Chapter 48: Taran

"I can't keep running!" I gasp clutching at a stitch in my side.

Xavier turns to grab my arm, dragging me closer to him, but he doesn't slow his pace. My breath is coming out in fast, sharp gasps and I feel as though I'll collapse. We climbed the wall in record time, using the chaos within the city to cover our escape. Xavier forced me to keep pace with him, though his legs and arms are longer. I have more climbing experience though and was able to make it over with only a few cuts and bruises. A dress isn't the ideal outfit for climbing so my arms and legs have taken the brunt of the scrapes. Xavier has it worse off, he slipped a few times and fell once, landing several feet below on a ledge jutting out from the wall. He groaned in pain and cradled his aching ribs, taking a minute to recover before forcing us to get moving again.

"We're almost there," he grunts and points to the Tucson foothills.