For a second, I wished the earth would swallow me whole instead of letting the guards kill me. Fear crawled under my skin and made it hard to breathe.
I searched my mind for a way out of this hell, but none came. Thane was a huge disappointment. I had been a fool to believe he would choose me. He chose Sarah instead, just like she wanted. Just like he wanted. That truth hurt more than anything else.
Heavy footsteps and deep voices filled the room, pulling me out of my thoughts. I got up at once, my eyes moving around fast, searching for another way. I had to escape or die at the hands of the cruel people waiting outside the door.
My gaze landed on the small window. It was too high. There was no way I could jump and reach it. My heart sank as I looked around again, but there was no second option in sight.
The lock on the door began to turn, and panic rushed through me. Whatever I was going to do, I had to do it fast if I wanted to leave this cabin alive.
As I stepped back, my foot hit something solid. I turned and saw bags of grain stacked against the wall. It was a store room. I did not know why I had not noticed it before.
Without thinking, I climbed onto the bags. I stood on my toes and stretched with all my strength, grabbing the edge of the window. My fingers burned as I held on.
My hands ached and my knees shook from the strain, but I did not let go.
The door burst open, leaving me no time. A guard walked in with a torch and shouted that they had found me.
I pulled myself harder, one leg already outside while the other was still inside. I was almost free when the guard grabbed my leg. I struggled, trying to pull away, but he was stronger. Panic flooded me as more footsteps rushed into the room.
I had no choice. I went limp, acting like I had given up. Like I was ready to surrender.
He loosened his grip for just a second.
I pushed my foot against his face with all the strength I had and kicked him away. He cried out in pain, cursing as he held his face.
I did not look back. I jumped out of the window and ran straight into the forest.
I ran with everything in me, my lungs burning, my heart pounding, hoping to find a place to hide before they caught me. But deep down, I knew my prayers would not be answered.
As I ran, I wondered if there was any moon goddess or higher power listening to me at all. If there was, they had been silent for far too long.