Falling for Him Read online

  Falling For Him

  Emelie Jackson

  "Chapter 1

  My family was rich,

  with wealth came privilege,

  and with the privilege came the trap, the kind that slowly crawled towards you and made its way to your throat before you strangled you."

  I looked over the edge of our East facing balcony, seeing nothing but clouds below me and a dazzling dawn before me

  The fresh morning mist caressed my cheeks and nose, turning them pink

  I had never seen in my life

  anything elseGood, I guess not there was nothing else to look at, but still

  , the view, although impressive, became exhausting after fifteen years, I

  had to be grateful for our wealth and status, because without that I can be part of the lower or inner levels of the mountain thatlive.

  My grandfather lived a level above us, the ruler of Mount tier.

  My uncle was the next in line, but his wife had not given any children.

  If ever conceived, I was continuedBeing in line.

  Death came closer and closer.

  Tomorrow I turned sixteen. , the day I met the man I was going to marry.

  After many years of schooling on the proper label of a princess, on the outside I was ready.

  Long, hot red hair, pale cheeks and sapphire blue eyes surrounded my quiet soul.

  As my grandmother often reminded me, I was every man in the desire of the mountain.

  I sighed and turned away from the view, turning toward the dining room table.

  The grandmother sat with a small smile on her lips.

  "Elise, you become more beautiful every day.

  "" I blushed quickly.

  "" Thanks and "" "" I have not finished.

  "She interrupted.

  She was always so sharp.

  "You are beautiful, yes, and also tragic and foolish about life.

  "He also had a way of saying the hardest things, but making the receiver almost happy with his evaluation.

  I learned not to take it anymore.

  "Well, how can I change that before tomorrow? "The restlessness grew in my stomach.

  She laughed bitterly.

  "Do you think you have enough time now? "" He rose from the chair; I hastened to help her, fearing her fragility.

  He knew that she would want to feed her birds.

  Mom hated them because they sang so loud each morning.

  I had grown fond of them, although I felt sorry to keep them locked up.

  He picked up a handful of seeds and spread it to the singing garb.

  "Elise, whoever you marry, will eventually want more.

  People always want more here.

  They want to climb the mountain because they think that life is much easier for us, but I promise you that it is very far from that.

  "My brow furrowed,

  I did not understand why he was telling me this,

  they had always told me very different points of view,

  Mount Tier was essentially a fortress inside a mountain,

  our ancestors had carved it so that we could live in peace. and security from the Savages beyond

  , however, we all knew there were no savages left,

  only the Mount Tier and a few smaller surrounding mountains scattered the

  land.Our fortress housed twelve levels, the last three for employees and industrial workers, the rest It was based on wealth, the

  first two were reserved for the Ruler and his family,

  I had never been down, only up for special occasions,

  my future husband was one level below me.

  "" What if I run out of money? Things to give? "I asked, frowning,

  she smiled at me beforehand, her soft, wrinkled cheeks sinking.

  " So, how good are you? " He pissed my hand that held it firmly and moved away from me.

  Suddenly I felt empty and anxious.

  Everyone else was delighted with me, especially because the uncle still had no children.

  Was that all it had to be? A boat for children while my husband ruled the mountain? That was already a lot to give.

  She crawled out of sight, only to be replaced by my younger brothers.

  "Elisey! "" Anna yelled, running towards me at full speed.

  She jumped into my arms, her wild red hair out of control as usual.

  Benji, the second eldest and my brother, came around the corner with a sling in his hand, an expression of rage on his freckled face.

  "Anna, I'm going to kill you!" He growled.

  I chuckled, putting it behind me.

  "Oh, you two grow.

  "He stirred my Anna's bouncy hair.

  ""Do not! He took all the stones he had been carving and threw them off the balcony the night before! They took me weeks to Anna! "Benji's face flushed with every word, I

  rolled my eyes,

  this would probably be the last fight between them that I witnessed."

  My smile faded.

  "Well, why do not we spend the day playing our favorite games?" I suggested.

  Benji's anger dissipated a bit, and Anna started jumping again.

  "It's fine, but I can choose the first game.

  "" A malicious smile crossed his face.

  I knew I would choose a game that I would win, but for the first time I did not care.

  I wanted to savor every last moment we had together before I really had to grow up.

  After five rounds of finding the cat and hours of jumping stones, it was my turn to choose.

  I had always been pretty good at hiding, and I had a place I had been saving for years.

  ""Really? That's the game you want to play before "" well, you know.

  "" Benji shuffled his foot.

  I realized that he was getting upset as the hours passed, closer to tomorrow.

  "Yes, I am positive.

  "" I winked at him.

  "" Good, "he murmured.

  " You count first! "Anna pointed at Benji, and he consented,

  turned to a wall and started counting,

  Anna walked away from me and headed for our parents' room, and I went to thestairs leading to the rooms of my grandfather.

  generally, now he was having tea with his father and uncle, so I would not have to worry about cross his path and disturb him.

  I opened the door silently and I stood on tiptoe.

  her room was large and had its own balcony, however, facing west.

  I glanced stunning sun still hanging high in the sky but ready to begin their descent into the dark.

  I fell on My hands and knees, looking under his bed,

  I writhed on my way down, the cold stone floor seeping through my clothes and chilling me to the bone, I

  had to wait a bit, so I lay on my stomach and supported chin in my arms.

  Cuand or my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I squinted at the wall, a few feet in front of me.

  There seemed to be a small wooden door.

  It was quite peculiar, hiding behind the headboard.

  As if I did not want you to find it.

  Maybe there were hidden gems and gold behind him, or some other kind of personal treasure.

  Either way, I was curious.

  I used my elbows to pull me forward.

  I pushed the door, but it did not move.

  I played, and it sounded hollow.

  Now, a thousand images of what could be behind him appeared before my eyes.

  I had to know

  If this was my last night being free, being a child, then I had to know.

  I got out from under the bed and went to look behind the headboard.

  There was a space big enough to fit, so I made my way between the bed and the wall, the do
or still in view.

  Once in front of her, I pushed with my arms.

  Still nothing.

  I brushed a strand of hair off my face.

  I thought for a moment more and came up with an infallible plan.

  I leaned my back against the bed and lifted one foot, then the other, to the door.

  I lifted and pushed with all my mite.

  I heard a soft moan when the door began to give way.

  One more push.

  The door opened much faster than I expected.

  Many unexpected things happened after that fateful decision.

  As I had been pushing so hard with my back and arms, without knowing it, I threw myself forward once the door gave way.

  Instead of landing on a pile of jewelry, my stomach jerked and I experienced the sensation of free fall.

  It was falling faster and faster.

  I could not scream, because my breath had escaped from my body.

  I did not have time to formulate a rational thought before feeling a smooth stone beneath me.

  He had contacted me with some kind of slip, but he was still traveling at an alarming speed.

  Finally, my instinct shot up.

  I clung to myself, trying to find a handle or something to stop my descent.

  My hands only found empty, cold air and the soft stone slid beneath me.

  I slipped through what seemed like hours.

  My head ached for lack of oxygen; My bones ached from the cold and constant contact with the stone.

  The back of my dress was torn and stuck.

  A thought hit me.

  Where was this tunnel headed? As soon as the thought came to my mind, a small point of light interrupted the endless darkness.

  It was getting closer and closer.

  My heart accelerated.

  I was not slowing down.

  I grabbed wildly now, I even screamed for the first time until my throat hurt.

  The light grew.

  I saw strange colors and shapes emerging from light.

  I still could not stop.

  A blast of hot air hit me, and I flew from the tunnel.

  The last thing I remembered before my body was thrown into a pile of rocks was how I wished this was not my favorite game.

  "

  " Chapter 2

  "" Owww, "I moaned, grabbing my head.

  Something warm and sticky covered my fingers.

  I pulled my hand away to look at her.

  Everything was blurred, but I could see the crimson blood.

  I felt suddenly dizzy.

  I lie down, looking towards the sky.

  Why did he look so far away? Why was it so hot? I opened my eyes again.

  The sky was blue, as it always had been, but the clouds were above me.

  My stomach churned, and I turned quickly to my side, vomiting all the food I had eaten.

  It was in a pile of huge, sharp rocks.

  My eyes then focused on tall, hardy plants in front of me.

  I had never seen anything so high, and there were many of them.

  I found the sun, and it felt so far away.

  What had happened? I heard something then, a movement in front of me and a loud snort.

  I tried to stand up, but I leaned back, the sharp rocks biting me.

  Everything hurt.

  All I wanted to do was cry, wake up from this nightmare.

  Something, or someone, emerged from the darkness of the tall plants.

  My heart was beating and stuttering to a stop.

  I should be afraid, my instincts shouted at me.

  He was a man. He

  looked young, but his face had the hair of men.

  It was also black, not red or blond.

  He approached slowly.

  His clothes were all bad; He wore a long linen shirt, a belt with a kind of long knife, brown pants and boots.

  My head turned from side to side looking for an escape, and I hurried back.

  I was much closer now.

  I could see his eyes; They were brown, a shadow I had never seen before.

  I looked for a small rock to defend myself but I did not find any.

  I groaned with fear and pain.

  His eyes were wide open, as if he, too, was frightened.

  He extended a hand, palm down.

  "Shh," he murmured.

  I held back a scream.

  "It's okay, see? "" He held out his hand.

  His voice was deep and full of sincerity.

  I had never met a man outside of my family before.

  I felt the tears come from my eyes and cascaded down my cheeks.

  "I need to get you out of here, okay? "He had a funny way of saying his words, very different from anyone I know, even our servants.

  The sun shone in his wavy black hair.

  He was broad-shouldered, tall and intimidating.

  I shook my head "" ~no.

  "You can not stay here, someone will find you and hurt you."

  I promise I'll help you take care of you.

  "" Who-are you? "My voice rasps.

  His lips formed a small smile of tranquility.

  "My name is Jon, I live here in the forest.

  " He answered, lowering his voice.

  "Doll?" "I got confused right away."

  His smile widened, though he tried to hide it.

  "Forest, see?" He indicated the tall plants behind him, "It's

  all too much." I

  suppressed another sob.

  "I just want to go home.

  " "I put a hand to her mouth, trying to keep

  quiet.""I know you do.

  I'll help I promise

  Just come with me", "I made a gesture with his hand.

  I stared at him through watery eyes.

  All It hurt.

  "" Where will you take me? "" "" Not far away in the forest,

  there is a stream and I can help you to repair your wounds,

  we just have to get out of the open,

  someone will see us, "he said. more and I did not turn back.

  he seemed pleased by this.

  he bent down, nowa few feet from me.

  His eyes were earnest.

  Did hea choice? "" I do not think I can walk"" my voice trembled.

  I realized of the magnitude of my injuries.

  "" It's okay, here, "he extended his rough hand,

  I took one last look at his deep brown eyes and slipped my hand into him. His. "

  He quickly pulled me to my feet.

  I stumbled forward, but he easily caught me.

  My head hurt and I swam with incoherent thoughts.

  "What is your name?" He asked.

  "Elise, Eleventh Level.

  "" I murmured without thinking much.

  It was a standard greeting.

  I felt him looking at me cautiously now.

  "That's a long fall.

  "" He noticed.

  "I did not want it to happen.

  "I said

  defensively.""Come," "he put an arm around my back, the other behind my knees, and lifted me into his arms.

  I had never before touched a man.

  It was considered impure young born noble had contact with men before marriage.My

  stomach seemed uncomfortable but not in an unpleasant

  way.He quickly walked into the shadow of this forest.I

  had to admit that I even felt more comfortable here, surrounded instead of outdoors .

  I heard another snort, and jumped out of fear.

  "" it's just my horse.

  "" he whispered.

  ¿horse? a big, black animal was tied to one end of the plant.

  "" I'll get in the chair, Okay, just hold these reins, but do not pull them out.

  "He nodded toward leather cords and a large leather seat,

  " Was he supposed to ride this animal? "He picked me up easily and lowered me, holding my hips until I was strong.

  The horse balan
He came under me.

  "" Put your other leg on top.

  "" He ordered.

  I was completely confused, but I tried to obey.

  It was difficult with my skirts, I lost the ball and I almost fell, but finally I had one leg on each side of the horse.

  "Here we go," he chuckled.

  "Scoot forward.

  "" I moved forward, feeling uncomfortable.

  I felt him sway behind me and settle into his seat.

  My butt was in full contact with the front of his body.

  I was not sure how to feel about this more than a little scared.

  He came up to me and grabbed the reins, pulling them to the right.

  The horse obeyed and imitated the movement.

  Once on the road, he kept one arm around my waist, the other guiding the horse.

  "Jon? "" I whispered, because it only seemed appropriate to whisper in the forest for some reason.

  He had a strange name.

  "" Yes? "" His chest rumbled in response.

  "" I "" Well, I do not understand any of this.

  "" It was colder in the forest, and I realized that the sun was setting.

  Strange noises sprang up from everyone around us.

  I began to tremble with fear.

  "I thought you would not.

  "" he answered.

  "You see, Mount Tier is just a place people come from.

  At this moment, you are in the forest that surrounds the mountain.

  There are many people who live here, and most of them are "" good, bad people.

  None of us stays in one place for long.

  We always move, and not many of us live together.

  "" He explained.

  "So, what are you going to do with me? "" His arm moved, squeezing me tighter.

  "Well, do not get out of my sight, for once.

  I'll fix your wounds and find some food for tonight.

  I guess we can solve a plan tomorrow.

  "" I started to feel uncomfortable as we entered the forest.

  "What would the other people do to me?" I asked.

  He did not respond so fast.

  "Well, let's say that after a while they will kill you.

  "I was confused, but I did not insist on the subject.

  "Why are you helping me? "" This, too, seemed to shake him.

  "Because it's the right thing, I suppose.

  I could not leave you out there to die.

  "I shuddered to think what would have happened if he had not been there.

  He probably would have died.

  The sun soon faded, and they left us at sunset.

  The sounds of the foreign animals grew louder, and I could hear the sound of running water.