n. The door to freedom was wide open, and she never thought she would get the chance. But it co

for a while,

ame from behind her, bu

nd the world around her blurred. The cult was alway

harder, even though the rough pavement hurt her bare feet. There

her. She pushed past the ache in her lungs and only thought about the door at the end of the all

sable voice from behind s

op. You can

tting closer an

forward, but something told he

et concrete was strong in the air. She had never been so vibrant or so scared. Freedom tas

her away from the life she had known. But the shadows

air. The sound of someone yelling, which was fa

led and quiet, right in front

ck. They won't

ce was low and a warning. She pressed on,

he shouted, her voice b

in the shadows, making the air feel cold.

im, a cold hand grabbed her wri

e to stop you. But speed alo

el's breathing was uneven, and her thoughts were racing. She had to hi

dn't give up. T

hing rustling in the distance. She bent

rbed the silence. "She's he

ser, and she couldn't get away. She ran into a corne

nd slow. Every move felt like an eternity, and

air. A wolf's howl. It pierced throug

and looked at eac

d, desperate to get away. The wolf's

as she pushed through the alley

going s

at it was talking about. Rach

o fight the tiredness in her legs. She couldn't stop even when t

palm touched her shoulder, almost hitting her.

new the streets like the back of her h

race. She was too swift for them. But

e knew, and it made

the night air, steady and cold. "Yo

a little, but she got back on her fe

e said to herself, not l

chased after them, their voices gettin

ideon's voice, cold and quiet, stayed with her. She c

nted to slumber, but her mind stayed concentr

ly touched the ground. The wind hit her cheeks hard, bu

ack's land. Safety. Security. A spot

ng holy and protected, which made her stop. Her heart raced in h

to rest, but she couldn't stop. She gulped for oxy

er the cold grass, she

fate is alre

back. It seemed like Gideon's words

about the room, but she didn't see anyth

p bursts and her body hurt, but

the start of

what would happen when the