(Oliver's Pov)

*A Few Hours Earlier*

"Oliver, wake up," an unknown voice spoke in a hushed tone.

I slowly opened my eyes to see a blurry figure standing beside my bed. After my eyes had somewhat adjusted, I saw a man who had blonde hair that was as white as the freshly fallen snow that now lay on the frozen grounds outside, and blood-red eyes that had black coursing through them.

"F-Father, why are you here?" I asked, trying to push myself into a sitting position. My body was growing weaker and weaker by the day. It was becoming almost impossible for me to even sit up now.

"That's not important right now," he said.

"But."

"No buts now come on we must leave now," he said, grabbing my arm, helping me into a standing position before my knees had given out on me. If it hadn’t been for him holding me up, I would’ve hit the floor.

The man let out a sigh before he hoisted me over his shoulder. He took a few steps forward before he carefully opened the door to my cellar. The cellar that had held me prisoner for so long, the only access I had to the outside world, was the tiny barred-up window that was in my cell.

"Where are you taking me?"

"To your mother."

"M-My mother?" I asked, not fully believing the words that he had just spoken to me.

"I'll tell you on the way, for now. Just keep quiet!" he said in an irritated tone.

He walked out of the manor that I had spent most of my life in since the age of two. I was free. I couldn’t believe I was finally free. To the best of my abilities, I lifted my head up, taking in my surroundings.

When was the last time I had actually been outside? I couldn't remember. Had the outside world always been this beautiful? Or had I just taken it for granted at the time?

The once lush green ground that spring had gifted only months ago was now killed out by the bitterness of the icy winter that has come to take its stay. All you could see now were the footprints left behind in the thick snow that now covered the ground.

At what point in my life had I begun to take comfort in the silence of winter?

"Hold on," he said, tightening his muscular arm around my slim waist as he quickened his pace.

"Huh?"

"Just hold on, and close your eyes," he said.

I reluctantly closed my eyes, wondering why I even had to in the first place. I soon got my answer when this intense pressure filled my head, before the feeling of being weightless took hold of me. I gripped fist fulls of his shirt with what little strength I had left. I felt like if I didn't anchor myself to him, then I would get lost.

"You can open your eyes now," he said.

I slowly opened my eyes, not able to recognize my surroundings anymore. We were surrounded by the quiet forest. Nothing but giant evergreens could be seen for miles on end.

"Where are we?" I quietly asked, only to be answered with silence.

He gently removed me from his shoulder, carefully placing me on the trunk of a small tree had recently fallen.

"This is as far as I can take you. Once you cross this threshold, you'll be greeted by the wolves that guard this land."

"Won't they kill me?" I asked, now feeling nervous.

"No, especially not after seeing this," he said, grabbing my arm and pulling up my sleeve to reveal my mark.

I sat there staring at the family crest that I was born with.

"Wait," I yelled out, causing him to stop and turn towards me.

"What is it?"

"Why are you doing this? Why now?"

He gave me a cold look before turning away from me and leaving. I didn't know what it was, but there was something in my gut that was telling me this wasn't right  I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I slowly got into a standing position, stumbling my way in the direction he had told me to go. It didn’t take long before the smell of the wolves he had mentioned to reach my nose. I couldn’t pinpoint where they were at, due to being so weak, but I could definitely tell they were there.

My legs began to tremble as I fell into the closest tree that I could find. My vision was beginning to blur as I tried taking another step forward, only to fall face first in the thick snow that covered the ground. My eyes were clouded with black spots, making it impossible for me to see anything. The last thing I remember before I lost consciousness was the sound of heavy footsteps that were heading in my direction.

All I could do was pray that those footsteps were of someone who was going to help me.