Chapter 4

  Alanna finally brought Phineas his meal. It had taken Safina a while to get the ham cooked, but finally after twenty minutes, it was ready. She slowly trudged into the dinning room with a plate and cup in hand.
  Phineas stared at her angrily as she walked in. "Took you long enough," he said.
  Alanna walked over the table. "Sorry, Master Phineas," she replied laying the plate and cup down on to the table.
  Phineas shooed her away. "Leave now to eat."
  Alanna curtsied. As she turned around to walk away, she thought of a question to ask Phineas. Although, he would probably deny her question.
  She turned around. "Master Phineas?" she asked. "I was wondering if maybe today I could go for a walk in through the forest?"
  Phineas stopped munching on a piece of meat, and glanced up at her. "Why would you go there? The forest is dangerous."
  Alanna shrugged. "I think the forest is beautiful!"
  Phineas really didn't care. "Fine. Go kill yourself. Just one less mouth I have to feed."
  Alanna lowered her head and frowned. It's not like she'd really miss old slave master. She'd me more then happy to get rid of him - whither it was from dying or not.
  Alanna turned and left. She raised her head and smiled as she strode into town and down the cobblestone streets.
  Alanna started sprinting towards a house at the far end of the town. It was well built and sturdy. She ran up the stairs to the front porch, and knocked rather hard on the door.
  Derrick came to answer. "Vangelic?" he asked shocked. "What are you doing here?"
  Alanna threw her thumb over her shoulder as if pointing behind her. "Slave master gave a little while off."
  Derrick seemed shocked by this. "Seriously?" he asked.
  Alanna nodded. She then looked down to the wooden porch, and blushed. "I was going to take a walk through the forest."
  Derrick took in a deep breath as if to protest.
  Alanna raised her hands. "I know, I know. It's dangerous." She lowered her hands. "Well, I honestly don't care. I love the forest despite what creatures lie in the shadows."
  Derrick walked outside and closed the door behind him. "Well, I'm not letting you go alone."
  Alanna smiled. "I was hoping you would say that."
  Derrick smiled back at her, and stepped off the porch with her.
  The two of them strode into the darkest part of the forest. The trees looked scary and dark. It was almost like a horror film with the eyes staring out at you from the shadows.
  Derrick glanced around. "So... why did you want to come out here again?" he asked her.
  Alanna shrugged. "I just wanted to get away from the town." She looked over at him. "But I didn't want to come alone."
  "Why didn't Safina come with you?"
  Alanna shrugged once more. "I knew she was busy. I didn't want to bother her."
  Derrick grinned. He knew that was probably not the reason.
  Alanna stopped for a moment. She heard rustling in the bushes, and looked over at the noise. A man suddenly came out of the bushes with a wide smile on his face. Alanna gasped as he came closer. Their was something off about this man. He just looked... off.
  Derrick didn't seem to notice him. He just kept on walking while talking. Totally leaving Alanna by herself with this man.
  Alanna stood frozen. She didn't know what to do. The man slowly walked up to her acting all creepy.
  "Why hello, miss," he greeted her with a high pit in his voice.
  Alanna didn't answer him.
  He strode closer. He circled around her once then grabbed her chin. "What is a pretty girl like you doing out here?"
  Alanna jerked her head away, but did not answer.
  The man sighed. "Oh, well. If I want the money I must do this."
  "Do what?" Alanna asked with a shaking in her tone.
  The man smiled again. "This." He grabbed her by the waist, and held up a cloth to her nose. Alanna struggled in his grasp to get away.
  Derrick, who finally realized Alanna was missing, heard her muffled screaming. He quickly swung himself around and could see the man smuggling Alanna. Derrick gasped, and took off running towards her just as she fell limp in the mans arms.
  "No!" Derrick shouted, picking up speed.
  The man looked at Derrick and smiled. He laughed loudly, and with a swipe of his hand, he was gone.
  Derrick ran up to them just as soon as they disappeared. Derrick stood in awe. "No," he whispered to himself. "No!" he then screamed as he fell to his knees and punched the ground.
  Alanna was gone.