Chapter 21: Chapter 20

In that moment, Aurora's heart sank as she understood the men's true intentions. She realized that they weren't going to let her go - and that their idea of "fun" was far from anything that she would consider fun. She felt a deep sense of dread as the men continued to hold her in place, their hands gripping her arms tightly. She began to feel faint, the blood rushing in her ears. She needed to think fast - she needed to find a way out of this situation. But what could she do? Nothing, she was a weak prey in they eyes of three predators.

The first man was tall and thin, with greasy hair and a hooked nose. His eyes were small and beady, like a rat's. The second man was shorter, but no less imposing. He was built like a brick wall, his arms rippling with muscle. His eyes were empty, like a shark's, and his mouth was twisted into a sneer. The third man was the largest of the three, his bulk towering over the others. He was bald, with a large scar running down the side of his face. All three of them looked dangerous, and Aurora felt her heart pounding in her chest.

"Please," she whispered, her defenses crumbling, realizing there was no alternative escape.

"Please what?" the first man asked, a cruel smile spreading across his face.

Aurora's voice shook as she spoke, her eyes filling with tears. "Please... let me go."

The man laughed, the sound sending a shiver down her spine. "I'm afraid we can't do that," he said, his grip tightening on her arm.

"Please, just let me go!" she pleaded, her voice trembling.

The first man ignored her pleas, he let out a dark chuckle. "Hold her tight!" he ordered his companions, a cruel grin on his face.

But Aurora wouldn't be a helpless victim. In one swift, unexpected motion, she twisted her body, using her elbow to hit the first man square in the face. He let out a surprised grunt and stumbled back, momentarily dazed.

"Get off me!" Aurora cried out, struggling to break free.

Taking advantage of this opening, Aurora broke free from the grasp of the other two men. She sprinted into the darkness, her lantern still clutched in her hand, casting eerie shadows as she ran.

"Go after her! Don't let her escape!" the first man shouted to his companions.

Her breath came in ragged gasps as she pushed herself to keep going, branches and leaves whipping past her.

She could hear the shouts and curses of the men behind her, but she didn't dare look back. Panic and adrenaline fueled her as she continued running through the moonlit forest, desperate to put as much distance between herself and those menacing figures as possible.

With every step, she hoped she could find safety, her mind racing with the terror of what had just happened.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of heavy footsteps pounding behind her, and she knew the men were gaining on her. She tried to push herself to run faster, but her legs were burning and her breath was coming in ragged gasps. She knew she couldn't outrun them for much longer.

Just as she thought her legs would give out beneath her, she heard a crack, like a tree branch snapping underfoot. She stumbled, catching herself on a tree trunk. But before she could get up, a hand grabbed her arm, pulling her to her feet.

"You think you could run from us," the third man sneered, his grip on Aurora's arm tightening. He pulled her up to her feet, and the moonlight revealed his menacing expression.

With a cruel laugh, he grabbed her face, his fingers pressing painfully against her cheeks. Aurora winced in pain and fear as tears streamed down. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!" he snarled.

She turned her head slowly, her eyes locking with his. They were cold and hard, like frozen steel. "Let me go!" she said, her voice shaking.

"I don't think so," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "You're not going anywhere."

As the third man continued to hold her in his menacing grip, the first and second men approached, both of them smirking cruelly. They had circled around to join in, and when they saw that Aurora was already caught, their laughter echoed through the forest.

The third man pushed her with such force that she fell backwards, hitting the ground hard. The pain in her back was like a bolt of lightning, and she let out a cry of pain.

He pinned her to the ground, the first man advancing towards her, his hands on her thigh. Aurora flinched at his touch, a shiver of terror coursing through her. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she desperately hoped for someone to come to her rescue. The lantern had crashed on the ground when she fell, extinguishing the fire and leaving them in eerie darkness.

"What's the matter?" he taunted. "Don't like being touched?"

Aurora shook her head in response but just for the pleasure he got from taunting her he slid his hand further and spread her legs. In the moment, her fear and frustration had reached it breaking point.

Her heart raced, and she felt a surge of energy within her, unlike anything she had ever experienced before. She clenched her fists and closed her eyes, desperately trying to push the fear aside.

In that moment of intense concentration, Aurora felt an incredible heat building up within her. It radiated from her chest and spread throughout her entire body. Her hair, once golden brown, began to emit an eerie, glowing green light, casting an otherworldly glow in the darkness.

The second and third men, noticing the strange transformation, took a step back, their faces filled with shock and fear. Aurora opened her eyes which were now an intense shade of glowing green. With a burst of energy, she pushed the first man off her, sending him stumbling backward.

She scrambled to her feet, "Stay away from me!" she warned, her voice echoing.

The three men, now thoroughly terrified, took several more steps back, their faces pale with fear.

The first man, recovering from the surprise, spat out, "What are you? This isn't natural!"

The second man stammered, "She's some kind of witch! We need to get out of here."

The third man, fear etched into his face, demanded, "Let's just go! She's not worth it!"

The three men began to retreat hastily, stumbling over themselves in their rush to escape the green-haired, glowing-eyed figure that stood before them and she watched them disappear into the darkness.

Alone in the moonlit forest, Aurora felt a strange, tingling sensation. It was as if someone else was nearby, lurking in the shadows. She couldn't see them, but she sensed their presence.

"Step out of the shadows," Aurora commanded with newfound authority. Her voice was strong and filled with an unusual confidence, a side of her she had never known.

Slowly, a figure emerged from the darkness, It was a man, a few years older than her, ...and his red hair and golden eyes seemed to glow in the darkness. He was tall and lean, with a kind, yet intense, expression on his face.

She stared at him, her green eyes still glowing faintly "Who are you?" she asked, her voice trembling despite her resolve.

Before he could respond. Her powers began to wane, her hair returning to its natural color and her eyes fading back to hazel. She could feel herself growing dizzy as she struggled to maintain consciousness and feel to the floor.

Aurora's vision blurred, and she could barely make out his features. She watched his legs walking towards her until darkness enveloped her completely.