She had always looked more like him than me.
‘’Luna he is your daddy ‘’
It was strange she was so young but so mature for a four year old. She could have been twenty four. She understood so much. And she understood exactly what was going on now.
‘’ Daddy. Daddy?’’ her big blue eyes looked worried and confused. ‘’ it just me and you ‘’ she added smiling.
‘’ I’ll tell you later ‘’ I told her. I didn’t want to tell her but I knew she wouldn’t forget.
I stood up and turned to face James.
‘’ Rose I ‘’ he gestured to the people around us ‘’ we. ‘’ He paused ‘’ need your help. It’s the enlightened ones, they have been following us for weeks now. We need you to help us find a place to hide, to live.’’
‘’ but James you know I can’t, they have been watching me for years just waiting for you to come back.’’ I stared into his deep brown eyes. They were mesmerising. ‘’ it’s not just that I have Luna to think about now too. If we get caught we could both die.’’
Suddenly in the blink of an eye he was in front of me. He gently picked up my hands and held them in his.
‘’ please, please come with us, I could protect the two of you please this is my entire fault anyway. I miss you and Luna we could be a real family again like how it used to be.’’ He smiled just the way he used to before all of this madness started. It was irresistible. But I had to think yes I wouldn’t be living in my home but I would be with James, and I wouldn’t be living in constant fear. But what about Luna could she live in the forest? But what if history would repeat its self I pulled our hands up to my face and traced the scar that ran from behind me ear all the way down my neck to touch my collar bone. I watched as James’s face twisted in pain and sorrow that the memories of what had happened flickered through his head. His eyes looked up now and straight into mine.
‘’ it was a long time ago’’ he said looking back down to the hard cold ground.
‘’ James’’ I said letting go of his hands ‘’ I can forgive, but I can never forget.’’
At this all I could feel was guilt. How could I? I watched him look at Luna once before he turned to leave. I got this sudden overwhelming feeling like I was losing him. I had never felt this way before but now it was all too apparent. I needed James, I loved him so much I couldn’t lose him. Not again.
‘’ wait! ‘’I shouted moving towards him. I had to stop him I couldn’t let him leave me again it would be too much and Luna needed a father. ‘’ what if I said yes? Then what would I do? ‘’
He looked me right in the eyes, I could almost feel the hope radiating from him. I now realised this was a look I had longed to see for a long time.
He almost ran towards me, kicking leaves and dirt up behind him. He threw his arms around my waist and pulled me out towards him. In an instance I was in the air and the forest was spinning round me. A beautiful blur of colour, yellows, reds, greens and even pink. A feeling welled up in the very heart of my soul it was as if every happy feeling I had ever had could never compare to this moment. James slowly placed me back on the ground and kissed me it wasn’t the rough, longing kiss I had expected this was soft and sweet like it had been at the start of our marriage. I liked it, it made me feel safe. He released me and then pulled me and Luna into a tight and loving hug. We could be a family. We could.

Publication Date: 12-24-2011

All Rights Reserved