Chapter 15: The Race Against Time

The news about Malakai added a palpable urgency to our escape. Every second counted. We had to leave the tower and warn him before the Chosen found him.

We continued our progress through the corridors, Aria joining us, her step hesitant at first, then increasingly sure. She knew some of the passages, which allowed us to avoid a few potentially monitored areas.

"There's a service exit on the lower level, near the kitchens," Aria murmured, guiding us through a maze of corridors. "If we can reach it, we'll have a chance to get out without being seen."

The idea of reaching the outside gave us renewed energy. We descended several flights of stairs, the sound of our footsteps echoing in the stairwell. The atmosphere became more humid, and the smell of food began to drift in the air. We were approaching the kitchens.

Suddenly, voices could be heard ahead. Chosen, likely on patrol, were blocking the corridor leading to the exit.

"What do we do?" Étienne whispered, his gaze searching for an alternative.

"No choice, we have to go around them," I replied, my mind quickly formulating a plan. "Aria, do you remember any other passages?"

Aria thought for a moment, her brow furrowed. "There's an old service tunnel that leads to the gardens, but it's rarely used and probably full of dust."

"It's better than facing a group of Chosen head-on," I decided.

Aria led us through another corridor, less lit and visibly less frequented. We found a rusty door, half-hidden behind crates. With Étienne's help, we managed to open it with a groan.

Behind the door opened a dark and narrow tunnel. The air was heavy and filled with the smell of earth and mildew. Cobwebs hung from the low ceiling.

"Welcome to the grand tunnel," Aria murmured with a forced smile.

We entered the tunnel, moving cautiously in the darkness. Progress was slow and uncomfortable, but the thought of getting away from the tower motivated us.

After a while, a faint light appeared in the distance. The tunnel opened onto a grate, overlooking what seemed to be the back of the tower's gardens.

Étienne forced the grate open, and we squeezed outside, finding ourselves under the starry sky. The fresh air filled our lungs, a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere of the tower.

We were outside, but we weren't safe. The gardens were vast and likely monitored.

"We need to get as far away as possible before they realize we went this way," I said, looking around.

We began to run, plunging into the darkness of the gardens, searching for a way to leave the tower grounds. The trees and bushes offered us meager cover.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps could be heard behind us. The Chosen had spotted us. The race against time had just intensified. We had to escape and warn Malakai. The future of more than just the three of us depended on it.