Chapter 8:

Time Ticks

Proxima Ascension


My heart was pounding as I made my way through the labyrinthine passages of the city, frantic to put as much distance between myself and the court as feasible. Every corner I curved, every shade that winked across the walls, seemed to hold the prospect of jeopardy.

My thoughts raced as I attempted to come up with a plan. I couldn't go back to the resistance, not yet. The palace escorts would be hot on my trail, and I had no doubt that they would stop at nothing to capture me. I had to get out of the city first to secure somewhere where I could regroup and reason out my next move.

As I crept along, my senses on high alert, I couldn't help but admire the beauty of the city around me once again. The edifices rose up on either side of me like towering sentries, their facades and complex graffiti skills cleansed in the soft glow of the moonlight. But even as I admired their majesty, I knew that they held secrets and dangers beyond my wildest imaginings.

I turned down a particularly narrow alley, feeling the cool, damp stones beneath my feet as I slipped through the darkness. My eyes strained to see through the gloom, searching for any signs of danger. And then, suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me.

My heart leapt into my throat as I spun around, dagger at the ready. But it was only a stray cat, its green eyes glowing in the darkness as it scurried past me and disappeared into the shadows.

I let out a shaky breath and continued on, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. The further I got from the palace, the more my mind began to clear. I started to come up with a plan, a way to escape the city and make my way to safety.

And then, just as I was beginning to feel a ray of hope, I heard the sound of voices up ahead. I froze, my hand tightening around the hilt of my dagger as I strained to hear what they were saying.

"It's her! She's the one who betrayed us!"

My heart sank as I recognized the voice. It was Marcus, the same man I had stabbed in the palace. He must have survived, and now he and his fellow loyalists were hunting me down.

Without a moment's hesitation, I turned and ran in the opposite direction. I could hear their footsteps pounding on the cobblestones behind me, their angry shouts echoing through the narrow streets.

I ran faster than I ever had before, my legs pumping as I pushed myself to the brink of exhaustion. I knew that I had to keep moving, had to find a way out of the city and into the safety of the countryside beyond.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of running and dodging, I burst out of the city gates and into the open air. The night sky extended out before me, an expansive stretch of flashing stars and unlimited opportunities.

I took a deep breath and looked back at the city, still visible in the distance. It was a beautiful, shining jewel of a place, but one that held darkness and danger beneath its glittering surface. And now, as I stood on the threshold of a new life, I knew that I would never be the same again.

A loyalist stood in front of me, his stern eyes watching me. He pulled a spear, I reached for my dagger and gasped as I just felt my ripped pelt.

"Looks like yer don't have yer gear!" The loyalist chimed, laughing as I looked like a circus clown.

He tried to jab the spear in my ribs, but I evaded and ran again. Relying on my legs to carry me further and further.

Vforest
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