You will be mine.

"Hello, hello." The voice of an unfamiliar presence echoed in her mind, jolting her back to the present.

Slowly, she opened her eyes, confronting the sight of two peculiar men standing before her. Her body ached, a reminder of the mishap she had suffered earlier.

"Hello miss," one of the strangers attempted to engage her. "How are you feeling?"

Fully alert now, Ivy stammered, "Where am I? What's going on?"

"We saw you nearly drown and rescued you," the other man explained.

"Drown? Are you serious? I was hit by a vehicle! Where even am I?" Ivy exclaimed, taking in the unfamiliar forested landscape, centered by a river, devoid of any vehicles.

Seeing her confusion, the two men exchanged uneasy glances. "Come, let's bring you to the palace where you belong," one offered.

"Palace?" She parroted, her voice altered. "What happened to my voice? What did you do?"

Their expressions displayed as much confusion as hers. They couldn't comprehend the strange manner of their princess.

Ivy's shock escalated when she glimpsed her attire. "What is this? Am I in some '90s film? This has to be a dream."

Attempting to soothe her, one man said, "That's how you were dressed when we found you."

"This can't be real," she whispered to herself, overwhelmed.

Suddenly, she experienced a dizzying rush, voices intruding her thoughts. "You'll marry him, and you have no choice."

Images of a young girl suffering maltreatment flashed before her eyes. "Who is Amelia?" she exclaimed.

As they spoke, a new figure materialized, prompting the men to bow. Ivy recoiled, "You! No!" and began to retreat.

Her heart pounded as she fled into the woods, the canopy filtering the sunlight, leaving her enveloped in shadow. Voices, both external and internal, bombarded her as she delved deeper into the forest.

Exhausted, Ivy finally collapsed, an excruciating sensation overwhelming her. She felt as if she were being torn apart.

In the midst of her anguish, the gentle lapping of water caught her attention. Pushing through the pain, she stumbled towards the sound, discovering a serene lake reflecting the surrounding beauty.

Elsewhere, Jake, a native of these woods, nimbly moved from tree to tree, his agility earning him playful comparisons to a monkey by his peers. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps disturbed his peace.

Cautiously observing from his perch, he watched as a bewildered Ivy approached the water's edge. The pristine lake shimmered, its calm surface contrasting her evident turmoil.

Ivy began to take off her clothes, desperate to get rid of the heat growing inside her. Jake, who was still on top of the tree, took a favorable position as he watched her strip naked, his mind already filled with nasty thoughts as he lustfully admired the pretty lady.

Standing in front of the lake, Ivy looked into the water like the answers to her mystery were displayed on the surface of the waters. "Here goes nothing." She thought out loud right before she dived into the lake.

The sound of the water came from one end to another as Ivy tried to soothe her hurting skin, unknown to her that someone was watching.

"Ahhh" Ivy screamed as the pain intensified. From her bones to her skin which seemed to be tearing apart, she could no longer control herself in the water and she began to struggle.

Flapping her hands on the surface of the water as she began to drown, "Help, anyone there? Please help me!"

Jake couldn't watch such a pretty lady die just like that, he made his way down from the tree in no second and dived into the water. Grabbing Ivy by the waist, he was able to get hold of her and then carried the naked lady out of the water.

Still panting and breathing heavily, Ivy wrapped her hands around his neck and drew closer to him. She looked him in the eyes, their breath hitting against each other's skin.

Ivy pulled in for a kiss on the lips, "Thank you so much." She finally muttered.

Jake looked at her pretty lips, unable to resist them, he tilted his head and kissed her back only to be jolted back when Ivy's strength gave way, and she slumped unconscious in his arms.

Jack pulled Ivy from the water's embrace with a strength that belied his lean frame. As he carefully laid her on the mossy forest floor, the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy above danced across her face. Her beauty was undeniable – the soft arch of her eyebrows, the gentle curve of her lips, and the wet strands of her hair that framed her face.

Jack's eyes traveled over her form, not in a lustful way, but in one of pure admiration. He found himself entranced, not just by her physical allure but also by the mystery that surrounded her. A smirk, borne of surprise and intrigue, tugged at the corners of his lips.

With gentle hands, he began dressing her, ensuring her modesty was preserved. The forest around them was serene, its silence only broken by the distant murmur of water and the occasional bird song. In that quiet moment, Jack made a silent vow to himself.

"You have no idea, do you?" he murmured, looking down at the unconscious woman. "You've managed to capture my attention, my heart, even. And though our paths crossed in the strangest of circumstances, I know they're meant to intertwine again."

His promise hung in the air, a solemn vow. "I'll find you again," he pledged, the weight of his intent palpable. "No matter where you go or what stands in my way, you will be mine."

Jack's gaze lingered on Ivy, his heart yearning to remain by her side just a moment longer, to memorize every detail of her face. But the faint rustling of leaves, distant muffled voices and footsteps interrupted his reverie.

A sense of urgency took over, but before leaving. He leaned down, his face just inches from Ivy's. For a split second, their breaths mingled, and the temptation was almost too great. With a barely audible sigh, his lips brushed the corner of hers in the faintest of touches – a promise, a goodbye.

With agility and swiftness, Jack sprang upwards, grasping tree branches and swinging from one to another, his movements reminiscent of a monkey. He melted into the dense canopy, vanishing from sight, even as the approaching footsteps grew louder.