Awaiting The Dawn

42: Desperate

{Warning: This chapter includes some violence}

In the room, the man was sleeping soundly. As far as she could tell, nothing was wrong. His breathing was even and there was no one around.

Like she did for the others, Hisa quietly stepped into the room and approached.

It was only when she was a couple paces away from the man that she knew she was in danger. Hisa heard the sound right behind her.

She twisted around and drew her dagger, charging forward. Metal hit metal, the force almost made Hisa drop the dagger. The man wore an official's uniform. He had a sword.

Hisa kicked him behind the knees and ran, not even looking to see if he fell or not.

Her feet came to a halt when she saw people blocking the exit. Guards.

Hisa thought this target was the least dangerous. Turned out he was the most cautious, the only one who kept a guard in his chamber.

Hisa backed away, running a different direction. As they chased, she found a beautifully painted ceramic vase and tossed it behind her.

She heard it shatter and someone yelled in outrage. She ran and soon managed to get outside.

Just as Hisa saw the thousands of stars and took a breath of the night air, she was dragged by the hair. Her braid was in the hands of a guard, more men hurrying toward them. She could feel fingers dig and pull and rip and all she could see were the visions of when Kum-ji does the same to Yona.

Get away get away get away getawaygetawaygetaway.

Get away!

Without another thought in her mind, Hisa slashed through his side. The man screamed and let go of her hair. Hisa should have run as soon as she was free, but the blood on her dagger made her hesitate.

That was a deep wound. Blood kept flowing out of him. If he didn't get treated soon, he'd die. And it'd be Hisa's fault.

Can you kill?

No. She couldn't. Not to another human.

"I'm sorry." Hisa gasped for air, knowing that she couldn't take him to a doctor. "Please try to hang on."

She could do nothing for the one about to die by her hand.

She stood up. Hisa hadn't noticed that she'd fallen on her knees until she got on her feet. Tears blurred her vision. She ran as fast as she could, breathless and aching and filled with guilt as she was chased by men who probably wanted to kill her.

Hisa was almost free. She made it out of the grounds and into an empty street. A bit further and she could find somewhere to hide.

Then she felt a burst of pain in her right leg. She falls. She clutched her leg, looking at the rock that was half the size of her fist. Someone had thrown it at her.

Stumbling and groaning, she stood up and held out her dagger.

A very tall man looked down on her, smug. Behind him were five other guards. They took a step forward, and Hisa moved back. All six men had their swords out.

With the pain in her leg, it'd be difficult to walk now, much less run.

'Don't panic.' She could still fight.

Another step forward. Another step back.

She had a dagger, and two darts loaded with sedatives. Her instincts told her not to reveal the throwing knives hidden in her robes.