A stinging pain had her grasp at her arm to see fresh blood trickle down to her wrist, weaving into her fingertips, then she realised why.
‘How does it feel to get stabbed, bitch?’ spat Kylar, her shank pointing Scarlen’s way.
Without overthinking the situation, Scarlen ran at Kylar, bringing her crashing to the ground, their voices a mixture of growls and screams as they ripped into each other. Scarlen lostcontrol of any technique she had ever learned as blind rage took over.
The next thing she knew, she was being lifted away, strong arms gripping her tightly, a deep voice muffled in her ear as her concentration remained fixed on Kylar sprawled on the floor, venom in her saliva.
A crowd came between them, blocking the view, and Scarlen’s focus turned to the one practically carrying her along a corridor, fights breaking out all around them.
‘Bear.’
‘Just run,’ was his only reply, his firm grip showing no sign of loosening anytime soon.
Avoiding as much of the trouble as possible, Scarlen ran with him, taking a few shoves along the way, ducking a swinging broom, and pushing hard through a rowdy group holding smashed mirrors and belts belonging to guards.
A horn blew out through the prison, its sound loud and constant as Bear brought Scarlen into his block, where half the inmates stood near the doorway ready to barricade if need be.
‘There’s no time to explain.’ Bear moved her to his cell, where Raven had Wynter huddled behind him.
At least Scarlen knew they’d all be safe there. It didn’t seem as though anyone in the block wanted to fight Bear, and being in his cell gave a sense of security.
‘I’m so glad you’re all okay,’ she told them, but Bear had already moved to the back wall and peeled off the fake wall around the air vent, revealing a hole that left her lost for words.
Raven guarded the doorway as Wynter clambered through the wall, then Bear took his place, and Raven followed Wynter.
Scarlen went to ask what was going on, but Varklee was approaching Bear, so he rushed out, his hand pointing towards the group stacking chairs by the doorway.
‘Don’t block us in, V. We need to get to the warden’s office. Show them who the fuck we are.’
Varklee’s eyes were wild with fire as he agreed, rushing back to the Flames to clear the way.
A cheer roared out and chairs were tossed, then some of the inmates rushed the guards coming at them in the corridor, Varklee up front, a baton in hand.
Bear quickly turned to Scarlen. ‘Go,’ he demanded, shoving her towards the hole in the wall.
She did as she was told, not knowing why, the damp smell on the other side of the wall leading her towards Raven and Wynter.
‘We’re escaping?’ asked Scarlen as soon as they reached the mound of rocks leading to the bay.
‘Yep,’ was all Bear said, climbing the pile.
The sound of the horn was still loud beneath the prison, blocking out the thrashing of the rain outside. Spits of water smacked Bear in the face as he removed the top boulder, revealing the way out.
Elbar’s head poked through the gap, and Bear smiled.
‘Good to see you again, Elbar.’
She smiled back, her white eyes gleaming in the darkness. ‘Just get in the boat.’
Bear waved Wynter up and helped her out to the small rowing boat waiting, then hurried Scarlen to follow.
With her mouth gaping, Scarlen silently stepped out into the night, the brine filling the downpour that soaked her through at once as the wooden boat rocked furiously in the wind whipping up the bay.
As soon as Raven and Bear were in the boat, Elbar told them they would have to row, as Jesserlie would pick up on her magick if she used it so close to the prison to move the vessel, as it was such a strong spell.
Bear and Raven grabbed an oar and rowed as though in a race, the roll of the water churning Scarlen’s stomach over and over.
She blinked away the raindrops, unable to see anything much except the beacon stroking across the bay just behind them.
