Roman Holiday | Reverse Harem

Victim of Fate

CW: Vague torture scene, bodily harm, and general disorientation

Frost crunched beneath my boots. Every step deeper into the wilderness that I took, instinct told me to keep low, make myself unobtrusive. Something was watching me. I could feel its eyes burning against my skin. Rather than cower, I tried to present myself as friendly. That was all that kept me upright, my strides purposeful as I made my way through the pines.

The forest was endless. With a knife, I made yet another gouge into the bark of a nearby tree. I hated to think that emergency services sighed when they saw my number appear on their computer screens.

There goes Verrie, they'd mutter into their palm, they've gone and gotten lost again.

With a laugh, I stretched my arms over my head and let out a pleased groan. My muscles gave a delicious stretch, exhausted from hiking for the better part of the day. I'd have to head back soon, but this case was more promising than any I'd gotten in over a year.

My gaze flickered to the sky. Sunlight was waning, another signal of dusk's lame approach. In my pocket, my cellphone felt as though it weighed one thousand pounds. I could practically feel Professor Burton's email singing a hole in my trousers.

<i>Look, Verrie, I can see that you're passionate about your interests, but there's just no proof for what you're saying. Come back with evidence, and then we'll talk.</i>

Evidence? Oh, he'd get his evidence.

Yet another one of my academic papers tossed in the trash, and yet another failure of a conversation. My teeth grit together at the memory, determination flowing through my veins like fire. As if I'd give up now. I'd go through fifty more professionals before I so much as considered allowing my research to go unseen.

Proof was close, even now. Locals from a town nearby have reported inhumanly large footprints and strange noises coming from the surrounding woods. Either this was — yet another — frankly annoying prank, or this was the breakthrough that I'd been looking for.

Finally, after years of study, I would prove to the world that the field of cryptozoology was one worth investing in. My life's work was soon to begin!

In a flurry of furious wingbeats, the surrounding birds erupted from the trees and into the gathering wisps of clouds above. Their cries pierced my ears as they frenzied into the sky. A chill ran down my spine, too powerful to be ignored.

"Hello?" I called. My voice shook and I hated it. "Can you understand me? Are you human?"

All I was met with was silence. No small creatures scurried under my feet, no birdsong filled the air— nature had got silent.

I let out an awkward laugh. "Please don't kill me, I'm friendly."

Finally, there was a noise. One single inexplicable noise, echoing all around me.

Someone was laughing at me.

My breath caught in my throat.

Pedaling backwards, my heel caught on a root, sending me backwards— falling.

Falling.

Falling.

Endlessly, I fell.

—-------------------------------

Mortals believe that fate is set in stone. That the gods have designed a path laid out for them, perfectly curated with no room for error. Not a single aberration is allowed within. No branching paths, or room to stretch, it is ordained. Purposeful.