Chapter 4 How Dare You Touch Me!

Victoria Bennett ran and ran. The branches and leaves scratched her bare arms. The leaves rustled under the feet. She heard something coming up from behind. It started to get closer and closer! She was out of breath but she knew she cannot stop. Without sparing a second thought, she ran through the woods. The woods were known for snakes and demonic monsters. She had no choice. now or later.

Victoria ran up to a big tree and lean against it catching her breath. She looked around and the creature chasing her was gone. Left and right, she scanned the grassy ground below her, searching for signs of that creature, but she spotted nothing. She let out a sigh of relief. After a while, she slowly came down from the tree. She felt a dark presence behind her. Her heart started to beat quickly. Her worst nightmare has come true! She quickly leaped forward before two large strong hands with black claws could grab her. The creature roared! A very loud monstrous roar. It charged at her, licking its disgusting slimy black lips in anticipation of a delicious meal.

Victoria screamed! She ran with the creature hot on her tail. Her feet hurt so badly as sharp stones and branches poked and scratched her bare feet. She saw a small river and decided to cross it, hoping the creature won't be able to swim. Her dress was in tatters as she made her way across the river. She quickly wade through the waters and made it to dry land. To her surprise and horror, the creature can easily swim across the river.

She touched the cold hilt of the dagger her brother hgivenave her. It was still there. The blue gem on its handle left a tingling sensation on her fingers and she felt a sudden warmth and comfort.

Victoria saw a village not far from where she stood. She decided to seek help. So she turned and headed towards the village.

She bumped into a hunter with a crossbow and hurriedly told him about the creature. The hunter believed her as the area was frequented by monsters and unsightly creatures who often catch people and eat their flesh. They scanned the area looking for the creature.

Suddenly, the creature jumped out of the bush and bit the hunter, killing him. Victoria was in shock. She stumbled backward. The creature's eyes were on her. Victoria spotted the hunter's crossbow. Grabbing it hastily off the ground, Victoria aimed it at its eyes and fire. She jumped to the right as the creature's scaly tail came towards her in a swinging motion. Lucky for her, the dagger she clutched so tightly in her hands transferred its magical powers to the crossbow, thus the crossbow shot arrows fused with magic. It hit and struck the creature bringing it down.

The creature let out a monstrous roar before it collapsed to its death. Victoria let out a sigh of relief. Her heart was beating so fast that it could jump out of her chest at anytime.

The leaves rustled in the nearby part of the forest. Thinking it was another creature, Victoria ran.

She didn't care where, she'd just followed her feet as they took her further and further into the forest. But the sound of footsteps kept up with her. She turned around sharply fishing out her dagger and pointing it towards a man. A man with brown hair and eyes stood before her, his hand on the hilt of his sword. He didn't look like a normal person to her. "Who are you?! Why are

you following me!?" She demanded.

"I should be asking that. Who are you? What are you doing in my territory?" He said. The man now stood face to face with this half-naked girl. His eyes ran over her slim figure, observing her from head to toe. Her clothes were in rags and were torn, exposing the skin on her shoulders and back. The man approached her slowly but menacingly. He looked fierce with an indifferent expression across his face.

"Stay away from me! Don't come near or I'll be rude to you!" Victoria tried to sound brave but the quiver in her voice betrayed her.

She pointed a dagger at him. She feared she couldn't win him even if there were three of her.

Victoria tried to put on her most determined face, trying to scare the man away.

He walked towards her, slowly and menacingly with each step. Victoria took a step backward as he took a step forward. He had a smile on his face, a sly but attractive evil smile. Oh dear god! He's a bad guy yet I'm thinking about how attractive his smile is, she mentally said to herself. She bet her head was kicked by a donkey, so that's why she started having stupid thoughts.

She tripped over a branch and fall backward, hurting her butt. He towered over her. He leaned forward, eyes locked on hers as he grabbed and tossed her dagger away. He kicked her crossbow out of her hands.

"What do you want?" There was a hint of fear in her voice. He came very near her. She could feel his warm breath against her cheek as her eyes met his hazel eyes. Those eyes were mesmerizing but filled with an evil aura. His fingers brushed against her cheeks in a threatening manner.

"How dare you touch me with your filthy hands!?" She roared at him. She didn't know where she had gotten such courage and confidence from. At her mansion living with her stepmother and stepsister, she didn't even have a little courage to stand up for herself when they bullied her. They made her clean the house like some Cinderella.

But no! She wasn't like Cinderella. She was more like Monsterella, often retaliating and fighting back against those two. But since her stepmother was in charge of the mansion since her father left on a business trip, she was stuck in that hell hole, often abused and scolded.

Now, faced with a wicked pervert man - as Victoria called him, her level of courage was much higher.

He stared hard at her as he smirked. "To teach you some manners!" He grabbed her chin and she let out a whimper.