Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Gothic Era

Darkness. It welcomed me, it is so dark. I can't see and feel anything. Vague, can't sense even my body.

I tried to open my eyes, but I just can't do it. The feeling of tiredness that's I've been feeling right now is terrible. I can't even name it. It feels like every vein inside of me is pumping and hurts like hell.

In my second attempt, I finally win against the pain in my ass. Little by little, a light invade the sight of my eye.

A tree? How come, I'm seeing a tree?

And a sky that so blue, it's peaceful and refreshing. A sudden wind blew out of nowhere. It chills me up. I can finally feel my self. Wait? did I really say that? Feel my self?

As far as I can remember, I already died. I got drowned from the river,by saving the boy. So it means I'm hundred percent dead!

But what is it I'm feeling right now? Did I got dump to hell? God! Why? Am I not welcome in your kingdom?! I'm starting to over think the happenings. It's not good. 

My back is cracking, while I'm tryin' to get my self up. Slowly but surely. Shit, it really hurts as if many men gangbang me! I tried to settle by placing mg back on the body of the Red woods.

Red woods? There's still a red wood? But it exist a million years ago! How come a red wood is this tree! What's really happening! I feel so lost. Alone. Confused.

I roam around with the help of my eyes. It's totally empty. A place with full of giant red wood. Just great! I look down and release the air from my lungs.

I'm wearing a traditional dress, with a pair of bracelet and a ring on my finger? I close my eyes once again to see if I'm just hallucinating. At the count of three, I'll open it. One, two, three.

I'm really wearing it! I'm not really hallucinating. It's kind of dress in late era's where women only let to wear this kind of dress. Why am I wearing such things?

Ah! My head hurts. It's absurd. I'm just drowning a while and ready to see the kingdom of Him either Lucifer's kingdom. But, what are this now?

I look in the sky and shout. 'What now?', out of frustration I said it in my full voice. I'm literally, helpless.

"I didn't expect, a beautiful lady like you can shout like that," a husky and a manly  voice  came out of nowhere.

Even my body hurts, I still manage to get up on my feet to look who's could that be.

"Who are you? Show your self! Now!" I commanded  like if he would really came out and show his self.

"I'm over there, lady," I automatically turn my gaze where his voice came from. I'm so shook! His in the upper part of the other tree that's facing the other tree where I'm located exactly.

"Oh, what a nice scenery, isn't?" he's asking me casually, like if he know me. And there's me, dumbfounded.

"I'm not dead? This is not heaven? Or hell perhaps?" I bombarded him with a  serious questions. He might think that I'm crazy. Well I'm almost there!

"Easy, lady. Just ask one by one. Haha. And to answer your many questions. First of all you're not dead. This is not heaven  or hell you're talking about. Are we clear?" he really think that I'm out if my mind!

A relief invade my system. I really think I already died. But that's what I really want, at first but now. It different.

"W-who are you?" I literally shuttered. Wait am I shaking? I really am. Afraid that he might do something bad to me or worst, kill me. 

"Don't be scared, lady. I don't bite," he playfully while smirking  and jump out of the tree. He's slowly approaching me. My feet seems have it has it's own mind for stepping back. Seems they're scared of him.

But I remain stoic, and pretending to be tough and brave enough to look in his glazing eyes towards mine. They're light brown, super light brown. It's beautiful and lively.

Dulcenea, stop complementing him. Be alert. He might harm you. I'm talking and commanding my whole system and saying that this man is not safe. Don't let your guard down.

I feel the body of the tree. It's the end. There's no more space that I can go. I'm trapped.

"S-stop! Please! Stop!" hysterically  shouting my lungs out.

I thought he'll continue to approach me. But in my surprise, he stopped.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scared you. I'm just being casual and tryin' to be close to you. So that we can socialize and talk,"he explained. Not cutting our eye connection. He even didn't blink.

"W-who are you?"I ask him once again. Didn't care about anything that he say. He fix his poise and showing masculinity in it.

"I'm Noire Hussein. Citizen of Picaresque tribe. A village next to this forest," saying the details that I don't really understand at all. Picaresque?what kind of place is that?

I inspect this man using my gaze. He's wearing a traditional suit also like as mine. My brows form a crack. I'm confused.

He bowed down. Like in the  traditional movies that I've see. He's maybe giving me a respect. So do I did the same thing that a lady usually do when there's a man bowing to him. I also bend and take my head down gently.

"Are you lost, lady?"he suddenly ask me. I raised my head and fix my poise.

"Probably, I am," I lied. I didn't even know where or what place is this. Calm down Dulce. You've got this.

"Really? Maybe you escaped from one of your Nana," he stated while touching his face. Probably thinking it through as if he encountered scenes like this a million times.

"How could you say that? Nana? What do you mean?" I feel like I'm a cat who's full of curiosity. Not showing any reaction from my face.

"Well, many royalties are silly,and running away from there Nana. Nana is the one who's taking care of someone like you, your highness,"

He explained. But I can't understand him. Royalties like me? Is he crazy? Me? A royalty? What the heck! 

I didn't say anything. Eyeing him, intently. I give him another series of expecting to his attire. There's really a difference. It thought we're really same, but it's not. Mine are more brighter and have much silk and stone that I don't really know. Those things are new to me. 

While Noire suits is a bit bold and more darker and manlier. Making his appearance more pleasant. Add up to his face. He's gorgeous. For a man, he's almost perfect. Maybe he's a prince?or a royale?

"Done, checking me?" I stiffed. Am I that obvious?

"What are you saying? I only look at you. Not checking," While raising my brows a little. What a confidence.

"Are you sure? I can come more closer, so you can look on me more," the audacity. Hmp! What kind of attitude is that?

"No need, mister. I'm not that interested," sorry but not sorry.

Mr. Noire, acted as if his hurting by those words that I've said. Holding his chest like if his hurt. 

"Aw! What a word. You're hurting me miss. Wait, what is your name? I forgot you  still didn't represent yourself," forgot it also mister. I quietly saying to my mind.

"Do I need to?" I reasoned out. I don't know if I should say my real name. I'm afraid he'll freak out and find out that I'm not really from this place.

"Yes, I didn't how to properly address you if you don't tell me your name." he's saying that thing as if it's the most obvious thing to do.

I let my breath out, then breath in again.

"I'm Dulcenea Mara Grange. Citizen of  Krueger tribe-

"Wait! Did you just say Kruger tribe?" he cut me out. I don't really know where that words came from. A voice lead me out and say those words.

"Y-yes, Kruger tribe. Why, is there something wrong with that?" Confusion eat me up. What's with that Kruger tribe. He seems surprised. Shock at the same time.

"I just can't believe, that there's still a royale living from that place." what does he mean by that?

"I'm standing in front of  you. Isn't obvious?" I don't really know anymore. His making it more difficult for me.

"Sorry, milady. Don't be mad," 

"I'm not, mad mister Noire," I get my self back.

"So, how come up that a royale like you is here? Are you really lost?"

"I am. Honestly, I don't really remember anything. Even that Kruger thing, it's just suddenly came up to my mine mind and speak to you. I'm sorry," there's no point of lying around him. He seems nice, maybe he can help me to coop things up.

"Amnesia? Well I think, you'll gain your memories  several days from now, " why does it feel like he's comforting me. I'm relieved, he didn't 

judge me out.

"Dulce..."

An electric shock flowed on my body! He startled the hell out of me! It gives me goosebumps, the he calls me it seems like we're old friends and reuniting now.

"Uh, yes?" I'm confused. The way he called me, it feel so nostalgic.

"You can stay in my tribe, while gaining your memories. I know we're a perfect strangers but let me take this out. It's not safe for a lady like you to roam around in this forest with all by yourself. What do you think? Are you agree with me?"well he has a point. 

It's not really safe for me. I don't really know where to go. Maybe I should at least give it a try. He's nice. But I won't let my guard down.

"Thank you, Noire. I'm glad you'll let a stranger like me to go on your tribe,"

"Nothing big. You're welcome, Dulce,"

Dulce... I don't really know why it feels so euphoric when Noire calling my name.

But let's set it aside. I'm still curious what place and time where am really is.

"So, lets go? As you can see, it almost dark. We have a long way to go before we can even reach our tribe,"

"Sure. Let's go,"

Noire walking ahead on me. He's guiding me where is his horse we can find. He saying many things about his tribe. Still can't understand it. But I'm cooping to every information that his telling me.

After a several minutes of walking, we finally reach the exact destination of his horse. It was tied on a tree, eating some grass. It's my first time to see a horse in this little of distance. It's really big, and tall. Noire surely taking care of it by himself.

Noire petting up the horse as we approach it.

"Does it have a name?" Noire turn his gaze to me and nodded.

"Bon. That's his name," ow, so it really have a name.

"What era is this, Noire?"asking him out of the blue. Really Dulce? Era? You really think?

I'm just confused. Maybe I travel through the time? Who knows-

"We're in Gothic Era," Oh, Gothic that so nice!wait,what!?

"G-gothic? You sure?" He seems so serious about it. We're really in Gothic Era! What tf!? It's really getting serious.

He nodded. He's dead serious. He jumped on the back of his horse. His really gorgeous. Well if he's in my time, he would be a famous model. But let's just keep it in mind.

Man, I don't know how to hop in. I'm doomed. I close my eyes secretly. I don't really know how to ride a horse!

I see Noire who's eyeing me. That's intense. He's probably thinking why I'm still here and not hopping in.

"I d-don't know how to hop in," I'm totally embarrassed. Soil, eat me up!

He chuckles, it's so manly. I look at him and see that his stopping his self to laugh out loud.

"Poor you, Dulce..." I know! I'm poor at everything. No need to slap on my face.

Noire hop down, and go beside me.

"Can I?" what? What does he mean?!

"Uh..." But before I can even utter a word he place his hands on my waist and lift me up. No expression at all. As if I'm only a kilo. But I know I weigh more than that. 

I'm sitting on the back of the horse.  Like what the movies have. Noire hop in easily. But my heart. It's throbbing so hard! 

He's next to me! Placing his both hands on the side of me. I can't breathe. He's so warm. I see his arm gripping the lope of the horse. His veins are showing up.

I think I'm gonna die from suffocation! I can't breathe when he's near. Literally have chaos inside of me.

While I'm seeing those veins, I feel something warmth in the side of my left ear. 

"Breathe, Dulce..." I stiffed. 

He chuckles again. Uh! What's with this man?!

"Hold me tight, Dulce!" Noire said like if we're going to a war that no one would probably expect.

"Let's go!" he take over Bon. I grab his arm and tighten the hold into him. And the journey of unending  misery, begins once again. I'm so scared, of this unfamiliar things happening to me. But I'm kinda happy, because my life rekindle it's path again.

***

©Skies Ambrielle