I walked out using the wall as support, each step a reminder of the pain radiating from my wounds. The sharp throbbing in my abdomen reminded me of my fragility, a stark contrast to the fierce determination brewing within me. The forest loomed ahead, its shadows beckoning me deeper into its embrace, offering both refuge and the unknown. The dense canopy above filtered the sunlight, casting a mosaic of light and shadow on the ground, and I felt as if I were stepping into another world—a world far removed from the horrors I had just escaped.
I pressed my hand against my stomach, feeling the bandages shift with each movement. They were damp and stained, a testament to the severity of my injuries, but they held me together, physically and mentally. With every heartbeat, I reminded myself that I was still alive, still capable of fighting back against whatever fate had in store for me. I had to keep going. There was no turning back now.
As I moved, the underbrush crackled beneath my feet, and I winced at the noise, acutely aware of how vulnerable I was. The sound of my own breath echoed in my ears, mingling with the distant rustle of leaves and the occasional call of a bird. The forest felt alive, and yet it was eerily silent, as if it too sensed my plight. I stole a glance over my shoulder, half-expecting to see shadows creeping up behind me, but there was only the lingering darkness of the tower I had left behind.
With each step, I felt the weight of my past pressing down on me, but I refused to let it break me. The pain was intense, but it served as a reminder of my resilience. I had fought too hard to give up now. Clenching my jaw, I pushed forward, the cool air brushing against my skin, invigorating me. The trees seemed to whisper encouragement, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze, urging me onward.
A flicker of doubt crossed my mind—what if I stumbled into danger again? What if I was too weak to escape? But I shook it off. Fear would not paralyze me; it would be the fire that fueled my escape. I had to trust in my instincts, to let the forest guide me toward safety.
As I ventured deeper, the path became more obscured, the underbrush thicker. I navigated through the twisting roots and low-hanging branches, every step a test of my strength and willpower. Each moment was a battle, but I would not be defeated. I could almost hear the heartbeat of the forest matching my own, a rhythm of survival that pushed me to keep going, to find my way home.
As I ventured further into the thicket, I heard a voice cut through the silence. "If you do signal us, your support will come with a reward." I froze, hiding behind a tree, my heart racing. The man who had saved me was speaking with one of the guards from the tower, his words laced with a sinister promise.
My instincts screamed at me to flee. I turned and leapt away at my top speed. It wasn't much—my body felt weak and unsteady—but I had no intention of going back or getting caught after finally escaping that nightmare.
The sound of footsteps echoed behind me, quickening my pace as I navigated the trees for support. But the footsteps drew closer, and I knew I had to act fast.
"Wait, they're gone!" a male voice called from behind me. "Hold on!" I glanced back, panic surging through me. He was catching up.
He grabbed my hand, but I yanked it away, losing my balance and tumbling to the ground. "I'm not part of them!" he insisted, offering his hand to help me up.
"You're not?" I asked, still on guard.
"No," he replied earnestly, though doubt lingered in my mind. "I'll help you escape. The way you're going will lead you back to them." His gaze was steady, filled with sincerity. I turned to look at the dark path I had been following, the way shrouded in shadows. "You don't have to trust me, but at least tend to your wounds first," he urged.
"How come you speak Erries?" I asked, noting his peculiar accent.
"I was a traveler before," he answered, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. What were the chances? "I don't believe in what they're doing. I lived in Erries for a while during my travels, and those people are much better than people's perspective of them."
"Can you get me back to Erries?" I asked, desperation creeping into my voice.
"I can get you past the borders," he said, his tone firm but gentle.
"I need to get back home," I breathed, feeling the weight of my words settle over us.
"Let's get your injuries treated first," he suggested, and I hesitated. But I knew I wouldn't last long with my open wounds, so I nodded reluctantly.
…
My savior, Degnie, tended to my wounds in a small, hidden cottage nestled in the trees. As he worked, he spoke of the dark undercurrents in Lysan. "The entire region knows of the plan of that cult. It's been in play for five years now, and I can't believe they've actually succeeded," he said, his voice tinged with disgust.
Well, I did it to myself, but he doesn't need to know that, I thought, the weight of my past decisions pressing heavily on me.
"If we leave in the night, we can get past the borders through an old path that not many people know about," he continued, focusing on my injuries. "But we won't make it all the way to Erries."
"I just need to get back home," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"I'll try. I should atone for my people," he said, his expression somber, eyes filled with a mixture of regret and determination.
"Why do you stay out here?" I asked, glancing around the quaint cottage, the scent of pine and earth filling my lungs.
"I can't stay in the midst of those maniacs," he replied, shaking his head. "I feel more comfortable out here, with nature. It reminds me of a time before all this chaos."
I pondered his words, the irony striking me: What were the odds that the one person I ran into in this godforsaken place was the only good person in the country? It felt surreal, almost as if the universe had conspired to deliver me a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.
Degnie finished tending to my wounds, and I could feel the tension in my muscles begin to ease. "We should rest for a bit," he suggested. "If we leave at dusk, we can slip away unnoticed."
I nodded, gratitude swelling within me. "Thank you, Degnie. I don't know what I would have done without you."
He offered a reassuring smile. "You're stronger than you realize. We'll get you home."
As the light filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows across the floor, I felt a flicker of hope ignite within me. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I allowed myself to believe in the possibility of escape and the chance to reclaim my life.