We ran and the booming sounds of gunshots rang around us. Dak fired at our moving forms, or maybe he was signaling for help. Either way, we needed to run faster than the dry wind that moved against our rustling clothes. Faster and faster, until my lungs wouldn’t expand beyond a short intake of dry breath.
“I need water,” I coughed out, the dryness in my mouth and throat making it hard to speak. I needed a break. Tor handed me the water and kept an eye on the surroundings. The three Dramens were behind us, one dead, two wounded, except I knew there were more out there. Mass numbers of vile humans hunting their prey, waiting.
For a moment like this.
Tor had an arrow in his leg before I could scream. They were coming from every direction.
“Sapphira. You run. You run there and don’t look back. I will meet you there. I will find you again, I swear it.”
I shook my head back and forth, again and again. I wouldn’t leave him. We could fight.
“Sapphira, I will see you again.” He gripped behind my neck and kissed me hard, a promise seeping into my soul. This was not our end.
I didn’t want to run and leave him. Tears rolled past my brown lashes, spilling down my cheeks, as the anguish of the choice inside me formed.
“We could fight,” I whispered as eight Dramens surrounded us, closing in slowly, tauntingly. They knew their prey had nowhere to go and wanted to play with our minds.
“No, you will run, and you won’t stop. Listen to me, Sapphira. You fucking run as soon as I give you the opening. I will see you again. I love you.” His forehead rested against mine, our eyes closed, giving ourselves this last moment before all hell broke loose.
“I love you. I’ll see you,” I whispered and kissed him softly, his lips wet from my tears flowing onto his skin. Our final act of love tasted of salty tears, with scents of bloody dirt and a promise to survive.
It happened quick. Tor wouldn’t give them a chance to take me. His arrow docked on his bow and released to my left. The Dramen went down and I ran. The opening was just enough for me to squeeze through. I heard yelling for someone to get me, and I heard a bellow of pain echo across the barren lands. Tor.
I wanted to go back. I wanted to dig my heels into the dirt and turn around. He was in pain. They were hurting him, and they would hurt me. My painful memories showed exactly what they would do if they captured me.
I told him I’d go; I’d find the community. Maybe he’d find a way to meet me there, or maybe I could gather an army and get him.
Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.
There was no stopping. The wind dried the tears on my cheeks as I ran.
I would see Tor again, even if I had to march on the Iron City myself to get him.
Chapter Seven
I moved until I couldn’t muster one more step. Every muscle in my body ached, but my heart hurt the most. I still had much ground to cover before I reached the tree Tor drilled into my brain for memory. So many more burdened steps to make. Every inch toward the community took me farther away from Tor. I wanted to stop, but I wouldn’t tarnish what he did. He gave me time to escape a horrifying fate that I wouldn’t endure again.
The day had turned into night. The lands had changed from desert to lush, large trees, and mountains with white tips. It even looked like rain was coming, if the drop in temperature and dark clouds were an indication. With every step, I came closer to the safe haven . . . so close, but I couldn’t go on right now. I needed to rest. I had to gather what small strength I had left in my body to finish this.
I found a large tree and collapsed against its bulging roots. Tor had the water and the food, so I had no sustenance. I’d have to look for something soon to replenish the pain gnawing in my belly and throat. However, everything could wait for a few minutes.
My fingers dug against the muscles of my thighs. Soreness blossomed with every touch. The massage would help move the pain out until I stopped again. I stretched to my toes, opening up every vein in my body that pumped blood faster to soothe my erratically beating heart.
“Only a few more minutes,” I told myself sternly. I couldn’t stay here much longer than twenty minutes. There was still a possibility of Dramens nearby, and I would likely be passed out and not wake up for hours if I stayed. I felt tired . . . so tired.
Using the tree to steady my shaky legs, I stood, wobbling from side to side to get my center of gravity under control. I took one step, then another, then another.
I focused on every stride, my only goal to keep moving. It didn’t matter how fast, just that I didn’t stop. A small creek surrounded by a group of trees and large gray rocks appeared ahead. I heard the water streaming along the bank, making my mouth feel unnaturally dry. My knees crashed to the ground as soon as I made it to the edge, and my hands scooped up water as fast as I could summon the movement. The fresh liquid must have come down from the mountains around me. Once the threat of passing out from dehydration ebbed, I rose to my feet again and continued. I’d already passed the big green, debilitated sign a while ago.
I scanned for any sign of a safe haven nearby. Walls, people, guards, anything. I didn’t see Tor’s community yet. I still had hope, so I pushed my painful steps onward.
“That’s her!” a gruff voice yelled from my right, making me stumble against a raised root. Two Dramens from the group that had surrounded Tor and me appeared. How did they find me? They rode on large horses, one black and white, the other a reddish-brown color, both galloping this way.
No, no, no.
I sprinted, running for safety. Of course, the clouds opened their water wrath upon the land. It’s not like I could simply run from feral men and their beasts without the added crappy weather dooming me to struggle further. The rain made it harder to move quickly, but it also slowed down the horses barreling after me.
Red leaves formed in the peripheral vision to my right. The red tree.
