Oasis - Official english translation

Chapter 5 - The escape

Aubrey held on to the ledge of the room one floor below. She heard the window in front of her open.

- Do you want to kill get yourself killed? - The red fox-eared girl leaned out.

- I don't plan to die until I have to... - the unknown girl helped her through the window. As Aubrey regained consciousness and looked around, she noticed Ash leaning on the doorway to the room.

- Ash! God, are you okay?

- What? How... I don't even know you!

- Don't worry, you'll get to know her in a few days, - The red-haired girl whispered. - You guys should just go down this passage and into the forbidden forest, understand? DO NOT turn back no matter what! - She gestured towards a dark hole in the other corner of the room.

Aubrey and Ash took the bricks out of the wall right next to the hole and found a secret tunnel behind it. As soon as they entered, they kicked the door on the unknown girl, and as soon as she blocked the exit for the ones escaping, a shot rang out.

- Run away, for God's sake! - she shouted.

The furry grabbed Ash by the arm and started running with her down the passage so fast that she could barely keep up. They didn't catch anything of what was going on out there. They soon reached a door.

- This probably leads to the boat... - Aubrey panted, trying to open the stuck door.

- Wait, maybe I have a key for it... - Ash began to search through a bunch of keys tied to her side. She searched for a few moments when they heard someone running up the stairs after them.

- Well, we don't have time for that. Stand back... - Aubrey kicked next to the lock, causing the door to open with a loud click.

When they got out, the chaos could already be seen from the shore. The second floor of the palace was in flames and everyone was running frantically outside to the carriages. But as soon as the two girls came to their senses, a group of guards ran towards them.

- Hurry to the boat! - Aubrey pushed Ash towards the shore.

They ran down to the water where the two boats were moored. One of them got into one, the other into the other. The guards were following them very closely, some of them already started shooting at them. They quickly pushed themselves away from the shore to get to the open water as soon as possible, and out of the guns range. They would have gone far enough when some cartridges came dangerously near the boat. At the last moment, too late, Ash noticed the bullet coming towards her, which pierced through her waist. The momentum of the shot made the girl lose her balance and hit her head on one of the slats of the boat.

- Ash, Ash! Get up, we'll be out soon, don't leave me here! - Aubrey shouted desperately after the other boat.

More shots came in, very close to the furry. It was too risky to row to the other boat. She had to act quickly, as time was running out and the soldiers' shots were becoming more and more accurate. She had no choice but to leave Ash there. She hesitated a bit, but they she began to row away. She felt a terrible sense of guilt. She had to leave one of her best friends in danger just because she herself was in danger. She wanted to turn back, but she only had 10 minutes left, which would take her right to the opposite side of the forbidden forest. She scanned the horizon with guilt in her eyes when she saw land. She tried with all her strength to reach the shore in time. She got closer and closer, but her strength also began to wane more and more. Aubrey's world began to darken with the final oar strokes. Already in the twilight, she climbed out of the boat with trembling muscles and fell to the ground in weakness. The world went dark for her.