The Lady or the Tiger?

Without the slightest pause, he went to the door on the right, and opened it.1

"Stop!" I screamed, regretting my decision. But it was too late. The door was open. And out of it came my worst nightmare.2

'Noooo!" I cried, tears stinging my eyes. I couldn't let my truest love escape from me. I knew what I had to do to stop this.3

"Daughter," started the semi-barbaric king. "Why do you shout?"4

"Because I am in love! The man down there owns my heart!" There was no time to explain further. I had to act quickly.5

All the royalty sat on a concrete platform above the rest of the townspeople. I would have to jump off it to get there in time. I took a step up on the marble barrier that encircled the structure, and flung myself off into the air. 6

"Aaahhhhh!" I screamed. The exhilaration was incredible. That was, until I hit the ground. I landed with a sharp smack. Dirt and dust splattered in my face. An aching pain shot through my arm. "Oowwwww!" I screamed, staring at my elbow. The bone was poking through my flesh, and blood gurgled from the wound. But I couldn't let this obstacle stop me. I had to get to him before his time was up. I climbed to my feet, ignoring my body's aches and pains. I could see his face now, his brown, chestnut eyes staring at me filled with surprise. He must have never expected something as daring as this from me. Nor did I. I started to run as fast as I could to this love of my life. He also started to sprint towards me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw it heading nearer. Watching us. Waiting. But it didn't matter, I thought.7

We reached each other at last. His arms locked around my body. I was so glad to have him back, that I ignored the searing pain in my arm his hug had brought me. That hug, it made me feel whole. It was like a part of me had been missing, and now it was complete. I nestled closer to the bare, tan skin. But, a loud, vicious roar brought us out of our trance.8

"ROWROAWROWAR!" screamed the hungry beast called a tiger.9

"Why have you done this?" asked my lover. "Why have you endangered yourself as well as I?"10

"Because," I started, staring into his hypnotic eyes, "Now they will let us both free. Do not you see? Now that they know I love you so much as to risk my life for you, they will release us!"11

"You foolish girl!" cried my betrothed, anger inflaming his eyes. "They will not save us. Their barbarianism will win them over!" And, almost if on cue, came my father's voice erupting from the Royalty Box.12

"Hear ye, my people! As we are all very shocked in this turn of events, let me to explain what is to happen. It is not very complex. The tiger will simply devour them both." I almost fainted! My father was going to sacrifice me and my love to the tiger!13

"Oh King!" I cried, begging for mercy. "How can you give the orders to kill your own daughter?"14

"Very easily," he replied mockingly. "Like this: Kill my daughter and her love."15

"But, Father!"16

"I have no choice. You have become an embarrassment to me," he roared in his booming voice. "You fall in love with a pitiful slave, and then you expect me to forgive you? I must show some discipline to my people. Proceed, tiger. Proceed. My love was right. Father's barbarism had won him over. He was going to kill us both.17

"Oh, how could this happen," I muttered, and collapsed into the arms of my lover, mentally and physically drained. Surprisingly, he pushed me away.18

"Watch the tiger," he whispered. I turned my head and saw it. It was circling us. Deciding on which way he was going to gobble up our flesh and devour our organs. Fear pumped through my veins.19

"I'm so scared," I said, the words barely audible. I climbed into the strong, muscular arms of my protector.20

"I am too," he admitted. "But do not be. For we have each other, and that is all we need."21

"You're right," I answered, fear filling my words like a painter fills a blank piece of canvas. I leaned into his arms harder, and felt a sense of protection radiate from them. I was no longer afraid of what was going to happen. No matter was event occurred, we would always be together. Always.22

I saw the orange tiger out of the corner of my eye. He had stopped circling us. He had decided on his point of attack. My lover and I moved our lips together for one last, unbroken kiss. The tiger leapt. Our mouths connected. The creature landed on our trembling figure, and ripped the flesh from our bones. We were dead.