4:48 AM.
Dawn was coming. She could feel it in her bones, in the way the darkness outside began to thin. The mark pulsed faster, expectant.
She sat on the bed and watched the clock.
4:52.
4:59.
5:00.
The mark flared hot for a single moment, then... nothing. No pain. No burning. Just the same warm pulse as before.
5:15.
Through the threadbare curtains she could see that the sky was lightening. Gray to pearl to the faintest hint of pink. She peeked out the window, searching for any sign of movement. The parking lot remained empty except for her car and a rusted pickup that probably belonged to the clerk.
5:30.
5:45.
The sun broke the horizon, painting the dingy room in shades of gold. Briar remained at the window, barely breathing.
6:00 AM.
Nothing.
She laughed. The sound came out cracked, hysterical.
"I did it." Her reflection in the window looked hollow-eyed, disbelieving. "I actually did it."
The mark still pulsed, but so what? Let it pulse. Let it remind her forever of what she'd escaped. A magical tattoo was a small price for freedom.
She sank back onto the bed, exhaustion hitting hard and fast. Three days of terror, of planning, of goodbyes that weren't goodbyes had left her feeling broken and exhausted, but she'd won. He obviously couldn't leave the forest, and she simply wouldn't go back.
The motel room might have been ugly and smelled of industrial bleach and old despair, but in that moment it was beautiful to her. Because she was still here, still free.
Her phone buzzed.
A text from her mother.
Are you… okay?
I think so. I’m still here. I willtalk to you later.
Allegra's asking where you are. I don’t know what to tell her.
Work emergency. Had to cover a shift. Tell her I'll bring home donuts.
Are you sure?
I’m exhausted, going to sleep and then I’ll be home.
Home. There would be time to talk later, when she figured out how to explain the impossible. For now, she just needed sleep.
She kicked off her shoes, not bothering to undress further. The pillow smelled wrong but she didn't care. The mark pulsed against the pillowcase, warm and almost soothing now.
You lost,she thought at it. At him. At the forest that couldn't reach her here.I won.
