Tale 41- The Woman's simple Wish

 The Traveler walked through the streets, heading down alleys to try and avoid the local drunks, who were all leaving the bars and taverns scattered around the city. There was nothing but the noises from afar of music and laughter from the people out late drinking and dancing, with which the Traveler wanted no involvement. As she progressed further into the alley, she stared down at how dark it was. There were limited lamps about and it seemed everyone was either asleep or in the entertainment district, so the Traveler was truly alone. She breathed a sigh of relief, glad for once there was nobody about. And things seemed to be looking up, since she’d met so many kind, friendly people throughout her last few travels. She closed her eyes for a second, taking a moment to just breathe and reminisce- and was hit in the head from behind with something hard, and heavy. For a moment, she was completely still. Then, she stumbled about, her eyes going wide as she registered what had just happened. Raising a hand up, she placed it on top of her hood, over where the injury was- and it was grabbed in a tight grip, the girl being dragged back and spun around, to the point that her wrist was almost twisted. Firmly, he held onto her, dropping the heavy plank of wood, his eyes watching the Traveler as she tried to scream for aid but found all sound was blocked. Her heart ached from how much it was thumping, feeling as if it was squeezed in its own tight grip, the girl being shoved, hard, against a stone wall of the alley. With a chuckle, he raised her hand up above her head, the Traveler still somewhat stunned but feeling her confusion twist itself into terror. Marcielle bent down until he was at eye level with her, forcing her terrified, wide eyes to meet his own. They practically gleamed with lust. He grabbed her other wrist, using one hand to hold both of them above her head so she couldn’t fight him off. She tried to kick him, he simply stood on her toes, almost crushing them with his weight. In fact, it felt like her entire being was crushed, crumpled into nothing as he drew closer. He used his other hand to caress her face, before allowing his tongue to trail down, from the top of her scarred cheek to the end of her chin, the man giving a devilish smile as he did. Her eyes were wide, her heart was pounding, her body was shivering. And yet…she couldn’t do anything. She was stuck, feeling like a wooden puppet dancing in strings, or like a butterfly with torn wings. As the man pressed his entire body against her, he pushed her hood back slightly, allowing himself to whisper in her ear. “How are you feeling? Satisfied?” he murmured, his hand briefly resting on the Traveler’s heart before going lower. “Your heart…it’s beating so fast.” he continued, before the Traveler’s body jolted violently. Marcielle smirked, moving his head back to meet her eyes. Holding her in place, he watched her face contort from terror to something beyond. Something visceral, something pained…something awful. Her eyes began to fill with tears as he kept feasting, enjoying every second of her fear, as it fed his own primal pleasures. Her agony was like a fuel to his raging inner fire, and he savoured each moment. They were his…she was his…and it meant everything to him. He let out a soft giggle, moving his hand to the back of her neck and forcefully yanking it back. “This is the purest form of love, my dear. Soon enough, you shall realize how right I am. There are thousands who would do anything to be in your position right now. And yet, you still flee.” he gloated, the Traveler feeling him increase his grip on her wrists, knowing it would leave awful bruising. “You are a waste of a daughter if you do not realize how lucky you truly are…” he whispered, the girl’s mind now starting to scream, but she couldn’t make a single sound. Tightening his grip around her neck, she began to choke, Marcielle starting to laugh as the tears spilled out of her eyes and down her face. Since he didn’t have a free hand to wipe them away, he simply used his tongue, which only caused her to cry more. She wanted to be free, to rid herself of this horrible curse, but it felt as if her body was entangled in heavy chains, taking all that she had and leaving her burning with each cruel touch. She had nothing to her name, if she still even had her name at all, and with every moment that passed she became less and less, a shell of a girl who had once been a beloved daughter. As he prepared to take what he wanted, he was suddenly startled by growling from further up the alley. Without realizing, he tightened both of his grips in his tension, leaving the Traveler helpless and being slowly deprived of air. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he made out a man, holding six wolves by the reins and with a furious look on his face. Without a word, he simply let go of the reins, allowing the beasts to run free and toward Marcielle, who scowled and gave the Traveler one last threatening stare before he disappeared into the darkness, taking an apple out of his pocket and biting into it as he held her gaze. The man whistled, calling his wolves back to him, and watched as the Traveler tried to walk, leaning on the wall as tears spilled down her face. She could barely move. The wolves quieted down, the man gently approaching the girl. “Kid, are you alright?” he whispered, the girl meeting his eyes with her own, blurred by tears and her entire body shaking. She reached up to adjust her hood, averting her eyes. He nodded, and quietly offered her shelter in his home. His wife was waiting for him, and she wouldn’t mind at all if the girl stayed over. Left with no other choice, the Traveler agreed, following the man to his home and sitting on a chair inside, letting numbness claim her mind. He sat before her, and offered to tell her a story, the tale of ‘the Woman’s simple Wish.’

‘Long ago, there was a young woman, a girl who had been married off at a young age to a rich man. Though he may have been wealthy, he was extremely cruel, enjoying harming his wife for his own satisfaction, and leaving her with bruises the size of her hand. The young girl would often spend her nights by the well after she’d been forced out of the house, wishing for a better life and pining for someone who would truly love and take care of her. After many years of this painful treatment, the woman decided to leave, running off in the night to try and escape her horrible husband. She traversed many towns, but contemplated returning, eventually making the journey back and ending up by the well. However, she arrived and found a sweet man who respected her and helped treat her wounds, a man who gave her encouragement and compassion, the likes of which she would never receive if she returned to her husband. After traversing together, the two eventually fell in love and married, having many children and a bright, happy family. Despite the painful past, the woman decided to chase a beautiful future and reaped the fruits of the labour, escaping her abuser and being rewarded with her wish come true.’

As the Traveler wrote the story, she felt her wrists burn with the new bruises and sighed, forcing herself to focus on the tale and refusing to let her mind wander back. Any and all parallels drawn were shut down, until the man gently took her hand. “Child…I hope this tale will give you strength.” he whispered, the Traveler looking up and meeting his kind yet saddened eyes. He understood her pain, her plight, and wanted nothing more than a happy future for her, so he was encouraging her to chase that with everything she had. Feeling her heart heave with sorrow, she nodded, grateful despite everything that at least one person had cared enough to stop him. The man’s wife smiled, serving dinner at the table, but the Traveler couldn’t eat a thing. Her stomach felt weak, her heart felt as if it would break, and her mind was plagued by a thousand questions. Understanding, the woman simply draped a blanket around her shoulders, allowing her to rest and dispel the thoughts from her mind for at least an hour or two.