He’d swung it open too hard, snapping the wooden squares to pieces. Splintered wood crashed onto the floor, missing the confused and concerned Aunty by a hair. Alric raised his hand and threw it about the air lifting objects and tossing them about, slamming them into walls: a vase, a chest of drawers, zabuton pillows… He was just about to toss the meat-eating plant when it made him think of the one person he was trying his hardest to forget. He released a breath and crashed down onto his messy disarrayed bed. “What happened?” Aunty dared to ask now that he was calm. Alric breathed heavily for a moment. “She ran.” “Into the forest?” Alric nodded, not noticing Aunty’s fearful tone. She snatched hold of his upper arm and spun him until she could stare into his eyes. “You have to bring her back. You idiot, Wilhelm is out there. Since she’s not part of the family he’ll kill her.”
