Beyond the Ocean

The child and the bastard

"I've come for the child," the giant shouts. I hold my breath and stick closer to the hot stone wall of our furnace. The fire within crackles with rage.

"She's mature now!" my father shouts back. I can see his whole damn body shivering, though I am unsure of its origin.
The cold wind coming through the door bites hard, but the giant man standing in its frame might bite harder.

"Not by our laws," the man responds in a low growl, and I swear the fire roars with his words.
What laws is he talking about? Where does he want to take me? What in the deepest depths of hell is he doing with the gods damned fire?

"You abandoned her, she doesn't answer to your laws," my father shouts, louder this time.

I bring a finger up to my mouth when I notice Judith coming from our bedroom. She puts a hand over her mouth and waddles to me.

"Do not make a sound," I whisper as silently I can. Then something slams into the iron doors on the other side of our furnace. Not something, someone. My father is-

The giant man stands in front of me and my sister. He has broad shoulders and a jaw overgrown by a dark beard matching the long braid by colour. And he is towering over us so damn tall.
I feel my ears fall back, like that one time I met a rabid wolf in the forest, that one other time I was praying for my life.
I bare my teeth instinctively. I hiss. I do everything my mother taught me not to if I ever meet a stranger.

"Stand up," he commands.
I push Judith behind me and let my nails overgrow. The skin around burns and bleeds, but I let it, until the sharpness reaches the two full inches. Then I stand and take a step back to look him in the eyes. They couldn't be further from human. A dark red iris cradles a thin slit of pupil, petrifying me in place.
The giant scans me from head to toe, and another wave of fear crawls up my back.
He bares his teeth and growls. This man fucking growls.
I notice his teeth are sharp as mine, then his ears which are pointed and long like mine, then the sharp nails.

"You're coming with me," he says and reaches for me. I sidestep and cut across his forearm. He growls in pain but catches my hair before I can even move again. Little Judith behind me cries and a thud tells me she fell.

"Let me go you sicko," I scream. I thrash. I cut. I swear I will kill this man. I catch his forearm and bite. Hard. I clench my jaw and. A dull pain overwhelms me.

And then all I see is blinding darkness. The man smiles as he leans over me and says; "You're more like your father than he'd think."

》《

When I wake up it's already night. Really fucking cold night, to be precise.
I look around to find an unfamiliar forest surrounding us. It's thick with darkness, the trees lost their leaves long ago and the only the moon casts a little light on the path in front.
The horse below us is, oh gods, just how tall is this horse?

"Good morning," I hear a male voice behind my head. I thrash and hit him with my elbow. My hands might be tied but if I can just get off... I fall off. Sharp pain overtakes my shoulder, and a loud crack sends dread down my spine. My collarbone is most definitely shattered. Fuck's sake, that's the last thing I need.

"You idiot," the man let's out. I'm already running before I hear his feet hit the ground. No idea where I am? Just go back. I'll find my way. I always do. I have to get back to Judith and my father.
My father. Gods, what happened to my father? Thoughts of Judith laying with his corpse flash my mind. I push them back; I do the same with the tears forming in my eyes. I run like never before.

"Where we goin'?" He's already beside me. Not like he has to catch his breath or anything. He fucking turns around to face me, his hands up behind his head.
I stop and turn right, my ankle almost pops at the sudden move. I'll find the path later.
Trees fall behind me, I zigzag between them, hoping to lose the maniac.