Chapter 60

Alicia realized that her fate was tied to the rest of the girls. Whatever happened to them, would happen to her, and that if she failed, then they all would fail.

So as she slipped out of the cottage and sped toward the castle, her heart hammered in her chest. There were a million things that could go wrong. The guards might not recognize her. Her father might not believe her. She might never find Elaine, Avril's husband, or Zachary. Her family had a way of throwing prisoners into the labyrinth of cells and never bothering to find them again.

Zachary...there is was, that undeniable bloom in her chest, like a flower opening its petals to the sunlight. Perhaps it was because the thought of him gave her the courage to go through with the mission, or maybe it was because she wanted to rescue him herself, but whatever it was, Alicia knew that she felt a deep connection with Zachary, and she hoped that he might feel the same way.