Shadows In The Night.

They left the cobbled path and made their way across the soft green grass under the shelter of the trees. But they had not gone far when something stirred in the shadows ahead.

"What is that?" Xiao Mei's voice was like a mouse's squeak as she clutched Liu Fen's sleeve.

Liu Fen strained her eyes, trying to make out what moved in the dark. She felt a cold shock when she saw them clearly — three cloaked figures, black as night, creeping towards them. Only their eyes glowed in the lantern light.

Liu Fen grabbed Xiao Mei's hand. "Run!" she said. "Run!"

They splinted the way they had come, but it was too late - the attackers were upon them like wolves on a lamb. Liu Fen felt a sudden pain in her scalp as one of them grabbed her hair from behind; she screamed as she was pulled back into his arms.

Xiao Mei turned back to help her but was shoved roughly to the ground by another assailant; he raised his sword over her head menacingly. "Help! Help!" she cried out in terror; her voice echoed through the dark.

Liu Fen struggled against her captor and kicked him hard in the shin with all her strength; he let go of her with a curse, and she ran towards Xiao Mei. "Get away from her!" she shouted at Xiao Mei's attacker; he turned his gaze to her. She ducked under his grasp.

Xiao Mei seized this chance to scramble to her feet with a hairpin clutched tightly in one hand; she stabbed it into his back with a fierce scream. He howled in pain and dropped his sword; staggering back clutching at his wound.

Liu Fen grabbed Xiao Mei's hand once more; "Come on," she said urgently, pulling her along as they run again — their pursuers hot on their heels.

"They want me," Liu Fen gasped between breaths; "We have to split up."

Xiao Mei hesitated for a heartbeat before shaking her head; "No, Miss," she said firmly; "I won't leave you alone."

"You must," Liu Fen gave her a gentle shove towards safety; "Go find someone. I will lure them away from you."

With that Liu Fen sprinted to another direction and the attackers followed, ignoring Xiao Mei who ran back to the ladies' quarters.