AT THE SAME TIME
XAVIER'S POINT OF VIEW:
The forest was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. But something felt off. The villagers had pointed me in this direction, murmuring that the "mysterious woman" had disappeared into the woods days ago. Isabella. I didn't know why I was so fixated on finding her, but something about her defiance, her stubbornness had burned itself into my mind. The fact that Alastor was looking for her as well only made me more determined to get to her first. And now… I could feel her presence. It was strange, like an instinct. The air was different here, charged, almost. Like someone had just passed through.
I dismounted, my boots pressing into the damp earth as I moved carefully through the trees. A faint sound reached my ears a rustle, then silence. I wasn't alone. A smirk tugged at my lips.
"Isabella…" I muttered under my breath.
She was close. But would she come to me willingly? The forest was dense, but I could tell she was near. The air felt different, charged with something I couldn't explain. It wasn't magic, but her presence lingered, like the last traces of a warm breath in the cold.
Another rustle. This time, sharper. Closer. I turned toward the sound, my hand hovering over the hilt of my sword, not out of caution but curiosity. Would she run? 'You're not very good at hiding." I said, my voice low, amused. Nothing. I stepped forward, brushing past a thick branch. My gaze swept the area, catching the faint imprint of small footprints in the dirt. Fresh. Very fresh. I chuckled.
"Should I pretend I don't see you?"I whispered.
Still no response. But I wasn't fooled. A few more steps, and then a flicker of movement from the corner of my eye. There. Before I could react, the sound of rapid footsteps filled the air, she was running. I cursed under my breath, breaking into a sprint. Oh, this just got interesting.
"Running now?" I called out, dodging low-hanging branches. "Afraid of me, Isabella?"
She didn't answer, but her speed only increased. I pushed forward, my heart pounding not just from the chase, but from the thrill of it. This woman, the so called fake saintess,' had defied the temple, outwitted an entire village, and now? She was still trying to escape. I had to admit… I was impressed. But she wouldn't get far. I weaved through the trees, keeping my eyes locked on the dark blur ahead of me, Isabella. She was fast, but I was faster.
"Running now?" I called, dodging a thick branch. "Afraid of me, Isabella?"
No answer.
"That silence speaks volumes."I grinned.
Still nothing. But she didn't slow down. I let out a low chuckle.
"You know… you're only making me more curious. Do you really think you can outrun me?"I asked with a teasing tone in my voice.
"I can try!"She shouted angrily.
"Oh, I like that."I laughed.
She growled under her breath, and I swore I heard her mutter something about arrogant princes.
"How about this?" I taunted. "If you stop running, I promise I won't do anything bad."
A dry laugh came from her.
"Oh, that sounds trustworthy."She said.
I smirked.
"What, you don't trust me?"I said.
A sharp crack sounded ahead, she had misstepped on a loose branch. She stumbled for just a second, just enough, got you. I lunged forward, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back before she could regain balance. She gasped, twisting in my grip, but I tightened my hold.
"Let me go!" She snapped, trying to yank her arm free.
I tilted my head, meeting her glare with a smirk.
"Now, why would I do that?"I asked.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her breath uneven from running. Her icy blue eyes burned with frustration, but beneath it I saw something else. Fear. But of being caught.
"You really don't want to talk, do you?"I asked.
"No."She said angrily.
I hummed.
"Then I suppose I'll just have to keep holding onto you until you change your mind."I said.
She glared at me.
"I hate you."She said.
"Now, that's just unfair. We just started getting to know each other."I smirked.
The moment she tried to break free, I caught her arm again, my grip tightening. She froze for a split second, a sharp inhale escaping her lips, but there was no way I was letting her go.
""You think you can get away from me that easily?" I growled, pulling her closer, my body almost against hers.
She flinched, her entire form rigid, but I didn't loosen my hold. In fact, I only held her tighter, feeling the tension seeping into every part of her.
"Let me go, Xavier." She shouted, her voice shaking with frustration and... something else I couldn't quite place.
Fear, maybe? Or anger? Either way, it didn't matter.
"You really think I'll let you go?" I murmured, almost amused. "After everything? After running all this way? You think I'll just let you slip away again?"
She tried to twist out of my grip, but I wasn't giving her an inch. She was strong, but I was stronger.
"Why are you doing this?" Her voice cracked.
She was struggling to hold onto the mask she'd built. I leaned in a little whispering right into her ear.
"You're scared. I can see it. You act tough, but you're scared of being alone, scared of going back to the temple. Scared of being trapped again."I said.
Her eyes flashed with something dangerous.
"I am alone." She hissed. "I don't need anyone."
I raised an eyebrow, my grip unyielding.
"Clearly. You've been running from everything, from everyone. But you can't outrun yourself, Isabella. You can't keep pretending to be okay."I said.
Her chest heaved as she tried to shove me away, but I stood firm, my heart thudding in my chest.
"Let go of me!" She demanded, her voice full of fury, but underneath it... something softer.
Something more fragile. I ignored the pain in my chest. She was angry. She was scared. But she wasn't going anywhere. Not now, not ever again. I leaned down, so close to her face that I could feel her rapid breaths on my skin.
"You think you can keep running forever, huh?" I muttered. "You think you can do this on your own?"
Her eyes were wild now, her face flushed with frustration, but beneath all of it, I saw the cracks in her walls. I saw the loneliness that she tried so hard to hide.
"I don't need you." She whispered, though the tremble in her voice betrayed her.
"You can't lie to me anymore, Isabella." I pulled her in closer, my face inches from hers. "I'm not letting you go. I won't let you slip through my fingers again." I said, voice tight with something I didn't fully understand.
She swallowed, her breath hitching, but she didn't pull away. For a long moment, we just stood there, the world around us silent except for the thudding of our hearts. It was clear that since I was able to catch her, she was coming with me no matter if she liked it or not.