The fear remains, but adrenaline pushes me on, keeping me going. I keep moving, taking several steps back at times,changing direction, only to detour back. I need them to get ahead, for them to think I’ve made my way further along.
Spotting a tiny niche under the roots of an upturned tree, I squeeze inside, stilling my racing heart as best I can.
Please don’t find me… please don’t find me…
Gods above be with me.
I hear their slippery, wet footfalls as they approach where I am hiding. I hope they don’t notice me. Praying that they move ahead, I count in my head and after a few moments, I’m about to move, but I hesitate.
I touch my leg, feeling the blood that covers it. I have to move before I bleed out here. The more blood I lose, the weaker I will get. Giving it a few more minutes, I fist some dirt from the floor and rub it on my leg, gritting my teeth to stop from yelping. It is just to help stem the bleeding so I don’t leave a trail in my wake.
They won’t be too far, so I move silently, focusing on my goal. Just a little more and I’ll be free… free from this world, my father and the wave weavers.
Ten minutes later, I finally reach the large oak tree. Looking at it, you would not think much of it, but if you manage to squeeze through the large roots, you’d find an odd ripple deep beneath it, enough for a person twice my size to crawl through if they so wanted.
But unless they physically went through it, they wouldn’t even realise what it was.
Taking a deep breath, I cast one last look over my shoulder and heave myself over the large boulders, only to stop when I spot the legion of men surrounding the tree.
My heart sinks as I take in their wings. Sky sirens… I hatethem with a deep passion. My heart thumps, and I quickly pull away when one of them turns towards me. I cower behind the boulder, my mind spinning.
Why are they guarding the entrance? Are those Varkhazan’s men? Just the thought makes me nauseous. If there’s anything worse than Father’s wrath or being caught by the wave weavers, it’s Varkhazan, a monster. He is a tyrant who rules the three realms, and just as we hate him and his kind, they hate us with equal passion. If they realise what I am, they will cut my head off right here.
Peering out through tree roots, I spot the shadowy form of a wave weaver prowling a few metres away. A soft gasp leaves me, and I clamp my hand over my mouth as his head turns my way.
“What was that!” one of the sky sirens shouts. I hear the wave weaver hiss.
This is my chance! I have to get to the human realm!
The moment the sky sirens follow the sound of the wave weaver, I break into a run, my only goal to get through the veil and into the human realm.
I’ll make it! I have to!
My eyes fly open, andI’m back in the stranger’s room. Light shines through the window, and the distant sound of cars honking reminds me I’m in the human city.
I sit up shakily. My hands, which are still tied behind my back, are clammy.
Gods, I need to pull myself together.
“What’s wrong? Did I haunt your nightmares?”
I stiffen at the sound of that deep voice and turn to see him leaning against the door frame.
“No, I’m not afraid of you.”
“Then you’re more foolish than I thought.”
Without Choice
Siralaine
“Get changed, then we’re leaving.”
“We’re leaving?” I ask.
“Yeah, you will be accompanying me to Varindor. I have unfinished business, and since you’re from there, you’re going to help show me the way.”
“I can’t go back there! I told you that.”
