Broken Away

Escape

The guard froze in place, fear causing her ability to move to vanish. Chase's fingers trembled in Eric's hand, which made him clutch her hand tighter and move her shivering body behind him.

"Did you all really think I was stupid?" Lexi came into view, walking slowly down the stairs. She stopped on the second step before reaching into her hair and quickly throwing her arm out. Eric heard some choking sounds besides him. Looking to his left, he saw the guard clutching her throat with a needle pierced into it. Blood trails seeped out of her wounds and her mouth.

"No," Eric whispered as the guard fell back against the wall before dropping onto her knees. Lexi strutted over and wrapped her arm around the guard's throat, squeezing it, "see what betraying others gets you? Death." Lexi let go off her throat and flicked the guard's forehead, causing her body to fall back. Lexi wrenched out the needle and put it to Eric's throat.

"I could kill you right now, but that'd mess everything up wouldn't it? That'd make you the winner. Not me. We can't have that, can we? Her on the other hand," Lexi switched her focus to Chase, "now she is completely worthless to me."

Eric held Chase's hand tighter. "You can do whatever you want to me but if you touch a cell on Chase's body—"

Lexi laughed, "don't act like you can do anything to me, Eric. I'm untouchable."

"No one is untouchable," Eric said.

Lexi laughed once again, "even if I didn't have 1800 soldiers that would give their life for me, I am more skilled than you ever will be."

"I may never be as skilled as you, but Chase is."

Lexi glanced at Chase, who was shaking slightly as she tightly held onto Eric's hand. "She can't even stop shaking, you think she can best me? Personally, I'm offended, Eric."

"If you weren't threatened by her she'd be another one of your mindless slaves right now." Lexi's hand stiffened. Eric smirked, "no matter how tough you act it's clear that you're terrified of Chase, regardless of her state."

Lexi pushed the needle closer to Eric's throat to the point where a drop of blood left a mark on his Adam's apple. "I am not scared of Chase Never and never will be."

"Then why is are you so upset? It's not good to lie, Lexi."

"You will not—"

"Popliteal fossa," Chase whispered.

Lexi raised an eyebrow, "excuse me?"

"Popliteal fossa," Chase repeated.

Eric's eyes widened in realization. Lifting his foot abruptly, he pushed it behind Lexi's legs and hit the spot at the back of her knees with his heel. Lexi's knees buckled, giving Chase and Eric a small space of time to run past her and up the stairs. They could hear Lexi screaming in frustration behind them, tumbling after them as her legs struggled to recover. As soon as they made it off the stairs, Eric pushed Chase into the nearest room and closed the door behind them. The room's walls were covered with tapestries and drapes. A loud horn rang through the halls and could be heard through any closed door. Eric slid aside one of the ten feet tall curtains.

Pushing open the nearest window, Eric pulled them both into the bush placed at the bottom of it. He ducked down, dragging Chase's head with him as a few guards ran past him, probably answering the horn Lexi had just blown.

"Chase, listen to me. Lexi is trying to inject the king with the substance she injected into you. By that time she'll be married to me, so when she claims the king is mentally ill, people will think I am as well through genetics, making her queen automatically. Escape while you can with your sisters. You will not be able to survive when she's controlling this kingdom. No one will. Please, you need to get out of here. Go through the forest then circle back to the village. The soldiers aren't stationed at your house anymore."

"You said you wouldn't let go," Chase said, her voice barely audible.

"Chase, when you love someone, you sometimes have to let go. There's no other option."

"Mom said there was always an option."

"Not this time, Chase," Eric untangled his fingers from hers, "not this time."

Chase blinked, which resulted in multiple tears streaking down her face. Eric brushed them off with his thumb, "promise me you will get out of here and into safety."

"I don't—"

"Chase," Eric said, his voice steady and stern, "promise me."

"I promise."