I pushed the branches out of my way as I kept running. I didn't stop running, and I kept heading in the direction we had come towards Chevalier. I couldn't hear anyone chasing me but I didn't want to give up my lead if someone was running after me. It would be a long trip, but I could make it if I kept going.

   ' Jin, please don't get caught. '

The ground around me had a lot of their branches sitting on top of the ground instead of underneath the dirt. I had to watch my footing as I ran, and at the same time, I had to keep an eye on the direction I was running. I remembered the route we took, I just had to find something that seemed similar to me. It was a straight shot from Chevalier to the town, but I had to make sure the direction was right.

   ' I just want to live, is that so bad? '

I felt my foot hook under something and it brought me to the ground. I put my arms around my head before I hit the ground. After laying on the ground for five seconds I looked down at my foot and saw that it hooked around one of the uprooted branches. My arms hurt from hitting the ground, and I could feel grass burn on my legs and arms.

   ' I need to keep going. I can't risk stopping in case they're coming my way. I'll slow it down a bit so I can gather my breath and watch where I'm going. '

I got off the ground and unwrapped my foot from the thick root. I stood up and started walking in the direction I thought we had come. The sun was coming down soon and I didn't know how close I had gotten to the house. I just know I ran a good portion of the route until I tripped, and then I started walking which took longer. The air was warm but when the sun started setting I could feel the air turn cold. 

   ' I think I'm almost there. Jin had the damn map, he should have given it to me before we left Chevalier. '

I continued walking in the dark until I could see lights in the distance. I squinted my eyes and saw the city in the far distance. I smiled at being so close to home. I continued walking towards the town and when I was close enough I walked to the entrance and took one of the lights that hung on the wall. It was a glass box with metal on the sides keeping it together with a candle in the middle. No one noticed and I walked away from the city finding the path to the house. I started following the path and I spotted a building in the distance, hidden among the shadows. I got closer and saw no lights inside and I didn't see a carriage.

   ' They left. Good, I can go inside and think about a plan to get Jin back. '

I walked up to the door of the house and under the mat, in front of the door, I felt for the spare key we put there. I felt the metal and I took it from underneath the rug. I unlocked the door and pushed it open. I took the key with me and walked inside. I took the light I had in my hand and set it on the counter. I set the key on the counter beside the light, and walked to the door, and closed it. I could feel my body slightly relax. I turned around to find the stairs, but when I turned my eyes didn't connect with the stairs. They connected to a candle holder being held up in the air with a candlestick in the holder, lit and shining brightly. 

   ' I thought. . . '

   " Well, my star this is a nice little home. It's very clean and it's comfy. "

The person in front of me raised the candlestick holder up to their face, and when I saw their face I could feel my skin become clammy with my already pale face. Quinn stood in front of me and he was smiling. SItting on his nose were black-rimmed glasses, but his eyes still felt petrifying. He was wearing a black button-up shirt, with the first few buttons undone and the sleeves rolled to his elbows. His pants were black slacks with a belt and his shoes matched the same darkness of his shirt. One of his hands was in his pocket while the other held the candleholder high.

   " You know, it took me a long time to find you, but I think it's worth it. Your fear is beautiful, especially when it shows on your face and in your eyes. "

   " How-"

   " How did I find you? Well that will be explained when we get back home. "

   " I am home. "

   " Oh, no star we are not home. This small house is not our home. Madrathia is our home and we're going back. "

   " No. "

   " No? "

   " I'm not going back. This is my home and I'm not leaving. "

The smile on Quinn's face was gone, and he had a frown. Quinn set the candle holder on the counter and stepped towards me, but with every step he took, I took one step backward.

   ' I need to get out of here. '

I turned around and ran to the front door, but when I opened it, I could feel a searing pain in my shoulder. I looked down at my shoulder and saw something metal sticking out of the bleeding wound. 

   ' He stabbed me. '

Quinn took the knife out and grabbed my bleeding shoulder.

   " You should know how impatient and angry I am at you. Don't make it any worse star. " He whispered in my ear. 

My blood soaked his hand and it made his grip on my arm a little loose; I decided to use that to my advantage. I shook my shoulder out of his grip and used my hand to push his arm away. I grabbed the door handle once more and turned it. I pulled the door open and ran outside, leaving the house behind. I ran, but I could hear Quinn's footsteps behind me and he was getting closer. 

   ' I'm so slow. '

I dodged all of the trees, but it was no use because Quinn grabbed the back of my neck and stopped me from running. He pulled me back and slid his arm to the front of my neck. He pushed me against a tree and the grip he had on my throat was tight. I raised my foot and kicked his chest. The grip on my neck was gone and Quinn fell to the ground because of my kick. I gathered my breath before I started to run again, but Quinn grabbed my ankle. He pulled it closer to him, and I lost my balance falling to the floor. I tried crawling away but he would yank me back.

   " This is useless, my star! "

I felt a searing pain in my calf and the scream I held from the first stab rang through the forest. Quinn stabbed my calf with his knife. He left it there as he climbed up my body. He pinned my hands to the ground in front of me, but I couldn't look anywhere but the ground. He had me pinned.

   " What's this? "

Quinn felt around my left hand, specifically my second finger from the left; where my engagement ring was. He took the ring off and took a closer look at it.

   " That bastard. He proposed. "

   " Let me go! "

   " He proposed and you said yes! "

The knife left my calf and Quinn turned me around. He pinned my arms above my head with one hand while he held the ring in his other. He straddled my waist and I couldn't move my legs. The strength he used to grip my arms and to squeeze my waist with his knees was something I had never seen before. He had gotten stronger since we last met. 

   " Why did you say yes!? You're mine, not his! I've shown you love this entire time! I've loved you longer than that bastard has and my love goes beyond his! "

   " But I love him! "

There was a silence hanging in the air after I yelled the confession. Quinn didn't say anything, he just stared down at me. The grip on my wrist got worse, and I felt something drip on my face. I squinted my eyes so I could see, and I saw him shedding tears. He gripped the ring between his fingers and raised his hand, and threw it away from us.

   " No! "

   " You are mine. " He whispered

I looked back up at him, forgetting the direction my ring was thrown. He stopped crying and his grip was unbelievably tight.

   " And I will kill anyone in my way. Under the Stars on this night I swear it. It is our destiny to be together, and the stars have proven it. "