Time is Running Out

Chapter 45

Joy ran as fast as a gazelle in her mind.

The monster of her nightmares was after her.

Part of her was saying that it was a hallucination but another part of her was saying, You are about to die.

The monster was closing in and Joy had nowhere to run. She backed away but it was of no use.

It swung its mace and Joy was decapitated. Her scream came out as a long wail and then there was nothing.

Nothing but eternal darkness.

Emma's hands groped for the cover covering the tunnel exit.

They had reached it half an hour ago. Then they had climbed up the long tunnel and had also fallen back down for more than a couple of times as the tunnel went straight up and there was no rope nor ladder to guide their way. They knew it was the exit tunnel because they could see the last rays of daylight peeking out from the sides of the cover. Xana had finally got the idea of using a flashlight as they kept stumbling and she had taken one out from her leather jacket.

Now Emma was trying to take the cover off the opening.

"It won't budge," she hissed.

Xana rolled her eyes at the bottom of the group but no one saw her because it was too dark.

"Let me try," she snapped.

Everyone was pushed out of the way as Xana made her way to the top at lightning speed. She reached her hand out and immediately they were all hit by clean, fresh, cool air.

"How did you--?!" Emma spluttered.

Xana rolled her eyes again and this time everyone saw.

"Xana!" Rachel groaned.

"What? I just saved your sorry skins again," Xana replied innocently.

The girls groaned again.

"Now let's get out of here before--"

"THERE!"

Way too familiar.

Greyling.

"RUN!" Rachel screamed.

"Yeah, best way to not tell someone where you are," Xana muttered as she took off with the other three hot on her heels, cursing under her breath.

It seemed that life would not be all rainbows and unicorns very soon.

✴✴✴

"I... cannot... run... anymore!" Rachel gasped, clutching the stitch in her side.

Xana's lips pressed together and her eyes grew wide in annoyance as she stopped, not out of breath at all.

"You cannot stop," she growled.

"I am tired! Please..." Rachel groaned.

Xana glared at her.

"You must not stop because... Rachel, it is you he is after."

"But... But- but why?" whispered a very fearful Rachel.

"Princess."