A Touch of Darkness

Chapter 16

"Victoria wake up! Now!"

Groaning loudly, something shaking my body roughly.  Hushed voices causing my eyes to squint open.

"Victoria!"  Cold hands pinching my shoulder's enough to cause me to wince.

My eyes snapped open to see Margaret's fearful expression.

"What? What?!" Sitting up, Damien stuffing clothes and food into a backpack blindly.  

"Claude. He saw me, you have to leave now!" Margaret yanking my shoulders.

"What?!" Jumping to my feet. Damien ran over with clothes for me as I hurriedly pulled them over my body.  Bashfulness in front of my dear friend was far from my mind.

"I went out to feed, and he saw me.  I know he'll come here" Shoving an over the shoulder bag in my arms.  "I came back as soon as I could.  I told him I hadn't seen you but I feel he didn't believe me"

Her quick hands shoving clothes in the bag.  Her body stilled as both our nose raised to the air.

"What?" Damien glancing around.

Bolting to his side, pulling my hand over his mouth.  Using my free hand, to bring my finger to my lips.

Damien's hand snaked around my waist.

"There's an under ground route through my room, it'll lead you to the woods.  Run North toward the Falls.  The water will help mask your scent,  find the caves.  Hide there until it's safe.  Then go, don't stop.  I'm sorry I don't have somewhere better for you"  Her eyes falling as handed me the filled bag.

"You've helped us enough, thank you Maggie" Hugging her tightly. 

Stomping above us caused all three of us to look up.

"Lock the silver bolts behind me.  Run" Margaret ordered bolting through the door.

Damien lock the bolts before I yanked his hands toward Maggie's room.  My eyes spotting the small hatch beside her bed.

Lifting the hatch, Damien climbed down quickly,  a string of lights dangling the from the dirt ceiling.  My body stilled as I heard Claude's shouting.  Muscles begging to run to my friend as I closed the hatch, locking the small bolt.

I caught up with Damien quickly, zooming in front of my back.

"Get on my back. Now" 

Damien looked uneasy for half a second but listened quickly. His arms wrapping around my neck, my hands holding the backs of his knees as I weaved through the tunnel.  His weight not slowing me the slightest.

"Hold on tight" 

My legs rushed through the gravel, dust flinging behind me as I heard the hatch door being ripped open from behind us.

"Victoria!" Claude's roar echoed.

"Go! Go faster!" Damien rushed in my ear as I pumped my legs faster, Damien clinging to my back for dear life.   I could her Claude's fast footsteps getting closer.

My eyes could see the end of the underground tunnel.  The dim light of the moon getting closer.

The cool air hit us suddenly as I emerged into a forest like Margaret described.  Dodging trees, leaping over the foliage as I ran in the direction of the loud rushing water that was getting closer, making it harder to hear Claude's footsteps.  

I could feel Damien's shivering as we reach the falls, looking up the see the cold water fall from above us.  Rounding around the toward the cliff.  Cold water soaking our bodies as I tried to see through the mist as I jumped the rocks.  Damien's body harder to keep hold. Leaping up to a  sharp edge, digging my hands into the slippery rocks.  My feet fought to hold their grip.  Damien's face burrowed into my neck as I climbed up.  Staying out of the direct heavy water.