Corrupt

Chapter 22

Underneath the carriage wheels, the gravel skitters and crunches. I can barely sit still as I watch the castle blend into the horizon. I'm further from him. Closer to them. 

Now I wait. 

Squeezing my eyes shut, I let my mind roam across the tattered map of memory, searching for the pathway Daeva took in the darkness of that night. I need to find them. 

I squint as I spot a river in the distance. We followed that for a bit, I recall. I have no idea for how long, but I'll find my way. All I know is that we followed that river. Which means...

Now.

As we turn a corner, I throw myself from the carriage door, stumbling onto the cobbles, immediately dazed and bewildered. Should've thought this through. I scrabble to my feet, hitching up my dusty skirts, and frantically grab for my luggage. Luckily it's only one large bag - though it feels like far, far more as I sling it over my shoulder, staggering to the side under the weight.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" calls the carriage driver, turning to look behind him. I turn and run. "Hey. Hey!" His calls echo behind me, but I run, imagining Daeva waiting for me, imagining the Lazifi chasing after me, anything to make me run faster, faster. Run run run faster faster faster faster-

I make it to the river's edge. Behind me, I can see the carriage driver is talking with another man, presumably a local, pointing in my direction with a raised voice, but at least he's not chasing me. I can still escape. I pull out the scissors I packed at the top of my bag and, with a wince, tear through the fabric of my skirt, slicing off the train, stuffing the lace into my bag. Now I can escape. 

As I begin to follow the river, the sun is high, and its light flushes my face, boring into my back. Hours later, a darkness starts to creep across the sky, and a panic sets in: what am I doing? Did I really expect to remember the journey? I'm miles from Carcaseau - I can't even see it in the distance - completely alone, and with no idea of where I am. My legs ache, a throbbing pain burning in my chest. My stomach growls, empty as the sky overhead. Every part of me pleads to stop, but I can't. I'm terrified that if I do, I'll never move again. 

Nobody can find me here. Before, the thought had been so comforting; now, it was just another horror. I'm somewhere deep in a forest - we came through one, I remember, quite early in our journey. Surely I can't be far.

Overhead, a thickly woven mesh of leaves leave only fragments of the outside world. From all around me, branches snag my clothing, clawing and scratching at my exposed, shivering skin. A crow croaks from somewhere nearby, but I can hardly place it. There's no direction in this wooden cage; no matter which way you turn, every path leads the wrong way. I am trapped inside an impenetrable labyrinth, with no idea what monsters lurk within - though I suppose I'll find out soon enough. Perhaps it is better to die out here than at the hands of the King. Perhaps my escapade will inspire some others. 

My knees shake. 

One. Last. Try...

"Hello?" I call, desperately. 

Hardly a second passes before I'm flung to the ground, wreathed in a void of darkness. I can't see. I can't even scream, though I try. I wonder whether Daeva will hear about my death. Whether anyone will.

Summoning my last strand of strength, I scrabble at the bonds holding me, finally freeing my face, fighting for breath, my eyes peeking out for just long enough to see...

"Daeva?!" I rasp.

"Lynette?" they reply. The shadows melt away from around me. They hold out a hand. I take it, letting my body be retrieved from the ground, sucking precious air into my lungs. I stand on frail legs for a moment. 

And then I collapse into Daeva's arms.

They wrap them hesitantly around me, firm and gentle at once, lightly brushing across my back. 

"What happened to you? What the fuck are you doing out here?"

"Looking for you," I mumble truthfully, promptly passing out.