Chapter311 – Dream on!
After a long, breathless moment, she pulled back slightly. Her eyes glazed, pupils dilated, and her breathing came in rapid, shallow gasps. She traced teasing circles on his chest with her fingers, her gaze smoldering. “If you want… just say so. Tell me what you were thinking.”
Atticus’s chest heaved. “Thinking about… Clarissa.” His voice was rough, hoarse with desire and fear. “Clarissa, don’t leave me… okay? Don’t go…”
He couldn’t imagine life without her. Back on that day, he had planned to give her everything—and then end it all. But now, he couldn’t bear to part from this moment. He wanted her entirely, for life.
Clarissa’s expression softened. She knew he was lost in the memories of the past. She would confess everything to her grandparents and to him once they returned… but now, none of that mattered. She wanted him to feel safe, to feel secure.
She kissed him again and again, tasting the salty, bitter tang of his lips, damp from sweat and blood. When she looked up, she saw tears sliding down his cheeks. Tenderly, she kissed each one away, tracing from his cheeks to his eyes.
“I won’t leave. I won’t go. Atticus, I’m not afraid… I swear it. If I break my promise, punish me however you want.”
She kissed him patiently, their lips meeting again, breaths mingling in the flickering firelight.
Her fingers slid down his side, tracing over his hip, gripping the belt at his waist. Her voice dropped, soft and intimate. “You’re hurt… let me do this time.”
Outside, the moon shone brightly over the cave; inside, the flickering fire painted their bodies in golden shadows. The air was thick with warmth, desire, and the quiet intimacy of trust.
By noon the next day, Clarissa awoke to the sight of his smooth chest, warm and strong. He lay on his side, one arm draped over her slender waist.
Atticus opened his eyes, and they met hers. “Good morning.”
“Good morning…” she murmured, snuggling closer into his chest.
“Don’t you get uncomfortable sleeping like this?” she asked curiously.
“When I slept in the jungle before, I’d light a fire, climb a tree, and spend the night there to avoid wild animals.”
“Instead of worrying about me, shouldn’t you worry about yourself?”
Clarissa finally caught the meaning behind his words. She glared at him playfully, and he grinned mischievously, his large hands resting gently on her waist.
“I didn’t know Clarissa had this side,” he said, voice low. Memories of last night made her ears burn.
Last night… she had melted in his arms, her mind utterly blank. Feeling his gaze, she forced herself to look up and looped her arms around his neck. “Don’t you like it?”
“I do…” he replied without hesitation, nuzzling her face. “Can we… do this more often?”
“Dream on!” she said, playfully slapping him.
They held each other for a long moment, until Clarissa remembered something important. “Atticus… before we leave, we need to deal with someone.”
“You mean that rat lurking in the shadows?”
Her eyes hardened, sharp and determined. “If we don’t deal with Natalie, we’re still in danger on the road.”
Atticus stroked her hair softly, noticing the faint mark on her forehead. His eyes darkened. Natalie…
He looked at her, his gaze tender yet protective. “Clarissa… how do you want to punish her?”
Clarissa smiled gently, stroking his face. “Since she wants to play the hunting game… we’ll play along.”
Atticus’s eyes gleamed with delight. He pulled her close again, pressing multiple kisses to her lips, wishing he could make her a part of himself completely, intertwining her into his very being.
After tidying up and taking only what they needed, they washed in the river, ate sparingly, and continued their journey.
They traveled all day, yet strangely, no one suspicious crossed their path.
As darkness fell and their food supplies ran low, Clarissa spoke up. “Atticus… should we try to find more food?”
“No need. You can eat whatever’s left. I can go hungry for a few days. We need to move fast.”
She shook her head, worry creasing her brow. “I can’t let you starve. Go hunting.”
His heart skipped a beat. “Alright… I’ll be quick. Wait here.”
“I’ll wait.” Clarissa stayed where she was as Atticus disappeared into the woods with his knife.
Moments later, footsteps sounded behind her. Clarissa turned, feigning surprise with a small smile. “Atticus!”
But it wasn’t him. It was Natalie, her face twisted in malice. “Clarissa… I finally found you.”
Clarissa’s eyes widened in shock. “Natalie? You’re here!”
Natalie’s scorn deepened as her gaze fell on the red marks on Clarissa’s neck. “Still playing your lovey-dovey games, huh? Stupid woman. Grab her! Slash her face again!”
The thugs around her rushed forward—but before they could touch Clarissa, they collapsed, convulsing and coughing up blood.
Clarissa’s surprise melted into a cold smile. She glanced at the distant mountains; the sun had set completely. “Perfect timing.”
A dozen silver butterflies emerged, circling her body before one landed gently on her hand. She looked at Natalie, lips curving slightly.
“You…” Natalie began, but before she could react, a chilling voice sliced through the darkness.
“Hunting time.”
A blade flashed. Blood sprayed. In the next heartbeat, several of Natalie’s men were decapitated before they could defend themselves.
Natalie instinctively reached for her gun, but Clarissa’s hand gripped her wrist.
“You…” Natalie’s eyes widened. How had Clarissa gotten so close?
Clarissa’s smile was calm, almost serene as she twisted Natalie over her shoulder and slammed her to the ground. She stepped on Natalie’s arm, forcing her to drop the gun, then kicked it far away.
“You…” Natalie gasped, disbelief in her voice.
Clarissa’s eyes darkened. “Natalie… we won.”
Atticus, having finished off the last surviving thug, came to her side. He kissed her forehead, then pressed his boot into Natalie’s back. “Clarissa… what do you want me to do with her?”
Natalie wasn’t going to be allowed to die quietly.
Clarissa’s gaze hardened. She grabbed the gun, removed the bullets from Natalie, and reloaded the remaining magazine. “Haven’t practiced in a while,” she muttered.
Atticus understood immediately. He pulled on a thorny vine, the thorns biting deep into Natalie’s flesh. She screamed, “Ah! Clarissa! You… my father will never forgive this!”
“Shut up!” Clarissa snapped.
Before Natalie could recover, Atticus delivered two heavy slaps to her face, leaving it swollen and red. He returned to Clarissa with a satisfied grin. “There. Got my revenge for that slap too.”
Clarissa ruffled his hair. “Good boy.” She raised the gun again, aiming carefully. “You hurt Atticus. Losing your legs seems fair, don’t you think?”
“N-No! Clarissa! My dad… he’ll never forgive this!”
“Don’t worry,” Clarissa replied, calm and deliberate. “I’ll settle things with him later. Right now…” She pulled the trigger.
Natalie screamed as yellow liquid welled up between her legs. Clarissa froze for a moment, muttering, “Oops… haven’t practiced in a while.”
Atticus gripped her fingertips, adjusting her aim. “This model is lighter than your usual practice gun. Lower it slightly… like this.”
Clarissa’s finger squeezed the trigger again. A sharp crack, and Natalie’s leg was pierced. Blood gushed from the wound.
Before Clarissa could fire again, she paused. “Atticus… did you hear that?”
“Not just hear.” His expression darkened. He pulled her close, shielding her as his gaze sharpened toward the trees.
Clarissa followed his sight. Several pairs of glowing green eyes appeared in the darkness.
“This is…”
“A pack of wolves,” Atticus said calmly.
Dozens of wolves leapt from the woods. Atticus smirked, pulling Clarissa close. “Let’s go.”
She nodded immediately. He swept her into his arms and sprinted away.
Natalie, tied to a tree, pale and screaming, watched the couple vanish into the night. Hatred burned in her chest. “Atticus! Clarissa! You two will die a horrible death! I’ll haunt you even in death!”
But as the wolves closed in, her fear eclipsed her hatred. “Don’t… come any closer! No! Ahhh!!”
Atticus barely had time to register Natalie’s screams before Clarissa’s calm voice cut through the night.
“Let’s go quickly… it’s getting dark.”
He smiled, nuzzling her affectionately. “Okay.”
Clarissa had just found a communication device on Natalie. She turned it over in her hands and showed it to Atticus.
“Atticus, this looks like it can reach the outside. Want to try it?”
He glanced at it briefly, then shook his head. “No need. We’re almost at the foot of the mountain. We’ll get a signal down there.”
“Oh…” Clarissa held the communicator for a moment, then suddenly remembered something. “Atticus—this can contact Nelson directly, right?”
A faint smile curved Atticus’s lips. “You’re sharp. Keep it for now.”
Clarissa slipped the device into the pouch at his waist and leaned against his chest. “Are you tired?”
“No.” He looked down at her. “Are you?”
She’d been carried the entire way—how could she be? Still, she asked softly, “Shouldn’t we hurry down the mountain? The town below is probably full of Gryphonhall people… and we’re running low on ammo.”
“I’ll find you somewhere safe first,” Atticus said calmly. “Stay there. I’ll come back for you. The butterflies will protect you.”
“Okay.”
He quickly found a concealed, defensible spot. After he left, Clarissa sat back down as the silver butterflies fluttered around her. One landed lightly on her knee.
She smiled faintly. “He’s a little silly… he didn’t even notice.”
She tilted her head, speaking softly as if confiding a secret.
“I think I’ve overthought him in the past, don’t you?”
The butterfly’s wings trembled, almost like a response. Clarissa smiled more brightly.
“Good thing you can’t talk. Otherwise, I would’ve ruined the surprise.”
Atticus returned quickly—no more than forty or fifty minutes later.
As he approached, he saw Clarissa sitting under the moonlight, quietly talking to the silver butterfly.
He felt it instantly—the warmth spreading through his chest.
Clarissa sensed his gaze and looked up. The moment she spotted him, she stood and ran toward him.
Atticus caught her easily, wrapping his arms around her as she collided softly into his chest.
“You were gone a long time,” she said. “Was it dangerous?”
“Not really.” He lifted her into his arms and carried her toward the village below.
As they drew closer, Clarissa caught the smell—heavy, familiar, nauseating.
Her brows knitted instinctively. Knowing she hated it, Atticus quickened his pace.
He walked straight up to a house and kicked the door open.
The person inside gasped and dropped what they were holding.
Clarissa looked closely—and froze.
It was a girl, no more than twelve or thirteen. Her eyes were wide, innocent, terrified.
Atticus shut the door behind them, his voice cold and controlled.
“Be good. Do what I say, and you and your brother live.”
The girl nodded frantically and hurried into the kitchen. Soon, she returned, setting food on the table.
A large bowl of sweet potatoes and corn. Steamed buns. A small pile of wild vegetables Clarissa couldn’t identify.
Atticus glanced at it. “Nelson didn’t give you anything better than this?”
“I’m sorry…” the girl whispered. “This is all my brother and I have left. My mother… she died yesterday.”