Chapter 3 The masked hooded stranger - Part 1

"Move out the road! Move out" The coachman yelled with all his might as he picked up the pace.

When she finally came to, they were near and when she tried to step aside, she tripped on a small rock and fell onto the road, hurting her knee and arm in the process.

She winced and looked up to see the carriage very close, she flinched as she buried her head in between her arms and awaited the carriage to crush her.

Nothing came, only silence. Anna slowly raised her head to see the horses very near, the coachman was off the carriage and was talking to someone in the carriage.

Anna sighed and finally straightened as she tried to rise but she only ended up falling to the floor.

"Ah" A light wince escaped her lips as she stared at her bruised arm which was starting to bleed.

"Miss...are you okay?"The coachman was near her in seconds and she stared up at him.

She really wanted to tell him she's okay but realizing she was hurt, she needed to talk back at him for almost running her over.

" How do you expect me to be okay when you almost ran me over with your stupid carriage? Are you blind? Can't you see this is a narrow path?"

The coachman was at a loss for word, he was also shaking. Was she too harsh on the old man?Or...was he scared? Right! He should be!

" Please, Miss you have to leave...please leave"

Why does it look as if he's warning her to leave? Is there danger? Or was he just worried?

" I won't leave unless I'm paid! I'm badly hurt...don't you see?"

" Leave you little girl! Do you really want to die?" He whispered while scolding her.

" Mister, I won't leave unless I'm being paid for the damage"

" Seth" Both heads snapped to the direction the cold voice came from. She couldn't help but feel a shiver down her spine. Why would a mere voice made her this way?

"Yes my Lord" She watched the old man scurried off to the man inside the carriage.

The old man said something that she couldn't grab and then he came back to her.

"Please leave...you're going to regret this"

She was still sitting on the ground and wasn't planning to stand up soon.

"I said I want my medical fees! Don't you hear me? Tell your lord to pay me now!" She yelled out.

'What a strong headed lady' Seth sighed.

Just then the carriage door opened and they swiped their heads at the man that had alighted the carriage.

With every slow step he took, his boot made a loud thud as he approached them. Her eyes went to his boots, then traveled up to the hood he was putting on, her heart thumped wildly in her chest and against her rib cage.

The hood did a perfect job in covering his face, but she saw his chiseled jaw and pretty pink lips. Her eyes widened slightly when he stopped before her.

"Move away" Those words were enough to send shivers down her spine, and she found it hard to breathe.

"N...no...no" She stuttered.

Then she saw his knee bend and he was now crouching before her. His head came into view and when he lifted his head, she saw the mask that lies on his face, it was covering his eyes and stopped above his nose.

'So handsome'

She gushed at him and her jaw sagged slowly as she stared into his golden eyeballs. His gaze was cold, so was his face. Is he even human?

"You've seen my face, what should we do?"

Eh? This brought her out of her trance and she shook her head as if to get her mind together.

" Uh?"

" I don't like repeating words"

" Of course, I heard you loud and clear, I just didn't understand your words"

" I'm just fit to kill you"

Her heart almost jumped out her chest.

'Anastasia, what are you doing? Are you really scared of this handsome...no, this rude man?'

" You sure are rude? You must have no manners" After saying this, she heard Seth gasped beside her, but she cared less.

'This girl must really want to die' The old man thought.

" Is that word, directed to me?"

" Who else, if not you? I said you're rude...give me some coins to take care of my wounds" He was silent as he assessed her face.

" Hurry up!" She stretched her hand this time towards him and he held himself back from taking her tiny hand and detaching it from its position. His gaze hardened.

Who was she to rile him up like this? Who exactly is this brave girl before him? Even though he heard every of her heavy heartbeats, which informs him of her fears, she still acts brave? How amusing.

"I hope to never meet you again Lady...because the next time our path cross, I won't hesitate to end your life"

He then rose and headed back to the carriage. Once he was inside, she sighed out in relief.

"What about my coins?!"

"Seth" He called and the old man was quick to get back to his position. He held the reins and wiped the horses, they moved forward and she quickly crawled aside. They passed by her and was racing on the path.

"Hmph! So rude...I'm so hurt" Anna stood to her feet with a little difficulty and dusted her skirt and continued on her journey.

********

Today was Abigail's wedding Anastasia put on her best dress and packed her hair in a different style, letting it flow down her waist. She picked the little handmade bow she made and placed it on her hair to give her a more beautiful look.

She smiled as she stared at her reflection in the mirror, twirling and turning. The door opened and she could see her mother walked in, as she stared at the reflections in the mirror.

"Your friend is getting married, such a good child...honouring her parent just to make them happy, unlike you"

"I'm not like her"

"You're friends, you should learn from her..."

"I can learn from her? I remember you telling me not to be like her..."

"I didn't mean it that way, I don't want you to be completely like her, I want you to learn from her in terms of obedience"

"Well sorry Mother...I won't be like her, I won't be your puppet"

" You!..."She refrained from yelling out " Just do something good with your filthy life for once"

" Filthy" She chuckled and finally turned to her.

"Whose fault is my life this way? Isn't it your fault?!" Anna raised her voice, as she glared down at Diana.

"You're brazen...and I won't take the insults from you, you're my daughter!"

"Oh! Maybe I forgot, Sweet Mother!" She returned with audacity.

"You know...I actually regret being your daughter, I regret living like you! I regret not escaping your clutch, Mother!, If Father was still alive..." And she felt her hand land harshly on her cheek, leaving a bruise.