My dress is ripped and rugged in filth and moist but I continue running not like a madwoman but with insight. By now I know for sure, that he was testing me and I believe I've failed but there is no time to linger on that.

A few minutes have gone by and my legs have no strength to go further. My throat is parched. My heels are tired and I'm out of breath. I should take a rest as I can hear no footsteps or hounds coming for me but I limply walk further.

Running without proper stretching feels like shit bull shit crap.

I don't know his game but I feel he's one step ahead of me and it gives me the chills. Maybe being locked and being free for a while made me daring but I just don't know my brain is dysfunctional at this moment.

I take a break beside the nearest tree as I can see a massive one to be exact. If only I can climb this and stay there as Katniss did because this has the same feel as Hunger Games.

The wind is mellowing out with the branch's waves with it. This place would have an amazing place to take an adventure if only no danger lurks here by saying that my mind begins to overthink scenarios where wild animals might appear or some cannibals from wrong turn movies would take me and I slap my head to take me back to reality.

Thráin is more than that. He's vicious and cunning and by now I'm pretty sure he's coming up with ways to torture me because of this stint and that thought makes me on full alert. I think I have enough rest.

I continue walking but then I heard an unexpected rattle and decided to make a run more like a jog. Maybe my mind is picking up on some senses when the heavy rainfall poured down to make matters worst. The dress I have doesn't offer me any comfort but will only make me sick with colds and coughs as I feel the water cascade, soaking me. I have no time to quit but to go the distance when abruptly something clamps on my left ankle and immense pain forms on me as I brace my body plummeting hard face down on the ground.

At first, I don't feel much pain but when I get up and looked at my feet my delayed outcry comes to the surface. My face contorted to such a wound that I've been clenched with a big ass rusted old bear trap. I screamed with all my voice to loosen the fact that there must be more in this place than I could ever imagine.

" mother- fucker!!!!!!".

That was all I had to vent out. That's all I have to shriek like a banshee.

I calmed myself and brushed off my tears easing my mind that I can take them off with right enough force.

I Breathe in and breathe out before touching the cold metal as I can see the spikes had punctured my skin to the third layer. I tried to push it apart but my strength failed me and it clamped my ankle for the second time. My frustration and anguish doubled up and I cried with everything I got letting anyone hear me despite the rain.

" bull shit!" as I stomp both my fist to the ground in anger for myself with pity after I've calmed my nerves again I ventured to push it apart this time with a brand new determination to be free. I slowly push it apart then with all the vigor I had in me widened the open so I lift the ankle and it did like magic just in time it slips on my hands and clamped again.

" thank you, thank you, thank you" all the inaudible sound with my tears dripping again came out of me as I'm free from the tetanus-infected trap. I don't know who I'm grateful but that's all I did for a while as I lay down in a fetal position.

I gather my strength up by the time the rain had slowly stopped and the sun came out from hiding. I move forward to the invisible path I'm putting up with. I manage to walk a few meters even with an injury when I decided to throw a fist-sized rock to where some creepy sound came from. Something erupted from the ground like 10 meters away from me. my surroundings turned blindingly white, like a million camera flashes going off at once that knock me down. Flying debris of tree parts and a few trees tumbling down can be seen as the earth seems to unbuckle itself from the force. It's no bomb!

Son of a fucking Bitch.

He has an affinity for explosives.

I lay down on the ground for a while before checking if I have some hit or any sharp objects at me and thankfully there is nothing except for the wound I'm getting used to. Without proper antibiotics, I might die of infection but that's much better than being trapped in that damn forsaken beautiful house.

To stay or not to stay in the question I ponder while laying down either way, in gonna die in this predicament I'm in but the voice in me keeps telling me to go on and try.

So I stood up not before gathering some rocks to try to throw on or use as a weapon. There are a lot of things you can do with rocks.

It might just be some hand grenade but I know he already knows where I am and it will be just a matter of moments before I'm caught in a spider's web.

I walk in the opposite direction of where the blast came from taking a rest between trees now and then when I hear dogs barking. This is it. I need to find a place to hide while struggling to rip apart the dress and have it stick on a rock to have the dogs diverted for a bit.

That seems to be a nice plan, I am no survivalist but that's all I can come out with. I wish I had some training I might have 80 percent of surviving.

I was looking all around to where can I hide when the barking comes comparable to before so I took large strides when I feel my feet step on something that weighs different than my left foot's stands.

Then my mind knows the answer.

It's a landmine.

The fuck it is.

I realize what needs to be done so I avoid stepping off it.

If I change the weight of my foot I might lose a leg or maybe id is scattered into fractions.

What do I do?

I steady my breathing and let my tears flow. I don't want to die. Not in this way. Not like this.

A few meters away I can hear a whistle and its tune is from Frank Sinatra's Pennies from Heaven.

"Every time it rains, it rains

Pennies from heaven

Don't you know each cloud contains

Pennies from heaven". ..

He sings with a lovely voice that makes my blood turn cold.

That's him and I'm going to die.

"I gotta hand it to you, my dear. You never disappoint!" His voice boomed in the forest despite the barking of several dogs with giddiness. The ones enclosing me are k-9 to be exact and some Rottweilers.

"I pointed you the right way. if you've gone to the truffle plantation you could have survived but you choose the hard way. The inclusion zone to be precise." He beckoned with some pity in his voice.

"So that's what you are in? In the truffle industry." That is my reply. That's all I muttered to say for I don't know what reason. I should have said something different but I don't realize the outcome that made him laugh his ass out.

His laugh was all the sounded for the time being.

" that's one of my businesses, why don't you turn around to face me. This is becoming disrespectful to me". He stated flatly," oh I know why you can't! Because you step on one of the active landmines I've scattered across and I see you're in pain too. did a trap get you?" he had an amused tone this time.

The dogs and their handlers have retreated and I feel I'm alone with him.

" I want you to ponder on your mistake while you steady yourself because any moment a sudden weight change it will explode and I hate to see blood dispersed. Either way, you wouldn't last hiding with that tracker inside you."

What??????

What the fuck did he just say? I don't stand a chance and that was what had me crying my eyes out. I'm cold, wet, hungry, and tired of this sick game.

He sensed my lack of understanding of his words.

"let's see how long you last, you're mother's life depends on how long you do so. Ok?". He casually said then I feel him gone.

The fucker left me and I screamed at the top of my voice " fuck you!" To which he brushes with his signature laugh idling through.

I look at my feet and looked at the sky above.

I'm starting to think I've made the most stupid mistake ever.

( vote people. Don't be silent readers! )