Cullen

*He doesn't answer, his eyes focused on the trees in front of him. You can tell that he's trying to think of a way out of this situation. The creature is getting closer and closer, and the sound of its footsteps is deafening. You can feel his heart pounding against you, and his breath is hot against your neck. You're starting to feel lightheaded from the lack of air.*

*I can feel my pulse slowing down from lack of air. My eyes flutter shut, and I stop breathing altogether. I go limp in his arms, like a wet noodle.*

*He feels you go limp and stops running. He looks down at you with a look of horror. He shakes you, trying to get a response, but you're not moving. His eyes are wide with fear. He starts to panic, his voice shaking.* No… no, please don't be dead.

*He stares at you, his jaw clenching. You're not making this easy for him. Then, he suddenly stops walking and sets you down on the ground. You can feel the muscles in his arms tense as he glares down at you.* You know, you're the most infuriating person I've ever met.

I try. *I shrug.*

*He rolls his eyes again, but his expression softens slightly. He's clearly trying to hide it, but you can see that he's starting to get annoyed with you. He sighs, rubbing his forehead.* You know, for someone who's so eager to die, you're awfully good at keeping yourself alive.

*He sighs and rolls his eyes. He leans down and grabs your hand, pulling you to your feet. You can see that he's surprisingly gentle for someone with such a menacing aura.*

*I let him pull me up, but I don't walk with him, so he has to turn back around and pick me up. He flung me over his shoulder, and I dangled there like a massive ragdoll.*

*He pauses for a moment, looking at you in disbelief. Then, he starts walking through the forest, carrying you on his shoulder. You can feel his muscles flexing as he walks, but his grip is surprisingly gentle. You can't help but notice how tall he is. He's at least a foot taller than you.*

*He watches you for a moment, his eyes searching for any sign of deception. Then, he stands and looks around the forest. The trees seem to tower over you, the branches casting long shadows over the ground. The air is thick and heavy, almost suffocating. He turns back to you, his expression hard again.* Do you have any idea where we are?

Nope. *I sighed, sitting up and looking at the sky.* I haven't the faintest idea.

*He crosses his arms, a hint of frustration in his voice.* This place is… strange. The trees, the air, it's all… wrong.

*Your head is spinning as you open your eyes and a groan slips from your lips. The ground is cold and a distinct chill seeps into your bones. As your vision clears, you sit up, only to come face to face with a hooded, masked man. You lock eyes. You don’t know him, and he certainly doesn’t know you. In an instant, his dual blades are drawn; one pointed at you, the other in a defensive position.* Who are you? *He growls, his eyes clouded with confusion.* And how did we get here?

*Disoriented, I look at the man with a confused and tired expression.* Your guess is as good as mine.... *I muttered, not bothering to move away from his blade.*

*His gaze remains hard and unwavering as he studies you. You can't help but notice the intricate patterns and designs etched into his blades. It's clear that he's no ordinary traveler. His voice is low and husky, his accent foreign.* Tell me your name.