Charles spotted the man standing up from behind the bushes. He placed his crosshairs on the center of the man's chest and took a deep breath through his nose. All was quiet. He pulled the trigger.
The man fell back to the ground; his rifle flew out of his hands. He screamed in pain. Looking down, he saw his chest covered in blood. He looked up at the trees above him; all grew cold and lifeless.
"Help me!" he screamed.
He soon saw his princess towering above him, looking down at his wound.
"Please," he jerked in pain, "help me, My Princess."
The woman smiled, looking down at him. "Here, this should help."
She pointed her pistol at his face. The man's eyes opened wide, but before he could utter a word, the blast of his princess's gun sent him permanently silent. His skin went completely white and then grey. The corpse on the ground dissolved into a vapor of black smoke and yellow sulfur, blowing away like chaff in the wind.
The woman looked at the other man dressed in the dark trench coat, squatting behind some bushes, witnessing the whole event.
"Don't think I won't do the same thing to you should you fail me as well," she said.
The man nodded his head slowly, assuring her that he understood perfectly.
Dark Cry stood behind her, taking shelter behind a tree.
"They will make it there first if we don't act now, My Princess," he said; his voice was deeper than before, like a beast.
Aniatha turned to face him. "What of the one helping her? Who is he? How does he know of her?"
"He's known here as Wingo, but he is from our realm also. He has been protecting and watching her from a distance ever since she arrived."
"Where is he from in our realm? How do they call him there?"
"My princess need not fear old folklore and tales from our enemies."
She aimed her pistol at his head. "Tell me!"
Dark Cry slowly turned his head, looking her in the eyes with worry now exposed on his face. "His name is Soaring Eagle. He is from the Tribe of Leaping Bird."
Aniatha did not respond. Her eyes widened, and her skin went pale white.
Without hesitation, she charged down the hill with all speed. "I swear by the sword of my own mother's kingdom; if you do not stop them before they reach The Gate, I will kill you both!"
Dark Cry and the other Indian followed their princess, trying to keep up with her.
Virginia made it to the top of the hill and hid behind a tree. Resting her back against it, she took deep breaths to regain her strength. Looking around, she only saw what appeared to be flat surfaced ground: no bushes, no thorn vines, or weeds. Only pine trees and mossy ground covered the terrain.
She felt something grab her hand. She gasped in shock but realized that it was only Charles.
"Good job," he said, smiling and panting. "C'mon! We are almost there."
Putting some distance between their followers, they continued to run.
After charging through the mossy, tree-covered valley, Charles and Virginia came to a rocky cliffside. They both stood panting heavily on the edge, looking down at the valley below. It was a sheer drop of about two hundred feet with a rapid river running at the bottom. Far on the other side was another cliff continuing into a pinewood forest.
"We have to jump across," said Charles.
Virginia did not say a word but slowly turned her head to face him.
Charles returned her gaze. "Don't worry. I'll be jumping with you."
"I beg your pardon?!" questioned Virginia, perplexed.
"Just trust me. It's not much farther beyond this point."
"What isn't? Death?"
"A place of safety. There, several others and I can protect you."
"What are you talking about?"
"I told you. It was an arrangement that I made with your uncle in case something like this should happen."
Virginia's face became even more perplexed than before. "You're not making any sense."
A shot fired from behind them, and Virginia fell to the mossy ground beneath her. She reached down and grabbed her right leg. A bullet wound ran through her calf muscle.
Charles swung his rifle around and took fire. About fifty feet behind them were Dark Cry, Aniatha, and the Indian in dark clothing hiding behind trees, peeking their heads around the corner and blind firing.
"Soaring Eagle!" shouted Dark Cry. "You know this is impossible! Surrender her, and you can go free!"
Charles grabbed Virginia's hand and pulled her behind a tree near the cliff's edge. He looked over her injury. The bullet went clean through, and her leg was bleeding badly. He took off his backpack, black jacket, and burgundy T-shirt. After wrapping his shirt tightly around her leg, he took off his belt and fastened it around the bandage. Virginia screamed and gnashed her teeth as his belt tightened across her wound.
"I know," he said calmly. "Don't worry. We're going to be okay."
Pieces of bark exploded on either side of the tree as more shots were fired from behind them. Charles reached into his backpack, pulled out his pistol, and fired blindly around the tree. Quickly, he slung his bag over his right shoulder and tucked the gun in his front pocket.
Virginia bit into the sleeve of her jacket and screamed through her teeth. She had never felt anything so painful in her whole life: a burning sensation that enflamed without mercy.
"Shhhh…" whispered Charles, placing his hand on the side of her face. "It's going to be okay."
Her tears ran down her cheeks and onto his palm as she cried and gnashed her teeth in anguish.
"Listen to me," he said, scooping her into his arms. "We have to jump."
Charles stood up, carrying Virginia in his arms.
Virginia kicked and squirmed, but Charles held her tightly.
"No! No!" she cried out. "Please, we can't make that jump! I don't want to die!"
Charles looked deep into her eyes. "After all that has happened, do you think that for one second, I intend to bring you harm?"
Virginia shook her head.
"Then I need you to trust me, Virginia."
Another shot fired behind them. Their pursuers were getting closer.
Virginia looked at Charles with a worried face. "Okay."
She closed her eyes tightly.
Three more shots were fired from behind, hitting the tree that shielded them both. Charles held Virginia even tighter in his arms, and after taking a deep breath, he leaped off the side of the cliff.