The King's Mate

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her arms and a trembling voic

ile she was still in her dream stat

at the clock placed on her bedside tab

Her eighteenth birthday was last two days ago

excitement – however her mother's face says othe

ra. Y-you nee

er wake to her full senses – making her h

kind of a jok

this. She was always tenderly strict towards her. Her forehead crease

as she was trying to be calm, though

ering eyes – that made her bump w

s happ

ency? Someone will pick you up there. Now, off you go, my child. I-I love you. Your dad a

it was the last time, they would see each other. Her eyes blurred with u

peatedly asked. Her lips were quivering and her

were so cold that she wanted to close her eyes and give her warmth – howeve

w there's an exit in your closet, right? Go there. Faster, please,"

r in front of her massive c

the lull silence inside their house – ma

d gasping – mixing through t

her mother's

How'd bout you and D-dad?" She nervously asked for th

estlessness. Her dark brown eyes filled with fear and sadness as they looked at her. She became more anxiou

ortant that you're safe. And please don't ever look back,"

ncy exit down to their basement and a l

nted to escape from her parents – now

r arms. Her mother looked at the locked door of her room

M-m

on't look back. You need to run! Plea

mom was – determined of getting her ou

se me, huh?" She

er head as she stif

" Tamara brea

ng smile and kissed her forehead be

tears flowed upon her cheeks. She doesn't know wha

ready on the basement floor. Her legs were wobbling – she could hear the

he accidentally nudged the antique ceramic vase standing near her

d as she heard th

to the forest. Her heart was pounding tough and fast – making her chest ac

d she needed to crawl in it. It was just as big as her size that it made it difficult for h

r her. She could hear scratching sounds echoing in the tunnel that made her flinch. She

llowed by gasping and pan

s firmly as the te

crawling, she finally rea

stopped a bit to gasp for air. She just realized

budge. Her eyes started to water once again. He

s. She felt weak

ng sound coming from the

e silently

couldn't even move an

ack to the house when th

ike in his mid-fif

, Tamara. I'm Benson," his voice

p post near them. He had little freckles visible on his forehead and some

r her to grab on to – but she didn't

with no emotion – at all. It was plain and blank – tha

ll confused and shaken from

fetch you," he said. His tone never faltered – i

r parents told her not to trust anyone easily. But she remembered that

ular biceps contracted as he carried her full heavy weight. He didn't care thou

her to find strength and support. She clenched her fist as she tried to compose herself

get away from whoever trespassed on their house and find out what was happe

't helping her see the surroundings so as t

quivered as she tried to control her sobs that mixed with the low

r voice was gruff

ed – just repeating his

r forehead, trying to st

hy won't you help my parents? Why did

to their house which was covered with many lofty t

around. He started walking to the depths o

ly asked as she languidly followed the

rse – or any other emotion at that. He just said it as pla

ubled. It was a bomb to her ears – making her deaf for a matter of seconds. It weakened her kne

believingly aske

just said – or maybe she's h

sighed, as if he's extending his pa

, they were dead,"

ple as

r parents' name

sly inquired – still trying to co

in his answers. That certain statement that answered her quest

not believ

nts were

ey

, but the tears pooling her eyes and streaming endlessly

m thin air as she tried to clench her hands firmly –

sound of it still resonated with the m

and turned pitch black – his face was still void and cold. He pressed his lips tightly

mell the strong scent o

t black, and she instan